Cuban Cigars History

After the abolition of the Cuban tobacco monopoly in 1817, and the beginning of the free trade with other nations, the increasing of the tobacco production in Cuba began. In 1827, 5500 tobacco plantations in Cuba already existed.

This figure increased to 9500 in 1859. In this same year, Havana had 1300 factories of cigars and more than 20 of cigarettes. The exportation from Cuba to the United States was the cause of such prosperity. Nevertheless, the rise of the customs duties by the North American in , well as, the emigration of many industrial tobacco growers from the island to North America due to the Spanish persecution provoked the crisis.

The tobacco growers founded new factories in Tampa and Key West. In 1898, when the independence conflict stopped, there were 120 important factories in Cuba. In 1906, 4 years after the US withdrawal from Cuba, it was created a new government in the island, the Tobacco Trust, which bought 291 cigar brands and 85 of cigarette.