As we embark on a journey into the leisurely world of cigars, let us begin by clearing the air. We already know what the CDC and the American Lung Association have to say about the harmful risks of cigarette and cigar smoking, but did you know that comparing cigarettes to cigars is like comparing a packaged fruit snack to a freshly picked organic apple?
Like fruit snacks, where the word “fruit” is misleading, cigarettes are also mass-produced in factories, where preservatives, additives, and artificial colors combine with tobacco and nicotine. The process allows cigarettes to sit on store shelves for long periods. On the other hand, apples and cigars are organically provided by Mother Nature and naturally nurtured by knowledgeable apple and tobacco farmers.
That’s right! Cigars are as natural and organic as consumable products come. From flavor to their rich color, cigars have no chemical additives, nor are they inorganically altered. They are free from artificial color and preservative-free. Even the cigar itself is wrapped in pure tobacco leaves and rolled by hand, a craft that takes years of practice to master completely.
At this juncture, you may wonder how cigars are kept fresh without chemical preservatives. Like wine and spirits, cigars go through a unique fermenting process. With the use of water, oxygen, and pressure, a balance of humidity and oxidation occurs. This natural process changes the chemical composition of tobacco leaves to expose the physical traits of each tobacco leaf. In other words, the importance of fermentation, not unlike wine grapes, is how the fermentation process allows for “self-expression.” Say goodbye to the bitterness and astringent taste of tobacco leaves, and hello to their more favorable characteristics, such as sweetness, floral expressions, and woodsy and nutty features.
French leadership initially gave cigarettes the French name for “little cigars.” We can see how vastly different cigarettes and cigars are from each other. One big difference is that cigar smoke’s intention is not for inhalation. Do not inhale the smoke from your cigar. Instead, sit back and enjoy the delicate flavor and relaxation properties associated with proper cigar etiquette.
Before the big moment, let us imagine countless tobacco seeds. Hold that thought.
Cigar making begins with a chosen tiny tobacco seed before approximately 200 sets of hands attend to it. The first set of hands belong to skilled tobacco seed sorters and selectors. They are then planted into specific soil with a chosen climate and cultivated until the seedlings become tobacco leaves. Tobacco leaves experts to monitor crops, crop-eating insects, bugs, and garden pests. Nurturing continues until harvest, at which point, picking, sorting, packing, greenhouse storing, shipping, and all other processes are completed and managed. The variables are so vast that each cigar, when finished, has its own personality, size, shape, flavor(s), and wrapping.
By the time you hold your perfectly picked cigar in your hand, you can be sure that you have invested in a masterpiece—Mother Nature’s miracle, managed by the knowledge and artistry of tobacco makers. The tedious process guarantees that no two cigars are exactly alike. Even cigar rolling is an art that takes years to craft. Did you know that cigar tobacco leaves are rolled tightly in tobacco leaves? Nothing generic is found here.
It is no wonder that cigar aficionados regard cigar smoking with well-earned respect. Arguably, one of history’s most recognized and revered world leaders was a cigar aficionado! Winston Churchill led Britain through WWII, his famous speeches, never giving in, and smoking anywhere from eight to ten cigars a day! Is it possible that the soothing cadence of smoking cigars assisted Churchill through difficult decisions, a life that lasted 90 years, and a permanent standing in history?
There is a portrait of a cigar-smoking Churchill at the Winston Churchill War Rooms and Museum entrance in London, England. Some view this image as his trademark look, while others see it as a reminder that taking time out to meditate and contemplate is almost as important as action. From his perspective, Churchill once said, “Smoking cigars is like falling in love. First, you are attracted by its shape; you stay for its flavor, and you must always remember never, never to let the flame go out!”
As we wind down the road, we hope you have enjoyed your introduction and that you are gearing up to find your first cigar or your first cigar with a different perspective on your mind. Before you go, we hope you will enjoy the rest of our informational website topics and consider the pretty cool company you share.
Schwarzenegger, Stallone, McConaughey, and Will Smith have described cigar smoking as “…a big advantage in life”, “…like a magic carpet ride”, and “…a ritual that slows my clock down”. Like all cigar aficionados, they have embraced the art form of cigar smoking, its intended purpose to take its time, linger, and purpose a cadence that is both contemplative and meditative, a chance to escape daily fatigue and explore our most inner thoughts.
We hope you will read on and then seek out your preferred cigar feeling less like a beginner.
