Cigar DirectoryThe historical connection between our country and cigars can be traced back to the mid-Ming Dynasty. In the "Book of Lu" before 1611, it was recorded: "The country of Luzon produces a strange herb called 'xun'. It can intoxicate people and repel miasma." Here, "Luzon" refers to the area around present-day Luzon Island in the South China Sea, which was known for its high-quality tobacco production at the time, and "Luzon tobacco" refers to the tobacco leaves.
During the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, the Portuguese introduced "Luzon tobacco" to Hepu, Guangxi. In the "Chronicles of Macau" compiled by Yinguang and Zhang Rulin in 1751 during the Qianlong period, it mentioned that the foreign people "also consume tobacco, rolled in paper like a pen tube, ignited and inhaled."
By the Qing Dynasty, cigars began to gain popularity in China. In 1894, Zheng Guanying mentioned in "The Words of the Prosperous Age: Tax Regulations" that "all imported Luzon tobacco and foreign wine are only for meals and are not subject to tax." This indicates that cigars had already established a certain market in China at that time.
The popularity of cigars in China is reflected not only in imports but also in domestic production. In some tobacco-producing areas in Guangdong, such as Lianjiang, Heshan, Xinhui, Qingyuan, Nanyong, and Dapu, people began to smoke leaf tobacco, which is a simplified version of cigars. This type of tobacco can be smoked directly or inserted into a pipe. It later spread to Sichuan, landing in Shifang County. Even today, people in Guangdong and Sichuan still retain the original habit of smoking cigar leaves, tearing a few pieces of matured cigar leaves, rolling them in their hands, and either holding them in their mouths or inserting them into a pipe to smoke. This is the primitive form of Chinese cigar culture.
In 1896, Li Hongzhang visited Europe, and at that time, the British presented him with a box of cigars, reflecting the popularity of cigars in China.
In the 1980s in China, a brand new dream quietly sprouted in the tobacco industry—the birth of domestic cigars. This was an era full of challenges and opportunities, and the emergence of domestic cigars was like igniting a ray of hope on the vast land of China.
During that period, China's tobacco industry was at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading. Domestic cigar manufacturers, with a passion for cigars and a pursuit of quality, began their exploratory journey. They understood that to secure a place in the fiercely competitive global cigar market, they had to overcome challenges in technology, raw materials, and the market.
The initial stage of domestic cigars was filled with hardships. Technologically, they faced difficulties head-on, actively introducing advanced foreign technologies and equipment, conducting experiments and improvements day and night, striving to ensure that every domestic cigar could meet international standards. In terms of raw materials, they traversed mountains and rivers to find the most suitable land for growing tobacco leaves, from the lofty mountains of Yunnan to the fertile plains of Sichuan, with each tobacco leaf carrying their hopes and sweat.
Market cultivation and brand building were also a long and arduous road. Domestic cigar manufacturers understood that to make the Chinese people accept and love cigars, they had to start from scratch, nurturing the market bit by bit. They held cigar tasting events, inviting cigar enthusiasts to share the unique charm of domestic cigars; they sponsored various cultural activities to let more people understand cigar culture and experience the joy that cigars bring.
As time passed, the quality of domestic cigars continuously improved, and their brand influence grew stronger. Domestic cigars were no longer mere imitators; they began to showcase unique Chinese characteristics, whether in the selection of tobacco leaves, the blending of formulas, or the design of packaging, all revealing a flavor of Eastern culture. Domestic cigars are confidently stepping onto the world stage, showcasing the charm of Chinese tobacco to the world.
The birth and development of domestic cigars is a microcosm of China's reform and opening-up process. It witnesses China's transformation from a major tobacco country to a strong tobacco country and heralds a bright future for domestic cigars in the global cigar market.
