As explained in a previous article, No – Cigars are not “like cigarettes”, I outlined the tobacco growing process and its importance in the crafting of premium cigars. But where does this process occur? Where is the best tobacco in the world grown and harvested? Well, multiple countries grow premium cigar tobacco, including: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States, and others.
To be fair, each of these top growing regions deserves their own article (Cuba may deserve multiple articles). I will therefore be breaking down each country, along with some of my favourite smokes from each region, in the coming months.
Today, however, I will list the four most noteworthy tobacco growing regions in Cuba. These four regions play an integral part in the production of the highly regarded Habanos (Havana cigars).
Only a small percentage of Cuba’s tobacco producing land is capable of providing leaves of the quality required to make Habanos.
What is a Habano (Havana cigar)?
According to Hunters & Frankau — the Exclusive UK Distributor for all Havana cigars (Habanos) — the following must be true for a Cuban cigar to earn the title of a Habano:
1. made by hand in Cuba using tobacco leaves that have been grown in one of four tobacco regions (listed below);
2. the cigar must be produced exactly to the approved standards of the Cuban cigar industry.
The Regions (as promised)
Cuba has four main tobacco growing regions.
- Pinar del Rio (inclusive of Vuelta Abajo)
- Partido
- Remedios
- Vuelta Arriba
Within these four districts, each field is classified according to the quality of their tobacco harvest and the tobacco it can grow.
The finest tobacco fields within these districts are known as “first class fields” (or vegas de primera), and only in these fields can tobacco worthy of making Habanos (Havana cigars) be found.
There are currently 27 brands that have earned the title of a Habano.
This includes common names like Cohiba, H. Upmann, Partagas and Montecristo (some of my absolute favourite cigar manufactures), but also some less well known names such as Saint Luis Rey or El Rey Del Mundo.
A full list and history of each of the 27 cigar brands can be found here: H&F’s Enthusiast Guide to Havana Cigars (one of the most helpful cigar guides I’ve found online).
To sum it up, many argue that no other country in the world grows tobacco better than Cuba. For the most part, I agree — Cuban cigars have superior qualities; however, like wine and other finer things (that don’t reeaaally matter), it always comes down to personal preference.
I encourage you to branch out and try cigars from all regions, while paying attention to the different taste profiles that each can produce. This is ultimately what makes smoking cigars from different regions entertaining and interesting…
Thank you for reading.
CIGARRO | Thoughts from the humidor…
