The Internet Travel Guide "Getting to Know Cuba"

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Cigar History

The Romeo y Julieta from Havana was Churchill's favorite cigar. Fidel Castro loved his Cohiba until he quit smoking during an antismoking campaign in 1990. Che Guevara could not stay away from his purp habano even though he suffered from asthma. In the 19th century, the brown gem made out of velvety leaves with its stimulating effect became a symbol for money, intellect and individuality, although it took Europeans quite a long time to discover this pleasure.

Castro in younger years

When Columbus first came to Cuba, he saw the natives smoking those strange brown things frequently. However, the conquistadors only had gold on their minds and thus, they didn't see the source of wealth that lay in the burning leaves. However, that changed quickly. The Caribbean Stub took the noble European saloons by storm, people even smoked in churches. It was not until the 18th century that manufacturers in Havana began to produce cigars.

Che Guevara, of course with a cigar

A decree in 1717 guaranteed a monopoly for the Spanish Crown and thus, the Royal Trading Center in Havana was established with branches in Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba and Bayano. The center enforced its monopoly rights in such a ruthless manner that the work that the tobacco farmers had to put in was completely out of proportion to the small profit they were making, and so they stopped working their fields. One hundred years later, in 1817, the Crown abolished its monopoly, and this allowed production to flourish again.