The History of Cuban Tobacco

Cuba is well-known as the land of tobacco. Historians say that the first plantations arose in the 18th century, by the East of the Island, and progressively extended to the West. For many years, tobacco was the second exportable production of the nation, after sugar.

The country's higher and most recognized tobacco production is located in Pinar del Río province. The tobacco plant comes from South America, although the moment of its arrival to Antilles is not accurately established yet. It certainly was between 3000 or 2000 years B.C.

The tobacco plantations which are grown in the fields of Vuelta Abajo have exceptional leaves. They are selected according to their conditions before the world-famous Cuban Habanos, which enjoy such a great demand among the most select consumers, are made.

As an unavoidable part of the spirituality of those born on this Island, the production of Cuban cigars had also an influence on the architecture of this country, since big curing barns are needed on the fields, as well as industries and factories which in the city stamp a characteristic hallmark and constitute true architectonical works of art.

The production of the Cuban Habano, with a wide range of brands, satisfies the most demanding tastes, for it has more than 30 brands and more than 700 vitolas of unquestionable quality.

For Cuban natives tobacco was a miraculous medicine, the essential element in religious, politic and social ceremonies. It was also an important factor in their agriculture. The tobacco plant was usually grown in small conucos in the middle of cassava sown fields, a tubercle very used by natives. The encounter between both cultures during the conquest discovered this plant to the world. Cuban Tobacco Very quickly, a true passion for tobacco was aroused in Europe, mainly in Spain, where the smoking habit gained a lot of followers. The fury soon extended to Persia, Japan, Turkey and Russia, where the cruelest punishments were established. Peculiarly, together with this prohibition the use of tobacco with medicinal aims grew. In April 11th, 1717, King Felipe V arranged the royal monopoly of Cuban tobacco. This decision got into history as "Tobacco Monopoly", and was the death cause of honest planters who were against such onerous law. This restrictive period lasted up to June 23rd, 1817, when the monopoly was countermanded by Royal Decree, which allowed the free trade between the Island and the known world, always through Spanish ports.

Its farming was exclusive occupation of free men. While the roughness of sugar production allowed the use of working slaves, the tobacco plant requires the treatment for a delicate lady, as the Apostle Jose Martí said. So, thousands of Canary Islands' immigrants, who arrived to Cuba by the end of 19th century, worked in the growing of tobacco.

During the last years, tobacco has been displaced from the second position of exportable productions, regarding the incomes it provides, but it is still between the first ones because of its world-wide recognized quality.

Considered a real work of art, the preparation of an Habano requires that its creator (the torcedor or roller) works all the time by hand, and it all begins with the Escogida (Sorting House), a place where leaves are selected by their sizes and types and according to the specific characteristics of each cigar or vitola.

The secret of a good cigar, according to specialists, lies in a perfect blend, in which, in a right proportion, light-flavored «volado» (combustibility), medium-flavored «seco» (aroma) and full-flavored slow-burning «ligero» (strength) leaves are combined. These three types of leaves which form the filler or «tripa» (the core of a cigar) are responsible for the taste and aroma of an Habano. The increasing demand of Habanos has led to the appearance of new buildings designed for the enjoyment of an excellent vitola and the keeping of the product in ideal conditions.