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Why Are Cuban Cigars Famous?

Cuban cigars are thought to be the most famous in the world. The best cigars from Cuba are also the most expensive. They are referred to as “The Forbidden Fruit” due to their distinctive flavor and aroma and the fact that they are not permitted in the U.S. The most skilled cigar rollers make their home in Cuba and are highly respected within local society.

Aside from their high quality, what makes Cuban cigars so famous to U.S. consumers is that they are contraband. Since 1962, they have been included in the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba. They cannot be legally purchased or imported by U.S. residents on the market, no matter where the resident is located. U.S. cigar lovers have been known to travel to Canada or Mexico to enjoy these smokes and sometimes try to smuggle them back into the country.

When private property in Cuba was expropriated, many cigar manufacturers relocated to other countries, namely the Dominican Republic, and continued production. They continued to use their existing company name, while the state tobacco monopoly in Cuba also produced the products under these names. The result is that the same name brands exist in both countries.

Some Cuban refugees living in the U.S. make cigars and advertise them as Cuban, saying that they are made by Cubans. Other people smuggle the contraband into the country and sell it at exorbitant prices. The Internet has made it possible for U.S. residents to buy cigars online from another country, especially when the item is shipped without a band.

In some tourist regions within Europe, the Cuban cigar is publically advertised in an attempt to cater to U.S. travelers. The irony of this is that tobacco advertisements are illegal in most regions of Europe. The advertisers are taking as much risk by advertising as U.S. residents are by buying them.