Jamm

There’s an unusual yet charming story behind these cigars, one we’d like to share here. During a family vacation to Canada—specifically to Niagara Falls—the company founder, Jose Antonio Martins Monteiro, met a cigar aficionado named Joaquim Alfredo Mesquita Moreira. After getting to know each other, Joaquim offered him his first cigar. The two hit it off immediately and have remained close friends ever since. So close, in fact, that their (identical!) initials became the brand name for these Brazilian cigars. As Jose Antonio points out, cigars represent much more than mere objects to be burned—they’re a kind of talisman for meaningful connections, energy, and emotion.

Brazilian Cigars from Alagoinhas: Tradition and Craftsmanship in the Heart of Bahia

Though it began in Canada, the idea eventually found its way to northeastern Brazil, to a city called Alagoinhas in the Bahia region—also home to many other well-known Brazilian cigars. The city’s name traces back to the phrase “vamos ali, nas lagoinhas,” which could be translated as “let’s go to the little lagoons.” Fueled by the passion for cigars sparked in Canada, Jose Antonio Martins Monteiro began looking for the ideal setting to bring his dream to life. Alagoinhas struck him as the perfect place—not least because many major names in the production and distribution of tobacco and cigars are based there.

Premium Cigars with CBA Tobacco: Unique Flavors from Brazil

Today, around 100 employees work there, practically like one big family, producing high-quality Brazilian cigars. A small fun fact on the side: one of the wrapper leaves, a binder, and part of the filler tobacco are made using what’s known as CBA tobacco. No, that’s not an abbreviation—it’s a clue to the origin of the seed used, one that’s not allowed to be named in Germany. We thoroughly enjoyed the cigars; we sampled the Premium Robust as a tasting example. It has a “typical” Brazilian profile—best described as slightly smooth and oily with a hint of sweetness. It even reminded us a bit of cigars from Nicaragua—one might guess that a bit of Nicaraguan tobacco made its way into the blend.