| Cuba may seem like the country to which the cigar | | | | While Cuban Cigars may be more recognizable, |
| industry belongs, with citizens stopping just short of | | | | overall, cigars from the Dominican Republic include a |
| saluting a Havana Sun Grown instead of a flag. | | | | greater variety of flavors, aromas, and colors. This is |
| However, Cuba is not the only country with this | | | | largely due to the ideal growing environment the |
| distinction; it's not the sole place on an atlas known | | | | country possesses, giving cultivators the ability to be |
| for putting cigars on the map. Lying east of Cuba is | | | | versatile in their creations. With more than 600,000 |
| another nation known to be smoking hot when it | | | | acres of tobacco plants nationwide, the Dominican |
| comes to the world of cigars: The Dominican | | | | Republic is able to produce a cigar that will fit just |
| Republic. | | | | about anybody's taste. |
| The Dominican Republic, fittingly discovered by Mr. | | | | The majority of the tobacco grown in the Dominican |
| Cigar himself, Christopher Columbus, is the largest | | | | Republic is cultivated in the northern part of the |
| producer of cigars in the entire world, making it | | | | country, in close proximity to Santiago. Because of |
| known as "Cigar Country" and leaving stogie lovers | | | | this, Santiago is known to many as the "Capitol of |
| everywhere to search for their passports, book their | | | | the Tobacco and Cigar Industry." With climate full of |
| flights, and come to a place that captures the true | | | | warm weather, and the occasional tropical wind, it's |
| culture and essence of tobacco. | | | | an ideal place for tobacco growers and cigar makers |
| Bent on a history of instable organization, ruled by | | | | to establish roots. |
| military government and dictators, the Dominican | | | | Over the past two decades, the people of the |
| Republic is a nation possessing the burdens of | | | | Dominican Republic have spent a great deal of time |
| economic hardships. From recessions, to inflation, | | | | improving the quality of their cigar tobacco. The |
| from trade deficits to fraud, the citizens of the | | | | tobacco plants are carefully managed and cared for, |
| Dominican Republic have seen more economic turmoil | | | | leaving no leaf unturned in the quest to produce |
| than most. Nonetheless, their tobacco industry has | | | | cigars of the highest quality. The entire process is |
| helped to keep them afloat, with cigars from the | | | | highly involved and highly evolved - a process that |
| Dominican Republic rivaling Cubans for procurement | | | | can take up to three years from beginning to end. |
| of the title of "Best Cigar." | | | | In keeping with its reputation as the "Cigar Country," |
| Cuban Cigars may get all the mention, as if they are | | | | the Dominican Republic is the birthplace of cigars |
| lit with a spotlight rather than a match. But, as cigars | | | | from some of the world's most popular brands. |
| from the Dominican Republic stand in the corner, | | | | Among these are Arturo Fuente, La Aurora, Leon |
| quietly ashing and giving Cuban Cigars a look of | | | | Jimenes, Cojimar, and Montecristo. But, the Dominican |
| intellectual composure, the question about whether | | | | Republic, relying heavily on tourism for economical |
| the elusiveness of the Cuban Cigar plays into some | | | | increases, doesn't simply produce cigars and send |
| of its greatness must be posed. Does the difficulty | | | | them on their way. Instead, they have a whole cigar |
| of procuring Cuban Cigars make them a sweeter | | | | world in their cigar country. |
| smoke, as if a reward for an accomplished challenge? | | | | From gift shops specializing in souvenir cigars to |
| But, even with this question and the mysterious | | | | famous cigar factory tours, from cigar shops to cigar |
| mystique that Cuban Cigars possess, some cigar | | | | museums, the Dominican Republic offers the cigar |
| connoisseurs still believe that in the fight of Dominican | | | | loving visitor an experience they won't soon forget. |
| Cigar versus Cuban Cigar, it is the Cubans that get | | | | With all the cigar-related activities, this country |
| burned. | | | | assures that the excitement and enjoyment won't |
| However, because many Cubans fled their country | | | | be extinguished. |
| during Castro's rise to power, taking with them their | | | | For the true cigar lover, the Dominican Republic must |
| knowledge and their tobacco seeds, many of the | | | | be on the list of places to visit. A country that not |
| cigars produced in the Dominican Republic literally do | | | | only values the intricate details involved with cigar |
| have Cuban roots. This, undoubtedly, gives the cigars | | | | making, but also shares those details and experiences |
| some commonalities, but, because they are grown in | | | | with the visiting public, this country is sure to add a |
| different soils and on different lands, the cigars also | | | | flavorful experience to all that cross into it, carrying |
| maintain some differences. | | | | humidors and leaving cigarettes at the border. |