Cigars From Spain? Yes, They Exist! However, They Do Not Come From the Iberian Peninsula but From the Canary Islands. As a Former Outpost for Spanish Trade With the Americas, They Have Maintained Close Ties With the Countries of the New World for Centuries. The Islands’ Unique Climate Creates Perfect Growing Conditions.
Canary Island Cigars: Rare Origin With a Small Industry
It Is Quite Rare for Canary Island Cigars to Reach Us. Dos Santos, Also Known as La Regenta, May Ring a Bell for Some. In Reality, However, the Local Tobacco and Cigar Industry Has Become Quite Manageable in Size. Compared With the Major Production Countries of the Caribbean, the Labor Costs of the Torcedores in Spain Are High – the Cigar Rollers Who Traditionally Work by Hand.
But of course, there was a time before mass package tourism arrived here. Originally, the Canary Islands were an extremely poor region. The Spanish crown’s interest in them was mainly due to their strategically convenient location. They served as the last port before crossing to the New World.
Tobacco Cultivation in the Canary Islands
Many inhabitants tried to escape poverty by traveling to the Americas themselves. Some of them returned home years later and brought back an entirely new cultural practice: tobacco cultivation. Although the Canary Islands lie further north and are also much drier, they share many similarities with Cuba. In particular, the extremely mineral-rich soils are perfectly suited for tobacco. These special conditions still shape the character of many cigars from the Canary Islands, which are now also offered internationally.
Crisis of the Canary Islands’ Cigar and Tobacco Industry
By the mid-19th century, a vibrant and successful cigar industry had developed on the Canary Islands. In particular, the famous and internationally highly valued tobacco variety Pelo del Oro, translated as “Golden Hair,” was grown here. But in the 1960s, disaster struck. Due to an outbreak of blue mold, all tobacco plants on the islands had to be destroyed.
The fact that the tradition of tobacco cultivation did not disappear afterwards is once again linked to Cuba: after the revolution, many Cubans left their homeland in search of a new place to live. Quite a few of them ended up in the Canary Islands, where they resumed their former profession. They brought with them new, more resilient tobacco varieties of Cuban origin such as Criollo, Piloto Cubano, and Corojo, which made it possible to continue tobacco cultivation on the Canary Islands.
Exclusively Puro?
There Is a Rumor That All Canary Island Cigars Are Puros. That Is Definitely Not True. The Cultivation Area on the Islands Is Limited, While the Sea Route to the Americas Is Not Far. As a Result, tobaccos of very different origins are processed on the Canary Islands. The misunderstanding probably stems from a translation error. In Spanish, “El puro” simply means a cigar, without specifying anything about its contents.
Well-Known Cigars From the Canary Islands
A perfect example of the diversity of cigars made in Spain is Canaritos. They Are Produced on Tenerife, Not Far From the Capital Santa Cruz. These Cigars With an Unbeatable Price-Performance Ratio Use Only About One Fifth Tobacco From the Volcanic Islands, While the Rest Comes From the Dominican Republic.
Dos Santos and the Cigar La Regenta
The Most Prominent Cigar of the Archipelago, However, Is the Already Mentioned Dos Santos. Its Even More Widely Known Name La Regenta Actually Refers Only to a Single Cigar That Became So Popular That It Is Often Identified With the Brand Itself. That Does Not Mean, However, That You Should Ignore the Other Cigars From Dos Santos – Quite the Opposite.
Conclusion: Canary Island Cigars Suitable for All Aficionados
Canary Island Cigars Are Certainly a Rarity. For Aficionados Looking for a Smoke That Is Not Part of Everyday Life, It Is Worth Taking a Look at This Small but Highly Interesting Selection. The Range Extends From Budget Options to Longfillers With an Exquisite Blend of Tobaccos From Various Countries in Central and South America.
