Pinar del Rio, the cradle of true cigars

Good morning, #Monomad friends

Welcome to my #Monomad Challenge

From my trip to the island of Cuba in 2010, I remember an excursion to the Pinar del Rio region. This region is known worldwide for its artisanal production of the best and most renowned cigars of all time. A centuries-old art, the tradition of spirally rolling the dried leaves of the tobacco plant, ending with a uniform wrapper that finishes it off and leaves it ready to be tasted by connoisseurs.

The real and only Havanos cigars are all produced in the Pinar del Rio region. And what makes this region so special? Some say that the unique climatic conditions are the biggest factor, not least the very long period of annual exposure to the sun, as well as the temperature and humidity of the air, or the pH of the soil... but the hands of the workers of these tobacco companies that are found here certainly contribute a lot with the care and knowledge they have acquired over decades... whether in the selection of the leaves they use to roll the cigar, the amount of pressure they exert to shape it, or the affection with which they support it... One interesting thing is that at the same time as these workers were rolling cigars, they had a cigar accessible at the end of the bench, and they enjoyed taking a few puffs between units produced.

When I was younger, I thought it was maduro to smoke... don't ask me why I thought so... At the time, I mainly smoked Lucky Strike or Amsterdamer (which was more suitable for pipes, but which I used to roll cigarettes). Well, after a few months of smoking about 3 or 4 cigarettes a day, I thought I shouldn't be "stuck", even though I thought it was a very interesting and introspective ritual. From opening the packet to smelling the vanilla scent of the finely cut leaves ready to be placed in the shroud. Then there was the whole ritual of rolling it up so that it had an elegant and homogeneous shape, both in diameter and weight... The ritual of lighting and calmly tasting it has always been part of my smoking ritual. I was never able to smoke when I was stressed, or when I had time to catch a train or enter a building... I always associated smoking with moments of leisure or relaxation...

I haven't smoked for over 12 years, and I don't miss it. In fact, these days, I can't even get close to anyone who smokes, or if I want to, I can't disguise the fact that it's not bothering me... It's interesting that you've developed this aversion to smoking... There must be a reason for it, but one thing's for sure, it's something I don't miss at all. Maybe one day I'll smoke a Cuban cigar... When I get married, maybe! Ahahah

I hope you enjoyed my post here in the B&W community

Bem Hajam 🍀

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Photographic edition with PhotoScape X