| The indigenous inhabitants of the islands of Mexico and | | | | Spanish galleon, San Clemente, brought 50 kilograms, |
| the Americas smoked cigars as early as 1100 A.D. | | | | or 110 pounds, of tobacco seed over the |
| This is evidenced by the discovery of a ceramic | | | | Acapulco-Manila trade route to the Philippines. There |
| vessel at a Mayan archaeological site located at | | | | the seed was allocated to Roman Catholic missions, |
| Uaxactun, Guatemala. A painted figure of a man | | | | where the clerics discovered that the climate and soil |
| smoking a rudimentary form of cigar adorns the | | | | were ideal for growing high-quality tobacco. |
| vessel. | | | | |
| | | | | In the centuries that followed, the use of tobacco |
| It was the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus who | | | | became widespread. Its use for recreational purposes |
| officially inaugurated Europe to the pleasure of | | | | and as a stimulant became popular among people |
| smoking tobacco. Because of this, he is credited with | | | | who worked long hours. By the 1700’s, Cuba |
| being the catalyst for the advent of the modern | | | | became the premiere location for the best tobacco |
| handmade cigar. He visited the indigenous population | | | | and for the development of what we know today as |
| and noticed that they used tobacco for medicine, tribal | | | | the modern cigar. The origins of the English word |
| rituals and for spiritual practices. | | | | “cigar” come from the Spanish word cigarro, |
| | | | | which in turn was a derivative from the Mayan word |
| Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, two crewmen | | | | for tobacco, siyar. |
| who sailed with Columbus, are said to have been | | | | |
| introduced to tobacco for the first time on the island | | | | From the 1700’s to today, Cuban cigars and Cuban |
| San Salvador in the Bahamas. There, during the | | | | tobacco became recognized as the world’s finest. |
| famous voyage of 1492, natives offered them | | | | However, the Communist take-over of Cuba by Fidel |
| fragrant dry leaves with an aroma that lingered after it | | | | Castro in the early 1960’s, and the subsequent U.S. |
| was lit. Further exploration revealed that tobacco was | | | | embargo, challenged that country’s title. Former |
| widespread among the other island tribes, such as | | | | Cuban cigar-makers took their skills and seeds to the |
| Cuba, which is the location where Columbus and his | | | | Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico, |
| men established their first official settlement. | | | | producing high-end cigars categorized as premium and |
| | | | | super-premium. |
| Columbus exported tobacco back to Europe and it | | | | |
| was immediately all the rage. In fact, tobacco was | | | | Today, the exquisite pleasure of the premium cigar |
| such hit that, to much of the European population, the | | | | remains one luxury that connoisseurs enjoy worldwide. |
| idea of farming tobacco served as a rationale for the | | | | Handmade cigars that are part of this remarkable |
| colonization of North America, South America and the | | | | heritage may be obtained online through premium |
| Caribbean. | | | | companies. |
| | | | | |
| Ship manifest records of 1592 recorded that the | | | | Enjoy laughter. Enjoy life. Enjoy a fine cigar. |