History
The History of Cigar Making
From indigenous ritual to colonial trade to the modern boutique — a brief history of the cigar and its makers.
Published May 21, 2025 · Updated August 24, 2026
Pre-Columbian Origins
Long before cigars were a commercial product, the indigenous Taíno people of the Caribbean smoked rolled tobacco as part of ritual and social life. Spanish and Portuguese arrivals in the late 15th century encountered the practice, sent the leaf home, and seeded a global habit. The word cigar is thought to descend from the Mayan sikar, meaning to smoke.
The Rise of Cuba
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, Cuba became the center of cigar making. Havana's factories combined ideal growing country in nearby Pinar del Río with a concentration of skilled torcedores and a culture of brand craftsmanship. The Cuban cigar became the reference point against which all others were measured.
Industry and Upheaval
The 20th century brought industrialization, world wars, and political upheaval. Mechanization made cheap machine-made cigars widespread, while handmade production stayed concentrated in a handful of regions. The U.S. embargo on Cuba in the 1960s redirected the trade to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras, where many Cuban growers and rollers rebuilt their livelihoods.
The Modern Boutique Revival
Since the 1990s, a boutique revival has emphasized small batches, single-farm sourcing, and a return to craft. The cigar today sits where it began — between agriculture, handwork, and ritual — even as the geography of its making has spread across the world.
Frequently asked questions
Where did cigars originate?
The practice of smoking rolled tobacco originated with the indigenous Taíno people of the Caribbean; Spanish and Portuguese colonizers encountered it in the late 15th century and carried it to Europe.
How did Cuba become the center of cigar making?
Cuba's ideal tobacco-growing climate, Spanish colonial investment, and a concentration of skilled rollers made Havana the world's cigar capital from the 18th into the mid-20th century.
What changed the global cigar industry in the 1960s?
The U.S. embargo on Cuba redirected production to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras, where many Cuban-born growers and rollers re-established their craft.
