American Tobacco History

Tobacco has been a fundamental crop in North America for as long as it’s been inhabited. It’s also been a major aspect of American Heritage, and grew to be one of the major cash crops for our area of the world. While tobacco has become a taboo topic among may people today, it still remains a major aspect of culture, social growth, and is still respected as a piece of American, and world history. The history of tobacco is vast and long, not just in America, but internationally.

              Tobacco in America has some major appearances in history. In North, South, and Central America, tobacco has been used for religious rites, post-battle reflection, and even a form of currency for a time. Going back in time, tobacco was found to be used by humans as far back as 8,000 years ago. The Mayans were one of the first people to smoke tobacco for religious rites and sacred ceremonies.

              In addition to the Mayans, some of the more notable people who used tobacco were Native American Shamans. The Shamans would use tobacco for religious rites, and as a way to connect with the spirits for guidance, or post-battle reflection. In this instance, the Native Americans used Peace Pipes. In fact, there are some versions of the Peace Pipe that are attached to tomahawks, allowing for an easy transition.

              Moving forward in time a bit to the Columbus era, circa 1492, the term “smoking” was not a common word used when consuming tobacco. In fact, enjoying a tobacco was called “drinking”.

              Tobacco didn’t become a more prominent cash crop until the early 1600s. John Rolfe, of Virginia, brought tobacco from South America to his homestead in Virginia. This not only led it to becoming a major cash crop, but the overall popularity skyrocketed. Rolfe’s transport of tobacco to Virginia led it to becoming a staple of the colonies in North America, and becoming a more popular commodity among those overseas in Europe. Tobacco was such a popular crop, in fact, that it was a deciding factor in where people would establish settlements. If tobacco could not be grown in an area, people would not settle there. As tobacco gained traction and popularity, it became something of a currency. People could pay off taxes, penalties, and it could even be used to pay for government expenses. However, the tobacco would be used as currency by the pound, as opposed to by the leaf, which actually makes sense. Imagine paying your taxes with only a few tobacco leaves, or sending the IRS a box of cigars and you’re good for the year.

              Over time, tobacco has taken may forms for which people could enjoy it. Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and of course, cigars. Cigars in America became a very popular commodity and luxury item at times. While cigars today come in all different shapes, sizes, strengths, and wrappers, in colonial times, cigar sizes were sparce, and the tobacco used was only dependent on what region you were in or traded with. However, the fermentation and aging process has barely changed since this time, which means when they figured it out, they got it right.

              In 1762, about 14 years before the Revolutionary War, cigars started growing in popularity due to trading crops and information with South America. Lt. Col. Israel Putnam was with the British military, and in the middle of the British Invasion of Cuba. During the invasion, Putnam became stranded in Cuba. While he was there, he obtained a large amount of Cuban tobacco seeds, and a large amount of Cuban cigars. Putnam not only survived Cuba, he actually made it back to his home in Massachusetts. Once he returned home, he planted the tobacco seeds he obtained from Cuba, leading to the first Connecticut tobacco plant, later becoming the Connecticut Broadleaf. After the Connecticut tobacco started gaining traction, it became a serious competitor with Cuban tobacco as far as flavor, strength, and versatility.

              In the late 1800s, Florida became the hub for cigars in the United States. People from Spain and South and Central America started coming to Florida for it’s similar climate, and potential with cigars. The major area in which people went was the Tampa area. In fact, there is a section of Tampa which is nicknamed “Cigar City”. This portion of Tampa goes by the name of Ybor City today.

              Ybor City is and was the major hub for cigar factories in the United States. At one time, there were over 40,000 cigar factories in the United States, with a majority of them being located in the Tampa area, or Florida in general. While many of them did not last due to lack of interest by the public, lack of income, or other economic issues, only a few stood standing and operational. The most notable is El Reloj, J. C. Newman’s Cigar Factory in Ybor City. This factory is not only still standing, but is still operational, and open for tours.

