Why Are Cuban Cigars So Special?

Cuban cigars have a global reputation as the very best that money can buy. So what is it that makes them so special?

A long history and a unique taste

First of all, tobacco has been grown in Cuba for hundreds of years and farmers have a huge wealth of experience to draw on. Plus tobacco is like grapes in that it takes on flavours from the soil in which it is grown, so only Cuban tobacco will taste like Cuban tobacco. The island’s cigar makers have a unique product that no one else can replicate.

It just so happens that Cuban tobacco is great for cigars, with the plants from the west of the country particularly highly regarded. Head to the area around the tourist town of Vinales and you’ll find endless tobacco farms, thanks to the great taste that the soil gives cigars.

A desirable commodity

While the raw materials for Cuban cigars are top quality thanks to natural properties and human knowledge, there is also an element of marketing at play. In the first half of the 20th century, Cuba became a playground for wealthy Americans and cigars a signifier of wealth and success in the United States.

After the Cuban revolution and the imposition of the US trade embargo, Americans could no longer visit Cuba easily and it was impossible to import cigars. This only added to the mystique.

Visit a cigar factory in Granada, Nicaragua

What next for Cuban cigars?

In addition the Communist government of Cuba exercises a firm hold over the cigar industry. While this means that strict quality controls are in place, it also allows officials in Havana to control supply and keep prices high. This in turn makes the cigars more desirable.

Cuba might be synonymous with cigars, but there are rival producers out there. In fact, aficionados claim that certain Nicaraguan cigars are actually higher quality than their Cuban rivals. For casual smokers, however, nothing beats the allure of a Cuban cigar.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.