Nicaragua’s cigar, which is consumed in 90% of countries worldwide, is highly appreciated and has a larger market share. The volcanic soil in which tobacco crops are grown in this Central American country gives it a distinctive character, according to traders and consumers at the 11th edition of the “Puro Sabor” (Pure Flavor) festival dedicated to it.
Colombian Andres Diaz Cuti, 57, said in the exhibition halls held in Esteli, about 150 kilometers north of the capital Managua, that Nicaraguan cigars have a “very good structure,” meaning depth and breadth of flavors and their impact on sensory receptors in the mouth and nose.
It is “rounded and smooth in terms of sweetness of flavors,” and some are rich in what is described as spicy flavors.
This cigar enthusiast also noticed that the burning process of its leaves is ideal. The tobacco industry in Nicaragua emerged in the 1960s thanks to Cuban immigrants who fled their country after the 1959 revolution.
They found volcanic soil rich in minerals and nutrients, and an ideal tropical climate for tobacco plants. About 150 companies in the Esteli region are engaged in tobacco cultivation, processing, cigar production, and packaging, according to Juan Ignacio Martinez, the head of “Hoya de Nicaragua,” the oldest tobacco company in the country. Today, Nicaraguan cigars are consumed in over 90 countries around the world, with most of them being exported to the United States, where they are not subject to the sanctions imposed on President Daniel Ortega’s regime.
The Cuban cigars, which are considered the best in the world, cannot access the North American market, the largest cigar markets in the world, due to the embargo imposed by Washington on the communist island since 1962.
In 2022, Cuba garnered revenues of $545 million from its markets in Europe (54%), Asia (19%), Latin America (15%), and Africa and the Middle East (12%).
However, American businessman Rocky Patel, who produces cigars in Honduras and the Dominican Republic, is not among those who prefer Cuban cigars, as he believes that “the best cigars in the world come from Nicaragua. People love Nicaraguan cigars.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco manufacturers in Nicaragua feared a decrease in business, but the opposite happened. With restrictions on movement imposed worldwide, people started smoking in their homes instead of cigar bars, which boosted sales.
Manuel Rubio, the president of the Chamber of Tobacco in Nicaragua, noted in an interview with France Press Agency that “strong demand for tobacco has been recorded since 2019… It no longer has a significant impact on this sector and on Nicaragua as a country.”
He added, “We achieved good results last year, exporting around 180 million cigars worth around $400 million.” He expects “growth to be between 10 and 15% this year.”
The cigar industry provides 35,000 direct jobs in the Esteli province alone, out of approximately 65,000 job opportunities in this sector across Nicaragua.
With patience and evident pride, Aristó Torres (56 years old), who works as a “torcedor” responsible for rolling cigars, explained the process of making a “puro,” which is a blend of the leaves used in making each cigar.
He stressed the importance of “satisfying the customers” and achieving that by “consistently learning and experimenting every day.” (AFP)
