I thought this was a good article on Nicaraguan cigars.
Its from a Cigar.com news letter... they get the credit.
I think I'll smoke a Nic puro tonight... maybe a Padron 2000,
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Still recovering from a ten-year civil war, Nicaragua has been quickly making its way back to center stage in the cigar industry. In fact, it is projected that in less than five years, Nicaragua will surpass Honduras as the world's second largest cigar producing country (excluding Cuba). In 1990, a mere 488,000 cigars were imported into the United States from Nicaragua. Those cigars represented only one half of one percent of the total cigars imported that year. However, as of last year, that import figure is up over 56 million cigars, giving Nicaragua a healthy 18.5% of the US market share.
What has changed in Nicaragua in such a short time? Several tobacco experts and agronomists who left Cuba in search of new fertile soils to grow tobacco came to Nicaragua and rediscovered a metaphorical gold mine for the world's finest leaf. It is their efforts and these discoveries that have brought such families as the Garcias, Padróns, Olivas, Toraños, Perdomos, and Plasencias back to Nicaragua. In fact, it is the high ratings that come from these popular Nicaraguan brands that have contributed to the country's growth in the cigar industry.
One of the primary reasons Nicaragua has been such a hot spot for highly rated cigars is the availability and diversity of tobaccos the country provides. As a matter of fact, outside of Cuba, Nicaragua is the largest producer of puros (cigars that are made entirely from tobaccos grown in one country) because of the variety of seed types and growing regions accessible to farmers and cigar makers throughout Nicaragua. This includes Connecticut and Cuban seeds that are grown in Condega, Estelí and Jalapa.
The Jalapa region is located on Nicaragua's northern border and neighbors Honduras. Its red, fertile soil sprouts large plants that are grown in both the shade and the sun, which yield tobacco ideal for wrapper, with some of the lower primings being used for filler. Tobacco from the Jalapa region is known for its sweet and sometimes spicy characteristics.
A one hour drive south of Jalapa is Estelí. Estelí is the cigar capital of Nicaragua and is home to most of the country's cigar factories. Because of its central location in Nicaragua and its proximity to Managua, the nation's capital, Estelí is where most of the "magic happens" when it comes to producing cigars. The Estelí region is not only home to most of the factories, but it is also where the strongest tobacco is grown. The land in and around Estelí is known for its dark, almost black appearance and course texture. The soil's rich nutrients combined with an ideal climate yield a heavy leaf that is used in many of Nicaragua's fuller bodied and fuller flavored smokes. While most of the tobacco grown in Estelí is used for filler, the finest selections are reserved for wrapper.
Located north of Estelí and toward the Honduran border is Condega. Known as an agricultural town, Condega is a fertile region where mostly filler and binder tobacco is grown. The leaf harvested is a healthy medium between the full flavored Estelí tobacco and the sweet tobacco grown in Jalapa. Because of its medium body and well-rounded flavor characteristics, most Nicaraguan cigars contain at least some filler from the Condega region.
Considering the variety of tobacco available at each region, it is easy to see why Nicaragua has grown so successful. Cigar enthusiasts throughout the world readily admit that many Nicaraguan cigars are of superior quality and flavor to those from Cuba. Preferred for their rich flavor and aging potential, it may not be long before Nicaraguan cigars raise the bar and become the standard by which all other cigars are judged. If you have not had the privilege of experiencing the complexity and richness of a fine Nicaraguan cigar, we highly recommend the Don Pepin Garcia, Sol Cubano, Perdomo, Padrón, Toraño and Oliva lines.
:ss
Its from a Cigar.com news letter... they get the credit.
I think I'll smoke a Nic puro tonight... maybe a Padron 2000,
=====================================================
Still recovering from a ten-year civil war, Nicaragua has been quickly making its way back to center stage in the cigar industry. In fact, it is projected that in less than five years, Nicaragua will surpass Honduras as the world's second largest cigar producing country (excluding Cuba). In 1990, a mere 488,000 cigars were imported into the United States from Nicaragua. Those cigars represented only one half of one percent of the total cigars imported that year. However, as of last year, that import figure is up over 56 million cigars, giving Nicaragua a healthy 18.5% of the US market share.
What has changed in Nicaragua in such a short time? Several tobacco experts and agronomists who left Cuba in search of new fertile soils to grow tobacco came to Nicaragua and rediscovered a metaphorical gold mine for the world's finest leaf. It is their efforts and these discoveries that have brought such families as the Garcias, Padróns, Olivas, Toraños, Perdomos, and Plasencias back to Nicaragua. In fact, it is the high ratings that come from these popular Nicaraguan brands that have contributed to the country's growth in the cigar industry.
One of the primary reasons Nicaragua has been such a hot spot for highly rated cigars is the availability and diversity of tobaccos the country provides. As a matter of fact, outside of Cuba, Nicaragua is the largest producer of puros (cigars that are made entirely from tobaccos grown in one country) because of the variety of seed types and growing regions accessible to farmers and cigar makers throughout Nicaragua. This includes Connecticut and Cuban seeds that are grown in Condega, Estelí and Jalapa.
The Jalapa region is located on Nicaragua's northern border and neighbors Honduras. Its red, fertile soil sprouts large plants that are grown in both the shade and the sun, which yield tobacco ideal for wrapper, with some of the lower primings being used for filler. Tobacco from the Jalapa region is known for its sweet and sometimes spicy characteristics.
A one hour drive south of Jalapa is Estelí. Estelí is the cigar capital of Nicaragua and is home to most of the country's cigar factories. Because of its central location in Nicaragua and its proximity to Managua, the nation's capital, Estelí is where most of the "magic happens" when it comes to producing cigars. The Estelí region is not only home to most of the factories, but it is also where the strongest tobacco is grown. The land in and around Estelí is known for its dark, almost black appearance and course texture. The soil's rich nutrients combined with an ideal climate yield a heavy leaf that is used in many of Nicaragua's fuller bodied and fuller flavored smokes. While most of the tobacco grown in Estelí is used for filler, the finest selections are reserved for wrapper.
Located north of Estelí and toward the Honduran border is Condega. Known as an agricultural town, Condega is a fertile region where mostly filler and binder tobacco is grown. The leaf harvested is a healthy medium between the full flavored Estelí tobacco and the sweet tobacco grown in Jalapa. Because of its medium body and well-rounded flavor characteristics, most Nicaraguan cigars contain at least some filler from the Condega region.
Considering the variety of tobacco available at each region, it is easy to see why Nicaragua has grown so successful. Cigar enthusiasts throughout the world readily admit that many Nicaraguan cigars are of superior quality and flavor to those from Cuba. Preferred for their rich flavor and aging potential, it may not be long before Nicaraguan cigars raise the bar and become the standard by which all other cigars are judged. If you have not had the privilege of experiencing the complexity and richness of a fine Nicaraguan cigar, we highly recommend the Don Pepin Garcia, Sol Cubano, Perdomo, Padrón, Toraño and Oliva lines.
:ss