Hot summer nights, good cigar and suitable drink. The cultivation of tobacco is characteristic for the tropical zone, which is why hot summer and cigars go along perfectly. The tobacco cultivation and hand-rolling cigars are typical for Cuba, but the neighbour countries Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, ... are developing this activity rapidly, so many recognizable and valued cigars come from these countries.
A little history ... In Tampa Florida, more precisely in the Ybor district, at the end of the 19th century, many cigar companies were established. Entrepreneurs came to Tampa for workforce (mostly migrants from Cuba), favorable legislation, development opportunities, ... In the golden days there were over 200 factories and Tampa (Ybor) became the world capital of cigars. Approximately 80% of Americans smoked cigars in the early years of the 20th century, which were made exclusively in the United States. Due to mass demand it was developed a combination of machine-hand made manufacturing, so there was no longer a question of where the cigar was made, but from which country tobacco comes from. Here appeared the difference between "PURO" cigars, which means that the whole composition of the cigar is made from tobacco grown in one country (typical for Cuban cigars) and the rest, where tobacco is usually from different countries. After the US embargo on Cuba, most Cuban families who had the knowledge and tradition of tobacco growing and hand rolling cigars left the island, some went to Tampa, the others to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, ..., and that is reflected in the quality of these cigars today. Because of isolation, Cuba was behind in the manufacturing development, only the myth of Cuban cigars due to the embargo was growing, while neighbouring countries developed new approaches and techniques, considering the tradition, so that their cigars today are one of the most famous and valued in the world. In Ybor now days, you can find many cigar stores, but only a few manufacturers left, because of the strict tobacco legislation, labour problems, the cost of tobacco cultivation, they have moved to the above-mentioned three countries, from which they are massively supplying the US market, which represents 75% of their market share, the rest is Europe and other countries.
What is tobacco? Tobacco is obtained from leaves of a plant growing on plantations in the tropical and subtropical zone. Tobacco leaves are distinguished by their strength, taste and nicotine content, although they all grow on the same plant. The bottom leaves are called "VOLADO", they are mild in taste, with good combustion and excellent elasticity, which makes the cigar burn well and they are also used for binder. The following leaves are called VISO and SECO, they are aromatic and concentrated in flavour, but not very elastic so various combinations are used in filler. At the top of the plant, are leaves called LIGERO with a strong texture, full of taste, lots of nicotine and mostly are used for wrapper.
What is a cigar? The cigar is composed of three parts and various leaves of a tobacco plant: FILLER is the body of a cigar, it’s in the middle and made from several whole leaves of tobacco, mostly grown in different countries, in order to achieve the diversity in taste and in the strength. It’s very important to separate between "SHORT FILLER" cigars, where filler is made from cut, dry tobacco, they are machine-made and you can store them in a regular wooden box, while "LONG FILLER" cigars are made of whole tobacco leaves, the humidity should be approx. 70%, so they are kept in humidors and are always handmade. When we talk about cigars, we have in mind the "Long filler" cigars. BINDER is a tobacco leaf that holds the filler in place. WRAPPER is an outer leaf that is also the most valuable part of the cigar. It’s mainly grown on the plantations separately, and the process of fermentation and storage of wrappers is usually separated from other tobacco leaves.
Cigar parts are: head (we cut off the cap only at the top), a band (cigar is usually smoked till here), a body and a foot. For lighting a cigar, a gas lighter is mostly used. You shouldn’t press the cigar directly into the flame, it should be kept slightly away and slowly with the circular movements you toast the foot of your cigar, repeatedly blowing some smokes into the foot so that the burn is evenly distributed. In this way, you won't overheat the cigar, you'll get the optimal taste and solid ash, typical for the "Long filler" cigars. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
Cigars are categorized by shape as PAREJOS (straight) and FIGURADOS. They are also distinguished by the length, their ring gauge and color of the Wrapper. These are important factors in choosing a cigar, it depends on taste, length of smoking, strength and texture. If we decide on a narrow cigar, the taste will mostly come from the wrapper, while with a thicker cigar, the taste comes from filler and wrapper. If we have several hours for meditation, we choose a longer cigar, if we have less time than an hour, it's shorter, after a good dinner, we can afford stronger with more nicotine, ... [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
Cigar accessories
The ritual is important, from beginning to end, proper storage in humidor is necessary with a humidity control. It's highly recommended to use a cutter and gas lighter (odorless!). It is important that this ritual is in calm environment, that we sit comfortably and have a proper drink alongside, since the cigar needs pairing with cognac, whisky or fortified sweet wine.
Premium or top-quality cigars are the result of knowledge and tradition. They are made of 100% tobacco, grown on the most suitable soil, harvested when ideal maturity, fermented with constant control over the years. Such a cigar is suitable for meditation on hot summer nights, when you can calmly obtain cold smoke, tasting it and slowly blowing it out. Never inhale the smoke from cigars, as they are not cigarettes. Tobacco from cigars is never inhaled, cigars aren’t meant for that, they are meant for testing and enjoying the flavors. Most cigar lovers don’t smoke cigarettes, because cigars are all about tradition, culture and ritual.