Everything about cigars. Part 1

March 29, 2010

First acquaintances of Europeans with tobacco in form of cigars took place in 1492 when Christopher Columbus's expedition reached America's shores. First description of smoking Indians is met in notes of Rodrigo de Heres and Luis de Torres who, as it is considered were first people who saw aborigines with elongated bundles of leafs and tobacco filling. These were Indians from Taino tribe, Cuban aboriginals. And from that time Cuba became main tobacco manufacturer, but rolled up they were in Spain in a place called Seville. Cigar manufacturing appeared in 1541 but in Europe they entered only in 1717, where this tobacco was sniffed, or smoked only in pipes. Gradually, entire world started to find out about cigars, moreover that history of their spreading has repeated history of conquests. So, many people began their acquaintance with them, seizing vessel with unusual goods that went from Cuba. In Russia cigars appeared thanks to Dutch merchants. At that heroic epoch, court beauty that has never sniffed tobacco was equated to man who has never sniffed gun powder. However cigar was considered bolder toy than snuff tobacco. Smoking empress had been able to shock society with pleasure. And namely this art Catherine had in plenty. And moreover, empress has taken to cigars that were supplied that years by a good friend and merchant of the top guild Peter Nastroev. Later appeared cigars of Nastroeff brand.

Those distant years, Spaniards have kept cigar monopoly in the world almost two centuries and only at the first third of XIX century Cuban manufacturers of cigars received opportunity to export cigars in other countries.

Namely this time appeared famous brands, such as "Por Larranaga", "Ramon Allones", "Punch", "H.Upmann", "Partagas", "El Rey del Mundo", "Romeo y Julieta" and others. Their triumphal progress cigars begin in 20th years of XX century, this time fashion for cigars reached unprecedented heights. But when came time of famous Al Capone and Company, cigar became symbol of prosperity and visiting card of that epoch. Every self-respecting gentlemen smoked cigars. In palaces, clubs, hotels appeared smoking rooms, in railway trains - smoking coaches. Afternoon cigar, in company with a glass of brandy or port wine became a tradition in many countries.