6 Cigar Myths and Legends Debunked

If you were to ask just about any cigar aficionado where the world’s finest cigars come from you would probably see a smile cross their face, their eyes look up to heaven, and hear “Cuba” roll from their lips.  Strong, full-bodied Cuban tobacco is the best in the world.  That’s why hand rolled Cuban cigars are so aromatic and spicy.  They are the epitome of the cigar maker’s craft.

Over the years a mystique has grown up around these cigars.  Secrets about these beautiful stogies have been whispered into the ears of world leaders, the captains of industry and anyone else who has been lucky enough to smoke one. Some of these stories are true, yet some are fantasy.  Today we’ll reveal the truth about some of the myths and legends about Cuban cigars.

The Bigger the Cigar the Stronger the Taste

Myths abound that correlate the strength of a cigar with its size.  Most myths suggest that the bigger a cigar is the stronger it is.  Actually, there is no correlation between the strength and the size of a cigar.  If a large cigar is made from mild tobacco it’s mellow.  Conversely, if a small cigar is made from strong tobacco it is strong.

Cuban Cigars are Rolled on the Thighs of Virgin Women Rollers

Sorry to disappoint you if you believe this myth, but Cuban cigars are rolled by men and women.  Some of them are virgins, while some are not.

As far as cigars being rolled on anyone’s thighs go, that’s an urban legend as well.  If you had the skill to roll a cigar you’d find that it would be extremely uncomfortable trying to roll it on your thigh.  The Cuban cigar factories have furnished areas where the cigar rollers create their masterpieces on wooden rolling platforms.

A Cigar’s Strength and Body are the Same

Experienced cigar smokers know that strength and body are different.  Full bodied cigars aren’t necessarily strong, and vice versa.  A cigar’s strength is dependent on the spice and amount of nicotine in the tobacco, not on the flavor of the cigar.

Only Perfect Cigars Burn with a White Ash

Here’s another legend that’s about to bite the dust.  If a cigar burns with a white ash it only means that the tobacco was grown in soil that had a lot of calcium and phosphorous.  If a cigar burns with a grey ash it just means that the land the cigar tobacco was grown on has a lot of magnesium in the soil.

The Darker the Maduro (the Wrapper) the Stronger the Cigar

This is also a myth.  The color of the maduro does not indicate how strong a cigar is.  There’s only way to find out how strong a cigar is and that is to smoke it.

JFK Wanted to Exempt Cuban Cigars from the Embargo

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy loved Cuban cigars.  Right before the embargo became official he had his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, secure 1,200 boxes of H. Upmann Petit Coronas.

Kennedy actually did want to exempt Cuban cigars from the embargo.  However, tobacconists from Tampa opposed this idea and confronted him with it.  Obviously, they won.

There you have it – the truth about half a dozen of the most popular myths and legends about cigars.  One thing that you can’t debunk, though, is the pleasure you can get from smoking a fine cigar – Cuban or otherwise.

Author Bio – Jason Daniels enjoys cigars and loves writing about them.  When he’s not writing articles about cigars you might find him journeying to lands where cigars are manufactured.  And, when he’s not smoking cigars, you’ll often find e-cigs between his lips.