Do you think a cigar is necessarily a Cuban cigar? Are you wondering if there are other countries that produce cigars? If so, which ones?
This article will enlighten you!
For the first two questions, the answers are simple: no, a cigar is not necessarily Cuban, and yes, cigars are produced in several other countries. As for which countries produce cigars, that's the whole subject of this article.
Part of the pleasure of smoking a cigar comes from discovering the different tobacco-producing countries. Many variables affect the composition of a cigar, and the first among them is its origin.
Knowing the origin of your cigar enriches your smoking experience by helping you find the varieties that suit you best.
So, we have compiled a list of the countries that produce the best cigars in the world!
The main cigar-producing countries in the world are:
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Ecuador
- Brazil
- USA
And others.
Discover them in more depth below!
1. Cuba
Is it really necessary to specify? The term "Cuban cigar" is so common today that one might think that only those exist. At the same time, Cuba is the most popular cigar producer in the world. The best tobacco-growing region in the territory is the Vuelta Abajo, which is part of the Pinar del Rio region in the west of the country.
Its cigars stand out for being made from high-quality tobacco and for the care taken in the manufacturing of each vitola. In fact, it is estimated that it takes over a hundred steps to properly produce a single Cuban cigar.
Here are the best premium cigars from the country:
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Montecristo N4 : the best-selling cigar in the world. Versatile, it offers an intense flavor and an easy-to-smoke design.
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Partagas Serie No.4 : a reliable cigar, with an incredible taste and character and an interesting design.
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Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona : a medium-bodied cigar with notes of three citruses, mild spices, and coffee.
Unfortunately, they are still a bit difficult to find in our regions due to the trade embargo started in 1960. But the situation is improving; give them some time, and we will see them more and more.
Popular brands: La Aurora, Arturo Fuente, Montecristo, La Flor Dominicana.
Character: creamy with notes of cocoa and wood.
2. Dominican Republic
You will undoubtedly be surprised to learn that the Dominican Republic is among the top cigar-producing countries before Cuba! In fact, when the embargos on Cuba made exporting cigars impossible, many Cuban cigar families had to relocate and chose the Dominican Republic to continue production.
Thus, the neighboring island of Cuba became the leading exporter to the United States. But despite being only a few hundred kilometers apart, Dominican cigars have their own identity.
The cultivated tobaccos are mostly derived from Cuban seed varieties and are known for their smoothness, although recently, bolder flavors have also been produced.
The main tobacco-growing region is near the city of Santiago, in the northern half of the country. This small city, located in an agricultural region, is also the residence of the majority of Dominican cigar makers.
Here are the best premium cigars from the country:
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Macanudo Prince Philip : the best-selling cigar brand in the United States, thanks to its silky smoothness and the use of Connecticut and Mexican tobaccos.
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La Aurora Barrel Aged Robusto : the country's first cigar, aged in oak barrels, with bold notes of mocha, charred wood, and coffee.
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Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Double Robusto : an extraordinary smoke with a gentle draw, flavored with chocolate, nuts, cocoa, and more.
Whether these Dominican cigars are puros (made from a single origin) or blended with tobacco from other countries to achieve more complex flavors, they have a reputation for being mild, well-constructed, and of high quality.
An excellent choice for new cigar smokers while also satisfying experienced palates.
Popular brands: Montecristo, Partagas, H. Upmann, Cohiba.
Character: citrusy, herbaceous.
3. Nicaragua
The embargo on Cuba led to a vast migration of local producers to more commercially viable lands. Among these cigar makers, some turned to Nicaragua, where volcanic soils rich in minerals are ideal for tobacco cultivation.
They passed on their knowledge to local brands, including Padron, Perdomo, and My Father. The industry has grown to the point where cigars now represent a significant portion of the country's exports.
Here are the best premium cigars from the country:
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La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial : a cigar flavored with leather, cocoa, cedar, almonds, and Nicaraguan spices.
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My Father Le Bijou : a cigar with an intense and meaty finish, with a beautiful balance on the lips, flavored with semi-sweet cocoa and coffee bean notes.
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Padron 1964 Anniversary : an optimal taste, flavored with notes of cedar, cocoa, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Many cigar smokers consider Nicaraguan cigars to be the closest to the classic Cuban profile in terms of body and flavor.
Popular brands: My Father, Padron, Perdomo.
Character: spicy, nutty.
4. Honduras
Honduras is home to some of the boldest and richest tobaccos in the world. It has entered the top 3 exporters of premium cigars. This is due to the introduction of Cuban seeds in the 1960s, including the famous Corojo. Honduran cigars, like fine wines, have only improved with time.
Here are the best premium cigars from the country:
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Rocky Patel : exclusive long-fillers, handcrafted cigar wrapped in an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.
