Cuba enjoys one of the strongest reputations in the world for consistently producing high-quality cigars. Whatever one’s personal views on whether Cuban cigars are the very best, there is no denying that Cuba grows some of the finest tobacco on earth.
The Early Roots of Tobacco in Cuba
The origins of Cuban tobacco stretch back thousands of years. The plant itself migrated from South America, arriving in the Antilles around 3000 BC. Indigenous Cubans—who called the tobacco leaf “cohiba”—believed it possessed mystical and medicinal qualities. It was burned in ceremonies, used in political rituals, and thought to cure ailments. For them, tobacco was not just a crop; it was a sacred gift.
By the 18th century, formal tobacco plantations began appearing in the eastern part of the island. As demand grew, cultivation spread westward, eventually establishing the Pinar del Río region as the heart of Cuban tobacco production. Even today, its famed Vuelta Abajo fields are considered the most prestigious terroir for cigar tobacco in the world.
Tobacco Overtakes Sugar
Cuba’s first significant export was sugar. But as word spread about the island’s rich and aromatic tobacco, the balance quickly shifted. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, tobacco had become Cuba’s leading export, surpassing sugar in importance and prestige.
Cuban cigars travelled first to Spain, then to markets as far afield as Russia, Turkey, and Japan. While Europeans soon realised tobacco lacked the miraculous medicinal properties once attributed to it, its popularity as a luxury product only grew.
The Tobacco Monopoly of 1717
In 1717, King Felipe V of Spain imposed the infamous Tobacco Monopoly, centralising all cultivation and trade under the Crown. Farmers who used tobacco medicinally were threatened with execution, and the system remained in place for a century. It was not until 1817, under Royal Decree, that free trade was restored, allowing Cuba’s cigar industry to flourish once more.
Tobacco and Freedom of Labour
An unusual aspect of Cuban history lies in the workforce. While sugar plantations relied heavily on enslaved labour, tobacco fields did not. Plantation owners believed that cultivating and fermenting tobacco required a delicate touch, patience, and pride in craftsmanship—qualities they felt only free men could deliver. From the outset, this sense of respect and artistry became deeply ingrained in the culture of Cuban cigar making.
Factories and Global Fame
By the 19th century, Havana was home to legendary cigar houses such as H. Upmann, Partagás, and Romeo y Julieta. Rolling rooms buzzed with skilled torcedores, each producing cigars that would soon capture the imagination of the world. The Cuban cigar had become more than a commodity; it was a symbol of refinement and luxury.
Embargo and Enduring Prestige
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the US embargo on Cuban goods—famously after ordering his press secretary to secure 1,200 Petit Upmanns for his personal humidor. With American markets closed, Cuba lost its single largest trading partner. Yet despite this seismic blow, Cuban cigars remained among the island’s top three exports, cherished globally for their unmatched reputation.
A Legacy That Endures
Today, Cuba’s cigar industry stands as both a cultural treasure and a vital economic resource. From the sacred rituals of indigenous peoples to the global prestige of Cohiba, Montecristo, and Partagás, the story of Cuban cigars is inextricably linked to the story of Cuba itself—a blend of history, craftsmanship, and enduring mystique.