Article and a little History ot Tobaco/Cigars

[El Presidente]

Erba Santa Croce: Impact on National Culture

Monday, April 06, 2009

The presence of tobacco and its world in national culture is as old as man himself, and even language has increased its vocabulary regarding the sowing, recollection and elaboration of the finished product and according to specialists this contribution could be considered another great worth of this plant.

When Christopher Columbus arrived to Cuba, the natives living in the Island gave him some “dried leaves that should have been very valuable for them”.

In his journal the Admiral described those men and women going around with a charred stick in their hands, weeds to take the aromatic substance they used to.

It was tobacco, named Cohiba by the natives whose habit of smoking leaves or inhaling powder through the nose spread very fast throughout Europe. In 1585 it was taken to Rome, where it was named “Erba Santa Croce” after a cardinal.

China met it as benevolence weed, spirit smoke and pill of the five elements, and in 1639 it was ordered to decapitate everyone who sows it.

To France it was taken by a monk, but the glory of promoting it was won by Juan Nicot, Gallic ambassador in Lisbon, who showed it to Catalina de Medici, she fomented its cultivation and that was enough for the plant to be baptized as queen’s weed or ambassador’s weed.

To stay forever, it arrived in Pinar del Río in 1719, Vuelatabjo lands seemed to be blessed for the cultivation, and, even when time has passed since that date, the preference conquered back in that epoch is still kept.

Particularly in San Juan y Martínez, municipality known as tobacco Mecca in Cuba, a hole made history and all around the world there are lots of people demanding “Hoyo de Monterrey” cigars, by its aroma and combustion.

On the other hand, in San Luis municipality, a ninety-year-old producer is distinguished by the quality of his leaves, where everyday he received foreigners that go there to know Alejandro Robaina’s secret.

He says there is no mystery, but experience and dedication; however, the truth is that Vegas Robaina cigars, are preferred all around the world along with other Cuban tobacco brands.

In Pinar del Río, land of the best tobacco in the world, men and women who produce it, do not look in its cultivation for an economic interest, they feel satisfaction for keeping the family tradition generation to generation, and this has made possible the fame of Cuban cigars

[hellring]

Great read!!

[Tampa1257]

The smoking of tobacco has been a traditional as well as honored ritual among many cultures throughout the years. Native Americans have been smoking tobacco through a Peace Pipe since the early 1500's.

[Colt45]

In Pinar del Río, land of the best tobacco in the world, men and women who produce it, do not look in its cultivation for an economic interest, they feel satisfaction for keeping the family tradition generation to generation, and this has made possible the fame of Cuban cigars

This I do not doubt..........

Call me a skeptic, but someone, somewhere does look at it as $$$$$$$$

[Habanos2000]

This I do not doubt..........

Call me a skeptic, but someone, somewhere does look at it as $$$$$$$$

Yes, someone, but since the farmers don't make the $$, it's not them looking or finding the real economic benefits of their hard work. Sad.

[Colt45]

Yes, someone, but since the farmers don't make the $$, it's not them looking or finding the real economic benefits of their hard work. Sad.

There are some interesting times ahead........

[jquest63]

Thanks! Always a fan of cigar lore/history