Santo Domingo

Although there is evidence that the natives of Santo Domingo had a habit of smoking just like the Tainos of Cuba, the rise of the cigar industry there was later. In fact, the United States embargo against Cuba and the exile in Santo Domingo of Cuban families created the conditions for a real boom in the 1970s. The main varieties of tobacco grown in Santo Domingo are olor dominicano, san vicente and of course the piloto cubano. The plantations are mainly located in the Cibao valley. Santiago De Los Caballeros, located in the heart of this valley, is the true Dominican cigar capital. While Cuba only produces "puros" cigars (tripe, binder and wrapper from Cuban soil only), manufacturers and Dominican brands in a resolutely modern approach make assemblies. Most Dominican cigars are dressed in wrappers from Ecuador, the USA or even Cameroon. In terms of filler mixtures, tobacco from Mexico, Honduras or Brazil is also incorporated into local products. Of great distinction and subtlety, Dominican cigars have gradually conquered a large public in the United States, then throughout the world. Renowned for high quality workmanship, Dominican cigars are also less opulent and lighter vitolas than Havana cigars. They now enjoy phenomenal success with nearly 400 million pieces exported, far ahead of the 120 to 130 million Cuban cigars sold worldwide.