The Origins of Cigar Making

Cigars became more of a commonplace luxury in Europe. Because of this, more and more cigar workshops started to emerge in Spain. As time moved on, large factories began to open in the region. The first one was in Seville, in 1758.

The factory was controlled by the Spanish Monarchy at the time. This represented the real birth of the cigar industry.

Women, known as cigarellas, would be in charge of hand rolling the cigars. These were then exported all across the continent.

The leaves themselves came from Cuba, shipped all the way across the Atlantic. This also solidified Cuba’s future as the top supplier for cigars.

It was also around this time that the first premium cigars were produced. They’re very similar to the ones we recognize today. These included fine, aged tobacco, rolled tightly in tobacco leaves. This created a high-quality smoke.

The cigar was not only enjoyed for its flavor and the overall smoking experience. It was also highly regarded for its fashionability. Eventually, the lower classes became associated with pipe smoking. This was deemed cheap and less refined. The wealthier classes, on the other hand, used the cigar as a symbol of status. We can see these traces all the way to the modern day. Businessmen regularly smoke cigars in meetings, as a symbol of success and wealth.

Meanwhile, cigar smoking was also becoming popular in England. This is especially true for the Connecticut wrapper we’ve all come to appreciate today. Its popularity  first began with an English officer who lived near Hartford. This officer returned to his home in Connecticut from a siege in Havana. He brought back about 30,000 cigars and hoards of Cuban seed. This would, eventually, adapt to a different climate.

source: swisscubancigar