              Fast forwarding to the 1990s, the Cigar Boom. The Cigar Boom was an increasing in cigar sales, manufacturing, and imports, which started in the early-to-mid- 1990s. The Cigar Boom lasted until the very early 2000s, where cigar sales, production, and imports went back down to  more normal numbers. There are a a few theories as to why the Cigar Boom occurred. One of which is the introduction Cigar Aficionado, which promoted the sale and enjoyment of cigars. However, it may be more likely that the Cigar Boom occurred due to the county’s economic recovery, and renewed interest in luxury goods. Remember, the Soviet Unon fell in 1991, and the Cigar Boom started in the early 1990s. With a less serious threat of all out nuclear war, people’s paranoia and saving of money and resources became laxer, allowing them to enjoy a cigar or two more often.

              The Cigar Boom of the 1990s also led to new cigar companies and manufacturers to get established. While many did not survive after the boom, some companies succeeded, and are still around today. Some of the most notable ones are Perdomo Cigars, La Flor Dominicana, Rocky Patel Cigars, and Drew Estate. While Perdomo, LFD, and Rocky Patel had a more traditional or semi-traditional approach to crafting and selling their cigars, Drew Estate labeled themselves as “ The Rebirth of Cigars”. This branding gave them an edge to get the younger generations, those who were in their early 20s during the cigar boom, the join the cigar community and enjoy premium cigars. Even to this day, Drew Estate’s style as far as branding, events, and extra swag are a more modern style, and more eye catching. Whereas Perdomo, LFD, and Rocky Patel keep a more moderate and traditional style with their branding and events.

              The United States experienced another Cigar Boom around 2017. While this boom was not as large or impactful as the Cigar Boom of the 1990s, it was a serious spike in cigar sales, production, and imports. This boom also led to the creation of some newer, boutique cigar companies, including All Saints Cigars and Stolen Throne Cigars. This boom, however, was not as long as the Cigar Boom of the 1990s. This boom only lasted until the early 2020s.

              While Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos are considered to be the most prominent tobaccos in the United States for cigars, there are some tobaccos that are produced in the United States that are used in some very prominent cigars, and manufacturers use them in multiple blends.

              The first is the Connecticut Broadleaf. This tobacco is one that has a long timeline in the American tobacco industry. Connecticut Broadlead came about because Israel Putnam brought Cuban tobacco seeds back to Massachusetts. As time progressed, the Connecticut Broadleaf has become a very sought after tobacco by many manufacturers in the industry. Some of the most notable cigars which use Connecticut Broadleaf are many of the cigars in the Fuente catalog, including the Hemingway line and the Gran Reserva line. The Connecticut Broadleaf can also be found in the Foundation Tabernacle CT, and the Crowned Heads Mil Dias.

              The Connecticut Shade, however, did not come into the spotlight until the early 1900s. While it is also a very sought after tobacco leaf, many manufacturers use it’s counterpart, the Ecuadorian Connecticut as opposed to the US Connecticut. Some of the more notable cigars which use the Connecticut Shade leaves are the HVC Hot Cakes Golden Line and the Undercrown Shade.

              The Pennsylvania Broadleaf also has a long history in American Agriculture. Pennsylvania Broadleaf has been grown in Lancaster County since the early 1700s, and the process of planting, growing, fermenting, and aging the leaves has not changes. The Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobacco has a unique flavor, and can be stronger that the Connecticut Broadleaf. Some of the most notable cigars made with Pennsylvania Broadleaf are the Liga Privada H99, the Room101 Doomsayer Aggressive, and the United Cigars Red Anchor.

              Kentucky Fire Cured Tobacco has also been around for over 200 years. However, it did not originally start out as cigar tobacco. In fact, it was more commonly used for cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco. Overtime, Kentucky Fire Cured Tobacco has become a part of the premium cigar world, providing a unique flavor profile and aroma. One of the first companies to use KFC in a premium cigar was Drew Estate, in their Kentucky Fire Cured line.

              Cigars and tobacco have been staples of American culture for a long time, and they continue to be a staple of the social aspect of United States. While you’re less likely to see someone using tobacco for a religious rite, or using tobacco as currency, you can still find people using tobacco for rest and reflection if every cigar lounge you walk into.

For a more in depth conversation on this topic, be sure to listen to the Great Cigars Podcast episode American Tobacco History with a Damn Fool, available on all podcast airwaves 3/15/2025.