| Have you ever wondered where cigars were | | | | his name to the scientific name for tobacco |
| first produced? It is widely believed that | | | | (Nicotiana tabacum). The origins of the word |
| cigars were first produced in Spain. But | | | | tobacco itself are still suspect, although |
| before cigars became all the rage in Europe, | | | | many believe it is simply a corruption of the |
| tobacco was needed to make them. Tobacco is | | | | word Tobago, which is the name of a Caribbean |
| indigenous to the Americas, where native | | | | island. Still others believe it comes from |
| peoples have produced it for hundreds of | | | | the word Tabasco, a region (and now state) in |
| years. It is believed that the Maya of | | | | Mexico. |
| Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and parts of | | | | |
| Central America cultivated tobacco, and even | | | | The first tobacco plantation in the United |
| smoked it! Tobacco use spread to other | | | | States was established in Virginia in 1612. |
| tribes, both north and south. It is believed | | | | More tobacco plantations followed in Maryland |
| that its first use in the United States was | | | | soon after. Although tobacco became a |
| probably among the tribe along the | | | | popular crop, it was only smoked in pipes. |
| Mississippi. It wasn't until Christopher | | | | The cigar was not introduced to the United |
| Columbus sailed his famous voyage to the | | | | States until the late 18th century. Israel |
| Americas in 1492 that the rest of the world | | | | Putnam, an army general who had served in the |
| came to know tobacco. | | | | Revolutionary War, is credited with |
| | | | introducing the cigar to the United States. |
| It is said that Columbus was not impressed by | | | | He had traveled to Cuba after the |
| tobacco or its use among native peoples, but | | | | Revolutionary War and returned with a box of |
| many sailors grew found of the strange plant. | | | | Cuban cigars. Their popularity quickly |
| Soon it quickly caught on in Spain and | | | | spread, and soon enough cigar factories were |
| Portugal. From there, it spread to France, | | | | established in the area of Harford, |
| where the French ambassador Jean Nicot lent | | | | Connecticut, where General Putnam resided. |