Over our 16+ years of trading, we’ve received countless questions from customers about how to store, cut, and enjoy cigars properly. Here, we’ve gathered the most popular cigar FAQs to help beginners and aficionados alike. Humidors & Storage Q: What is the proper humidity to maintain in a humidor?A: Between 65% and 75% humidity (70% being ideal)….
Category: Guide to Cigars
The History of Tobacco and Cuban Cigar Leaf
The story of tobacco — and of the legendary Cuban cigar leaf — begins in 1492, when Christopher Columbus and his Spanish expedition landed in the New World and encountered something utterly new: the Taino Indians rolling and burning mysterious leaves in a ritual ceremony. They called it “Cohiba.” That first aromatic curl of smoke marked the beginning…
Caution: The Tobacco Beetle!
There are few sights more depressing for a cigar lover than opening a cherished box of Havanas only to find tiny holes running through the wrappers. Sadly, this means your cigars have fallen victim to Lasioderma Serricorne — better known as the tobacco beetle. These pests are the bane of the cigar world. Small, discreet, and destructive, they…
The Story of the Cigar Band – History, Function & Etiquette
The cigar band is one of the smallest yet most recognisable parts of a cigar — a colourful ring of paper that wraps around the cigar’s body. But behind this little detail lies a surprising amount of history, tradition, and even debate. A Brief History of the Cigar Band The cigar band was first introduced…
Preparation for Smoking a Handmade Cigar
The Art of Cigar Preperation The enjoyment of a fine handmade cigar begins long before the first draw. Preparation is part of the ritual — a moment to slow down, focus, and savour the experience from start to finish. Selecting, cutting, lighting, and finally smoking your cigar should never be hurried. Take your time; this…
Guide to Setting up Your Humidor Correctly
When you first receive your new humidor, it’s tempting to fill it immediately with your prized cigars. However, if you do this before properly preparing it, you risk drying out your cigars and ruining them. Why? Because the Spanish cedar lining inside your humidor is kiln-dried and must reach its humidity equilibrium of around 65% before it…
Choosing your Cigar
Choosing your cigar is not a simply as it sounds. Cigars come in many shapes and sizes and colours. It is often difficult for a neophyte cigar smoker to get a complete understanding of the how these factors affect the taste. The shape of the cigar is perhaps the hardest thing to describe since there…
Cigar Etiquette Explained: From London Lounges to Global Customs
Cigars are more than tobacco — they are a ritual. From lighting and smoking to how we handle them in company, there’s an etiquette that has been passed down through generations of aficionados. In 1967, Zino Davidoff outlined a “charter” of cigar etiquette in his essay for connoisseurs. More than 50 years later, his guidance remains as…
The EMS Security Stamp for UK Cuban Cigars
Counterfeit Havana cigars are one of the biggest frustrations in the world of premium tobacco. From dodgy street deals in Havana to glossy online shops selling “Cohibas” that have never seen Cuban soil, fakes are everywhere. To protect UK smokers, Hunters & Frankau — the official importer of Habanos S.A. — introduced a special EMS Security Stamp back…
The Art of Cutting and Lighting a Cigar
Cutting and lighting a cigar is more than a routine—it’s a ritual. Done correctly, it maximises the enjoyment of your Havana and honours the craftsmanship behind every leaf. Understanding the Anatomy Every Havana is built from three key components: the filler, the binder, and the delicate wrapper leaf. The wrapper is sealed at the cigar’s head with a…