Cigar smoking is a gentleman’s and ladies’ pastime. A Cigar Club has its way of bringing people together, existing as one of those few and far between locations where you’d happen to encounter a congressman sitting next to a truck driver. Both parties fully engaged in conversation—significant or trivial, all the while genuinely enjoying each other’s company and reaping the benefits in the special experience of cigar smoking.
Most historians believe that cigar smoking originated somewhere around the 10th century, at a time where it was first popularized by ancient Mayans who would smoke tobacco wrapped in plantain leaves. In later times, Spanish manufacturers adopted the same concept and began wrapping dried tobacco in paper instead of leaves. The concept of wrapping tobacco in paper became more and more popular, other companies caught on and began the process of growing tobacco and mass-producing cigars. Cuba soon after became one of the best places to grow tobacco plants. The influx of popularity incited the launch of a growing tobacco industry, and sailing ships distributed the Cuba grown tobacco to Europe and Asia.
Some of the information that I found to be compelling while conducting research is that in the 19th century, Tampa, Florida became widely known as the “cigar hotspot”. This recognized location was the cause of several Cuban cigar makers migration to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Central American countries were known to have produced some of the best cigars in the world, with some of the finest brands of cigars emerging from Cuba, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Cigars quickly became a status symbol and a part of a popular culture where a great deal of notable individuals like, King Edward VII, Ulysses S. Grant, and Sigmund Freud…as well as well-known movie stars and athletes, all sharing in the pleasure of smoking cigars today.
Today, cigar smoking is still considered an art form and is becoming more and more popular amongst men and women alike. There is nothing like sitting back, relaxing and lighting one up!!