Cigar World Spotlight: European Tobacco & Cigars
Europe has long been an important market for cigar manufacturers, and many famous Europeans have harbored a profound love of cigars over the years (none more so than Winston Churchill). However, recently, cigar brands have begun to feature European tobacco in premium cigars. Let’s explore European tobacco and explain what makes it an exciting new player in the cigar industry.
What is European Tobacco?
European tobacco is tobacco that is grown in Europe. That may seem obvious, but fans of pipe tobacco may know of popular pipe tobacco varieties like English or Danish blends. These products may or may not contain tobacco actually cultivated in Europe. Rather, they often feature tobacco sourced from North or South America and then produced in factories in Europe. This is one reason why Denmark is such a major player in the tobacco space, even though the country does not produce much tobacco on a global scale.
When did Tobacco Come to Europe?
Tobacco is not native to Europe. It was brought to Europe during the age of exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries. Since then, Europeans have been smoking and producing tobacco products.
Which Countries in Europe Grow Tobacco?
Tobacco is a fairly resilient and versatile plant, so you can grow it in a lot of places. However, generally speaking, the warmer the client, the better. According to the European Commission, eight countries produce 99% of Europe’s tobacco: Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Croatia, France, Hungary, and Bulgaria.
What Does European Tobacco Taste Like?
It’s difficult to make generalizations about European tobacco. Indeed, not all South American or Caribbean tobacco — for instance — looks or tastes the same. Most often, though, European tobacco comes from seeds taken from Central and South America. It is typically rare, exotic, and aged. And it tends to deliver rich, sophisticated smoking experiences.
What are the Best Cigars with European Tobacco?
Macanudo Emissary España
The first cigar in the Emissary Series, Macanudo Emissary España, features 10-year-aged Spanish tobacco within a complex and nuanced blend. It was also rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado.
CAO Italia
CAO Italia was a pioneer in the premium cigar space because of its use of Italian tobacco. Italia offers an earthy and sweet smoking experience replete with notes of spice, cream, and fruit.
Toscano Cigars
Toscano Cigars offer an interesting change of pace for cigar lovers. Crafted with a blend of Italian and fermented Kentucky tobacco, these machine-made, budget-friendly smokes have developed a cult following over the years.
Macanudo Emissary France
The latest cigar in the Emissary Series, Emissary France showcases rare and refined tobacco grown in the Mugron River Valley (France).
Have you tried a cigar with European tobacco before? Sign up for Cigar World and let us know how it was with a comment!
Previous Article: Cigar Smoking Basics: Tips for Enjoying Your First Cigar
You never get a second chance at a first impression. Smoking a cigar should be an enjoyable experience, but, unfortunately, too many people don’t like their first forrays into cigar culture. If you’re new to the cigar hobby — or you have a friend who wants to start trying cigars — be sure to read this article ASAP! Here, we’ll share some cigar-smoking basics and pass along a few key tips for enjoying your first cigar and smoking experience.
Next Article: The Top 5 Everyday Cigars
A great cigar is a great cigar all the time, right? Well, not necessarily. Some cigars are simply too expensive, too big, or too rare to enjoy on a regular basis. Such cigars will make quality special occasion smokes, but they’re unlikely to be a wise choice for enjoying Monday through Friday. Instead, today, we’ll focus on a few sticks that are excellent everyday carry candidates. Here are our favorite everyday cigars.
Comments
No one has commented on this page yet.