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Punch : a rich and peppery cigar, beautifully hand-constructed with a Maduro and natural wrapper.
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Alec Bradley : rich notes of earth, cayenne, spices, and cedar, ranked as the number one cigar in 2011.
One thing many cigar smokers agree on is that Honduran cigars are known for their strength and full-bodied profile. This is achieved by using ligero in the construction of many of the best Honduran cigars.
Popular brands: Camacho, Room 101.
Character: earthy with notes of leather.
5. Mexico
Mexico is primarily known as a source of wrapper tobacco used by some of the largest cigar producers. The San Andres Valley is world-renowned for a variant of Sumatra tobacco grown under the sun.
Moreover, Mexico has recently produced excellent Maduro wrappers known as Mexican San Andres, which are on par with Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers.
This type of tobacco (Maduro) can withstand the cooking and sweating process that creates the darkest shades of leaves. However, this doesn't stop Mexico from being a full-fledged cigar producer.
Here are the best premium cigars from the country:
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La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor : creamy profile of cocoa and smoked nuts, made from Nicaraguan long-fillers and an oily San Andres wrapper.
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Oliva Serie V Maduro : made with a glossy and dark San Andres wrapper, with notes of leather, cayenne, and earth.
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E.P. Carillo La Historia : glossy San Andres wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Nicaraguan long-fillers, with notes of chestnut, spices, and cedar.
Most of the leaves used in the production of high-quality Mexican cigars are dark and often strong. This is the case with a cigar like Te-Amo. However, there are exceptions, such as brands like Liga Privada, Room 101, and Padilla.
Popular brand: E. Perez Carrillo La Historia.
Character: earthy, rich, leathery.
6. Ecuador
Ecuador entered the cigar market less than 20 years ago.
The humidity, soil enriched by the ashes of its 32 volcanoes, and the cloud cover of the west coast of South America provide perfect conditions for the cultivation of a special tobacco leaf: La Habano. It is highly regarded for its dark and spicy wrapper leaf.
Cultivators use varieties of Connecticut and Sumatra seeds. The tobacco generally appears milder and less robust in strength and flavor compared to the originals. The color of its wrapper falls between that of Connecticut and Cameroon.
Popular brands: Tatuaje, Montecristo, My Father Cigars.
Character: spicy, creamy, bold.
7. Brazil
Extremely powerful, this dark and fermented tobacco leaf from Brazil is a welcome addition to the international tobacco scene.
Due to its high strength, Brazilian tobacco is clearly not intended for beginners. It is better to gain experience with lighter tobaccos before venturing into the intense Brazilian type.
Popular brand: CAO Brazilia.
Character: rich, earthy, fermented.
8. United States of America
It is not because J.F. Kennedy was a Cuban cigar addict that the United States does not produce cigars. On the contrary, they have been producing wrappers for over 100 years!
North of Hartford, Connecticut, the Connecticut River Valley produces some of the best wrapper tobacco leaves in the world: Connecticut shade and Connecticut broadleaf.
The fine, brown to tan-brown shade leaf has a high degree of elasticity and produces a smooth to medium-bodied smoke. In a different vein, the broadleaf produces a dark, almost black leaf, which is used for Maduro-style cigars. It is heavier and more veiny than the shade-grown leaf.
Popular cigars: Camacho American Barrel-Aged and Drew Estates Kentucky Fire Cured.
Character: smooth, creamy.
9. Jamaica
This Caribbean island nation was one of the early producers after the Cuban revolution but nearly lost its tobacco industry during Hurricane Gilbert (1988).
Since then, the country has slowly recovered and once again provides fine tobacco.
Popular brand: Macanudo.
Character: mild with a hint of spice.
10. Cameroon
Cameroon and the Central African Republic are part of a West African region known for its high-quality wrapper leaves. It is the only African region that produces tobacco, though traditionally it has been difficult to access the fields.
The African climate is perfect for the cultivation of Cameroon wrapper leaf, often referred to as "toothy" due to its easily recognizable grain.
Cameroon leaf is derived from Sumatra seeds imported from Indonesia. It is appreciated for its neutrality, making it an ideal wrapper for strong-tasting filler tobaccos. Cameroon wrappers are generally greenish-brown to dark brown in color.
Cigars that use Cameroonian materials are rare but definitely worth trying.
Popular brands: Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Rocky Patel, Partagas.
Character: rich, mild, creamy.
Make your choice and enjoy!
Several countries produce different types of cigars, each with unique tastes, sensations, appearances, and scents. This is a good thing because it allows the smoker to choose based on their preferences.
The above selection presents the main cigar-producing countries, their characteristics, and the best cigars for some of them. Now you know everything you need to make your choice!
If your curiosity leads you to try several terroirs, don't forget to keep them in good condition (and separate) with our cigar humidors.
