Puros Cubanos
Cuban Cigars
http://www.cubancrafters.com/images/cigars/cc/image2/cigar-miami-cuban-cigars-robusto-650.jpg
Cuba's expanding sugar industry was the primary drive for manual labor in the early 1700's, but the tobacco industry was not far behind. Cuba has extraordinarily rich soil ideal for growing tobacco, which spurred the rise of tobacco plantations in the 18th century, and subsequently the production of cuban cigars. Tobacco rose up naturally near rivers where there is an abundance of rich sandy soil, and it was here that farmers built large plantations. The best and most renowned cigars come from Vuelta Abajo. Vuelta Abajo is located in western Cuba in the Pinar del Rio region. The name of the region itself reflects the source of the fertile land, Pinar meaning pine grove and Rio meaning river.
The majority of the farmers came from the Canary Islands, islands that are a nationality of Spain located off the northwest coast of Africa. These farmers set up plantations but unlike sugar plantations, tobacco plantations were mostly operated by the natives or free men. A portion of the slaves brought from West Africa to Cuba worked in tobacco fields but not nearly the amount that labored on sugar plantations.
Canary Islands of the northwest coast of Africa
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Spain's trade embargo on Cuba limited the production of cigars and it was not until the early 1800's when this embargo was lifted that Cuban cigars gained their popularity and exports grew.
Tobacco plantation in the Pinar del Rio region
http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1566-0130942
Sources- http://www.nationalcigarmuseum.com/Site/Cuba.html
http://www.cigarsmag.com/articlesInside.asp?type=1&ar=23
http://www.cubancigarshistory.com/
