I read once somewhere that if cigarettes are a one-night-stand then cigars are a love affair, One is looking for a quick fix and the other is looking for love.
You may wonder what philosophy has to do with cigars when it deals primarily with questions of reality, meaning and origin.
Can tobacco get that deep?
Yes, I believe it can.
Everything has an origin. Whether you believe the ancient text of Genesis where we read that God created plants and seeds to reproduce itself or in evolution where over millions of years of natural selection produced tobacco seeds.
In any case, there was once no tobacco and now there is.
At first glance tobacco plants are really unimpressive. They live for 3 – 4 months, grow to 5 ½ (in sun) to 9 (in shade) feet tall, flower and then turn yellow and die.
Tobacco is from the Nicotaini and Nightshade family of plants and of the 70 different types of tobacco only a couple are used for cigars. Incidentally cigarettes use an entirely different burley tobacco that is never used in cigars.
I have always wondered what made someone decide to try eating an egg or the brains of a sheep but in our civilized age it is hard to imagine ancient cultures’ attitudes on eating and experimenting with plants.
In the same way with tobacco, ancient civilizations as far back as 3000 B.C. used tobacco as a herb and healing substance much like how they used nightshade.
The most common tobacco is Nicotaina Rustica which is indigenous to the Americas which includes Mexico.
For thousands of years tobacco has been used as a means of trade, making peace (which makes sense as it is a relaxant) and crop use.
Imagine living in those days without the modern inventions, Indians were living on the land, raising families, warring with other tribes, surviving with rudimentary tools and weapons…..ending the day with a roll of tobacco or a pipe with other companions, talking about life.
It is said that they considered the smoke as a way to communicate their thoughts and prayers to their Creator. It was a way of offering thanks for the blessings of the land that the Creator provided for them.
As an aside, being thankful is a very healthy endeavor in life which makes cigars very healthy for you.
Then the age of European exploration began and Europe and the Americas for the matter, was never the same.
The chief importers of tobacco were Portugal, Spain and England and it literally lit up Europe. Much in the same way as grapes are grown in different regions making different kinds of wine there was always the search for tobacco from different regions for the perfect smoke.
Economics 101 follows that wherever the demand grows the supply will adjust.
Eventually it was commonly known that the best cigars came from Cuba where the rich volcanic soil of the Vuelto Abajo region produced a potent earthy cigar the public loved.
Eventually tobacco was grown all over the United States but never could compare with Cuban cigars.
Today we have excellent tobacco coming from the Dominician Republic, Nicuaraga, Honduras, Mexico, Cameroon, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and many other places.
My personality has always been interested in the why. How come so many wanted a good cigar? What is it about smoking tobacco that draws so many to its aromatic charms?
Well for starters, we would say it is like anything we consume.
Wine is as old if not older than tobacco smoking. We ingest it for it’s flavors, for its ability to create socal camaraderie, to slow down and appreciate life….wait am talking about cigars or wine?
Of course there are those who just want to really escape life and just get smashed. There are plenty of other substances to get you high which can lead to unpleasantness and that’s where the similarities end.
You have to be mindful of alcohol, not cigars.
The thing with cigars is it is not inhaled. I know people who have smoked 15 cigars in one day and still be able to drive home without any impairment.
We smoke cigars on the go or while working around the yard so it’s not always during a time set aside for reflection.
Okay, got off track there. Why do people smoke cigars?
Going back to the Indians perspective where profit was not the aim per se but the intent was to make peace with your neighbor and offer thanks.
I really believe we are spiritual beings. We are more than just the collection of atoms.
A cigar is a product of patience. It needed good soil, the sun, water and around the clock attention.
When you smoke a premium all natural hand rolled cigar you are making a spiritual act.
When you look at a piece of furniture from Target what do you see? Most likely you see something that serves a purpose which is a product that is mass produced with pulp of various woods and non-organic matter to hold your clothes. (Most likely it will fall apart and you’ll need another one soon)
When you look at a 200 year old dresser, or more correctly called an armoire, what do you see?
You see 100% organic wood that with blood and sweat was cut, cured, fitted and finished with details that can be dated to an era.
This cigar that I am smoking while writing this probably was held by 200 different people and was harvested a couple years ago. (A Diamond Crown #4 Natural for those who are wondering)
Think about that.
Of course it was all done to make money but that’s not a bad thing. Money is what keeps quality paramount. From the farmers, to the curing barns to the varying aging processes each cigar manufacturer determines, the bunching classification method to the torcedors (rollers) to the sort – banding rooms to the boxing with sometimes further aging to distribution…… we have in our hands a work of art, an act of love.
That’s the reality.
In my opinion the cigar is a healthy way to de-stress and be at peace. It can be enjoyed with friends and family or alone. It allows us to be at peace in a world that loves chaos.
Remember a cigar is an act of patience. To truly enjoy a cigar you have to be patient. In fact it demands patience or you will lose the whole experience.
We smoke cigars to celebrate and we smoke cigars to honor those who have fallen. We smoke cigars after a victory on the battlefield or to build camaraderie.
And depending on your discipline, it’s cheaper than therapy.
When everything is moving faster and increasingly digitized we can be assured that the cigar we choose will demand from us at least 45 minutes of our time.
True love can’t be faked or rushed.
It’s the deal we make when we purchase with our hard earned money a premium all natural hand rolled cigar and here is the amazing thing about it.
Have you ever heard of a crime committed after smoking cigars?
No, and we never will.
It is my hope that I have shown that cigars have a philosophy.
There is an origin.
There is a purpose.
It has meaning.
The next time you light up your favorite cigar (or trying a new one) think about what it took to get into your hands.
Let your thoughts and prayers float up with the smoke and find a peace that grounds you.
Enjoy it alone or with a companion or even better with a group who are all seeking the same thing.
You can count your blessings, order your tomorrow, watch your favorite show or sports, discuss deep concepts or laugh at jokes.
When it comes to you and your cigar philosophy. make it your own. Embrace all it has to offer.
May the cigar journey continue.
