History Of Cigars
If you are a cigar-lover, you might be interested of knowing its interesting history. Its history go way way back to the time shortly before Columbus stepped foot in America. Tobacco, however, was discovered during his 1942 voyage.
During the voyage of Columbus, it was actually 2 of his men, namely Rodrigo de Jerez and Luiz de Torres, who stumbled upon tobacco. When the two got the chance to interact with the people in the island, they were offered a variety of items, one of which was dried tobacco leaves. Their first try with cigar smoking though, was only during that time when Columbus had settled in Cuba. Those cigars were actually dried and twisted tobacco rolled by the Indians and wrapped in palm or plantain leaves.
“Cigar” is taken from the word “sikar”, which is a Mayan word meaning “to smoke”. At one point, “cigarro” was used by the Spanish, a term they used to refer to “smoking tobacco”. At around 1730, what became a more widely known and used term, even until now, is “cigar”.
By the time Columbus and his crew got back to Europe with the newly discovered tobacco, it was just a matter of time before tobacco became an instant hit all over the continent. They considered it as an enjoyable means of socializing. However, there was one particular person who became more interested in this object. French Ambassador to Portugal Jean Nicot took time to study this weed. He even named one of its ingredients after his last name. Taking cue from Nicot, he named the active ingredient of tobacco as “nicotine”. Eventually, tobacco gained widespread popularity, particularly in Italy, where tobacco was not only used for smoking but cultivated and grown in the gardens of the Vatican. Years after, Sir Walter Raleigh came back from The New World bringing tobacco, and this was when using tobacco for pipes started out in England. Cigars then set forth a couple of years after that.
Tobacco plantations first came into existence during the early 17th century in Cuba. However, it had already been cultivated and exported commercially since the 16th century, particularly during the middle part. At the time of the British occupation sometime in 1763, tobacco overtook coffee in terms of use. As further proof of its popularity, it was utilized as a currency at one point.
Back in the day, Cuba became the foremost producer of premier quality handmade cigars as it is famously known today. However, Spain was actually the first one to manufacture and roll cigars in numerous quantities. Later on, by mid-19th century, producing cigars became a feasible and lucrative business in the US. Years after, by the end of the century, there were already several brands marketing cigars. At the onset of the 20th century, majority of the men in the US already smoked cigars. Eventually, cigar manufacturers have grown to thousands, composed mainly of small-time, family-owned factories.
It was in Tampa, Florida where the main hub of cigar manufacturing was found. Vicente Martinez Ybor, a cigar manufacturer from the Key West, transferred his cigar company known as Principe de Gales, to Ybor City which is a part f Tampa. This was sometime in the 1860s. Together with other Flor de Sanchez and Haya, also established manufacturers of cigar before him, their factories channeled more and more cigar manufacturers in the area.
Around this time also, Indonesia has also been growing tobacco and producing cigars. Other countries did the same. However, it was really in Havana, Cuba where premium brands of cigars were made. They were already known as the number one source of exceptional quality cigars. Even up to this time, Cuban cigars are still the most preferred by some people from various classes.
However in 1959, when Fidel Castro, along with his rebels, overtook Cuba, things took a different turn. A lot of Cuba’s highly esteemed cigar manufacturers packed up and left, bringing along their seeds manufacturing secrets to places like Mexico, Nicaragua, among others. Some also explored The Dominican Republic, previously known as Hispaniola, where Columbus had a layover some 500 years ago.
Not long after that, those Carribean countries started making cigars that were at par with that of the Cubans. Nicaragua for one has been deemed the “new cuba” in terms of cigars. In the US, a big percentage of the cigars sold are still produced by The Dominican Republic. There are brands also bearing Cuban names like Partagas and Romeo y Julieta.
It used to be that cigars were seen mostly in the movies, and also thought to be only for the rich. At the onset of the mid 90’s, cigars became all the more renowned and have been a great means of socializing and pure pleasure. When it comes to price, premium handmade cigars have also been made more affordable due to stiff competition among its manufacturers.
In spite of the cigar industry’s hurdles like smoking bans and taxes, it has remained to be a profitable business and one of the primary sources of relaxation.