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A Brief Cigar History
Cigar Ingredients
Cigar Cultivation
Cigar Manufacturing
Cigar Taste & Flavor
Cigar Shapes, Sizes

& Colors
Cigar Storage
Common Cigar Terms
Cigar Statistics
Choosing a Cigar
Cutting a Cigar
Lighting a Cigar
Drinks and Cigars
Cigar Problems
The Perfect Smoke Ring

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History of the Cigar

Tobacco is an organically grown plant. No one knows when the first tobacco plant was discovered, however it is known that it was found in the Mexican Yucatan peninsula. It is known that the tobacco plant was used during the Maya civilization in Central America. When the Maya civilization fell, clans moved to North and South America.

In 1492, when Christopher Columbus found his way to the North American continent, he came across Indians smoking tobacco. From that point on, people began to smoke tobacco and it spread throughout Spain and Europe.

The premium, hand-rolled cigar as we know it today has changed little from those first rolled in Seville, Spain. In 1831 King Ferdinand VII granted Cubans the right to grow and sell tobacco in their homeland. In the US, tobacco was grown in various regions of the original British colonies. General Putnam is attributed with bringing tobacco to the state of Connecticut after serving in Cuba with the British Army in 1762.

After the Revolutionary War, tobacco factories sprang up in southern New England as well as Pennsylvania and New York. The word "stogie" is derived from Conestoga, Pennyslvania.

Cigar smoking in America had a dramatic rise during the Civil War era. Most cigars were made of domestic wrappers and Cuban fillers. Political upheaval in Cuba in the late 1800's forced many manufacturers to flee to the U.S. The first revolution in Cuba took place in 1895, freeing the country from Spain's control. Jose Marti supported by Teddy Roosevelt and his famous Rough Riders at San Juan Hill led this revolt.

The cigar and its myth of wealth and power have been popularized in modern times by many well-known figures in film and politics, here and abroad. From Bogart to Milton Berle, Edward G. Robinson, George Burns, MacArthur to Einstein and perhaps the most well known man of our century, Sir Winston Churchill.

Later in the ensuing years, the popularity and sophistication of tobacco products has widely grown and the 1990s has brought to us a significant increase in the popularity of cigars in the United States and a dramatic increase in the sales of imported premium cigar products.

Despite much of the controversy surrounding the use of tobacco products, the status of fine cigars as a luxury product in the American culture seems secure.

3x3 and 4x4 Bundles 601 Connecticut Black 601 Habano (Red) 601 Habano Oscuro (Green) 601 Maduro BP (Blue) Acid Al Capone Ambrosia Arturo Fuente Arturo Fuente Hemingway Ashton Cabinet Ashton Ashton ESG Ashton Heritage Ashton Maduro Ashton VSG Astral Augusto Reyes Avo Avo Domaine Avo Maduro Avo XO Baccarat Bahia Biarritz Blue Train Bolivar Boy - Girl Cigars Butera Royal Vintage Cabaiguan Cafe Creme Camacho Corojo Camacho Coyolar Camacho Havana Camacho Liberty Camacho Select Camacho SLR Camacho Triple Maduro CAO - 65th Anniversary CAO America CAO Brazilia CAO Cameroon CAO Criollo CAO CX2 CAO Flavor CAO Gold CAO Gold Maduro CAO Italia CAO Maduro CAO MX2 CAO Sopranos Chateau Real Cohiba Cohiba Extra Viejo Cojimar Cojimar Earth Supernatural Coronado by La Flor Dominicana Cuesta Rey Cabinet Cuesta Rey Centennial Cusano Davidoff Diamond Crown Diamond Crown Maximus Don Carlos Don Diego Don Lino Don Melo Centenario Don Pepin Black Don Pepin El Centurion Don Pepin Garcia Don Sebastian Don Tomas Cameroon Don Tomas Candela Don Tomas Clasico Don Tomas Sun Grown El Rey Del Mundo El Rey Del Mundo Olvidados Excalibur Exile Fonseca Fonseca Cubano Limitado Fresh Rolled Cigars Gispert Gran Habano 3 Siglos Gran Habano Corojo Griffins Griffins Fuerte Griffins Maduro Gurkha Ancient Warrior Gurkha Avenger G5 Gurkha Gurkha G3 Gurkha Master Select Gurkha Regent Gurkha Shaggy Gurkha Special Edition H. Upmann 2000 H. Upmann Anniversary H. Upmann Cameroon H. Upmann H. Upmann Signature Havana Honeys Helix Henry Clay Hoyo Dark Sumatra Hoyo De Monterrey Hoyo de Tradicion Illusione Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend Indian Tabac Classic Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Isla del Sol J. Fuego Java Joya De Nicaragua Joya Del Rey Kahula La Aroma De Cuba La Aurora La Flor Dominicana La Fontana Vintage La Gloria Cubana La Gloria Cubana Serie R La Perla Habana La Unica La Vieja Habana Las Cabrillas Leon Jimenes Macanudo Macanudo Gold Macanudo Maduro Macanudo Robust Macanudo Vintage Maxx Montecristo Montecristo Platinum Montecristo Serie C Montecristo White Montesino Nat Sherman National Brands Sun Grown Natural by Drew Estate Nobel Cigarillos Nub by Oliva Occidental Reserve Oliva Bundles Oliva Master Blend III Oliva Serie G Oliva Serie G Maduro Oliva Serie O Oliva Serie O Maduro Oliva Serie V Oliva Special S Oliveros Omar Ortez Originals Onyx Reserve Padilla 1948 Padilla Hybrid Padilla Miami Padilla Series 68 Padilla Signature 1932 Padron 1926 Padron Anniversario Padron Partagas 160 Partagas Black Label Partagas Partagas Ltd Reserve Decada Partagas Series S Partagas Spanish Rosada Private Stock Punch Punch Deluxe Punch Gran Puro Punch Grand Cru Punch Rare Corojo Puros Indios Rocky Patel Rocky Patel Decade Rocky Patel Edge Rocky Patel Edge Corojo Rocky Patel Edge Lite Rocky Patel Edge Maduro Rocky Patel Edge Missile Corojo Rocky Patel Edge Missile Maduro Rocky Patel ITC 10th Anniversary Rocky Patel Meritage Blend Rocky Patel Nording Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Romeo y Julieta Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve Romeo y Julieta Maduro Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Romeo y Julieta Vintage Romeo y Julietta Anniversario Royal Jamaica Gold Saint Luis Rey Honduran Saint Luis Rey Honduran Maduro Saint Luis Rey Serie G San Cristobal Sancho Panza Semper Fi Tatiana Tatuaje Te-Amo Torano Torano Virtuoso Trilogy Cameroon Trilogy Corojo Trinidad Zino Zino Platinum Scepter