Are Cuban Cigars made in Cuba or by Cubans?
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In the United States it is illegal to purchase cigars from Cuba, and as such they highly sought after. It is partly because of their one of a kind exotic flavor and partially because of the fact that they are illegal. Purchasing Cuban cigars through other countries such as Canada or the Jamaican Islands is quite common, but so are counterfeits; this being said, the consumer should be wary of purchasing any "Cuban Cigars" unless they are sure of the ethnicity. Cuba has had a long history of making cigars, and before the 1960's exported fine quality cigars to people all over the United States, due to Fidel Castro's over taking and communist rule, the United States has not had trade relations with Cuba since that time. It is thought today that Cuba doesn't produce the same quality products as it did before Castro for two reasons; first, that most of the quality cigar makers fled Cuba for a better life in America and second, because the country is currently so impoverished that the farmers cannot afford to properly cure, ferment, or assemble their products.
Cuban Farmers in the United States and Dominican Republic
Many Cuban immigrants wanted to continue their fine craft even after leaving their homes; many regained their tobacco footing in Connecticut, where they were able to farm in rich land that produces a highly sought plant the across the world. As their skills improved many such farmers and master cigar makers moved to free trade zones in the Dominican Republic; from this point they are available to use soils very much like Cuba, and produce similar flavors to Cuban cigars. Some aficionados believe that Dominican Republic cigars currently surpass those which are a product of Cuba, as the Dominican Republic has the benefit of experienced workers with a passion to perfect the cigar. These same connoisseurs believe that the Cuban cigar manufacturers are so concerned with quantity that they often forgo true quality. Many people agree that Dominican Republic tobaccos and cigars are of superior quality to modern Cuban cigars.
Tradition of Cuban Cigar Making
Cuban cigar making has traditionally been a life experience for such farmers, they are born into a house where their entire lives revolve around tobacco, many masters of today were taught by their fathers, and they were taught by theirs, and so on for the entire line of a given family. Cuban cigar companies which have sold their rights to other companies and operate out of the Dominican Republic or other areas still keep with the tradition to make the highest quality of cigars at all times, and to keep the tradition alive with in their families. Many families center their lives around the tobacco as if it were a religion; this type of dedication relates to their products in the fact that they only will use the highest quality tobaccos, allows the tobacco to cure and ferment the appropriate amount of time having constant control and guiding the entire tobacco process. These dedicated individuals make it a tough choice for many experts to choose a better cigar between true Cuban Cigars and Cuban grown and made cigars. This controversial subject is debated among producers and customers alike; the answer lies in personal taste, preferences, and experiences.
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