The smoking of tobacco in Europe started with Christopher Columbus who in 1492, from his transatlantic voyage brought tobacco to Europe. Later on it were the British who made the smoking of cigars popular in Europe. The Dutch continued this.
Dutch cigars are made since the 18 th century and right from the beginning they are well-known for their excellent quality.
A main reason for this excellent quality is due to the dominance of the East Indies by the Dutch from the beginning of the 17 th century to 1945. From the plantations of Java and Sumatra come excellent tobaccos.
Another reason for the long history of cigar manufacturing in the Netherlands is that the governments in other countries took control of cigar manufacturing themselves. This often resulted in a fairly poor quality product. The Dutch government left the manufacture of cigars to private entrepreneurs. They developed an excellent quality product which, partly due to the relatively low levels of duty, was affordable for a large group of consumers. This resulted in hundreds of cigar manufacturers of which nowadays several big and a few small ones are left.
From origin Dutch cigars are hand-made. Nowadays they are made by hand as well by machines. One thing remained the same. The pure, natural raw materials of 100 % tobacco.
Dutch cigars are popular all over the world. Each year around 2 billion Dutch cigars are exported to over 100 countries. Therefore Dutch cigars are the most exported cigars in the world. World-wide the Dutch cigar industry is the second largest cigar manufacturer.
The major destinations are located within the EU. Some 85% of the total Dutch exports are exported to countries within the European Union. The leading export destinations are, in order of importance: France, The United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium.
A cigar consists out of three parts; wrapper, binder and filler.
The wrapper is the most delicate leaf of all. Its appearance should be perfect. It does cover the exterior part of a cigar and, therefore, since it is in direct contact with the mouth and tongue, it contributes a great deal to the taste of the cigar.
Binder: these particular leaves provide the shape of a cigar by holding its filler leaves. It does contribute to the blend of the cigar in a lower degree.
Filler: this last element represents the highest percentage of the total cigar volume. Its function is to provide the strength, scent and taste that are essential to every cigar.
Wrapper, binder and filler tobaccos can come from different seed varieties and origins. This allows to come up with a variety of blends and formulas of different brands, obtaining extraordinary blends and aromas.
Dutch cigars come mainly in six models.
A cigar with a slim shape. Utterly suitable for a shorter smoking session. Through the modest diameter it develops an aroma between strong and mild.
Great smoking pleasure that asks a little more time to smoke. To be smoked at the broad end and to be lit at the small end.
Most popular cigar. Combines the richer aroma of the bigger cigars with the lightness of the smaller models. A perfect cigar to make acquaintance with cigars.
The Senoritas Wild is a senoritas cigar with a rough, somewhat unorganised end. A delicious cigar with a full and well-balanced taste.
Elegant cigar which is related to its diameter relatively long. Women and youngsters especially appreciate this model.
The emperor of the cigars. The ultimate cigar to take the time to be smoked. A perfect after-dinner cigar.
The tobacco plant is an annual plant. Between sowing and harvesting there are no more than four or five months. During the growing process the plants are "topped" (the flowers are cut off) thereby allowing the leaves to benefit.
The leaves are harvested from bottom to top in various batches, whereby the bottom leaves supply the so-called sand leaves. They are separated for cigar wrappers, binders and fillers and are hung up to dry in the open air and tobacco sheds. During this drying process the leaves lose approximately 80% of their original weight.
After drying, the tobacco leaves are again sorted and separated and then classified according to size, structure and colour. The leaves are stacked into bundles and ready for the very important fermentation process. During this fermentation process, which can be compared to the process of wine fermentation, the leaves of ordinary plants change into a wealth of smoking options.
At the end of the fermentation process the tobacco leaves are again carefully sorted and stored and left to ripen. This ripening process can last up to three years, or sometimes even longer. Then the bone-dry and extremely brittle leaves are sprinkled with moisture and ready to make cigars of.
Remarkable things are said and written about cigars. The Holland Cigar House gives you a selection.
My boy, smoking is one of the greatest and cheapest enjoyments in life, and if you decide in advance not to smoke, I can only feel sorry for you." (Sigmund Freud)
"To smoke is human; to smoke cigars is divine." (Anon)
In the early days of World War II, Winston Churchill received a message from the manager of Dunhill, whose shop had just been bombed: "Your cigars are safe, Sir."
"A cigar numbs sorrow and fills the solitary hours with a million gracious images." (Georges Sand)
"There's nothing like a good cigar after a hard day's work. It's so relaxing, a pure luxury to be savoured and enjoyed. Something to look forward to." (M.Crijnen)
"Gentlemen, you may smoke." (King Edward VII after ascending to the British throne in 1901)
"It's an art to enjoy living. Cigars enable you to enjoy living." (C.G.B. Bernard)
"What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar." (Thomas Marshall, US Vice President, 1919)
"If I cannot smoke in heaven, then I shall not go." (Mark Twain)
"If you forget a line all you have to do is stick the cigar in your mouth and puff on it until you can think of what you've forgotten." (Groucho Marx)
"He who doth not smoke hath either known no great griefs, or refuseth himself the soltest consolation, next to what which comes from heaven." (E.G. Bulwer-Lytton)
"If a woman knows a man's preferences, including his preferences in cigars, and if a man knows what a woman likes, they will be suitably armed to face one another."
"Tobacco is the plant that converts thoughts into dreams." (Victor Hugo)
"Smoking cigars is a better way of breathing." (C.G.B. Bernard)
The term Dutch cigars stands for a melange cigar which contains tobaccos that come from the finest plantations of Cuba, Brazil and Indonesia (Java and Sumatra). These tobaccos are severely selected by professional connoisseurs. Only the highest grade tobaccos are used.
Like wines cigars are a product of nature. It's therefore not without reason that Dutch cigars are associated with the great French wines of Bordeaux and Bourgogne.
The Dutch have built up an unbelievable knowledge of tobaccos. This centuries-old knowledge and the balanced melange according to old family recipes, which conscientiously are kept secret by generations of old established houses of cigarmakers, enables them to make modern cigars of an old-fashioned quality.
The cigars have a pleasant way of smoking and a constant and reliable high quality. There's a permanent control by high standards and the manufacturers guarantee their products. Dutch cigars have a great variety in models, sizes and prices. And it goes without saying that attention is also given to the packing of the cigars. They come in handy pocket-boxes as well in big and representative assortmentcases.
It's an art to enjoy living and a cigar may cost some money. But the price shouldn't be exaggerated. Dutch cigars enable you to enjoy living for a reasonable price!
Inspect the construction of the cigar to insure there are no cracks in the wrapper. To smell the tobacco just hold your nose over the box of an opened cigarbox and take a breath. This should be sufficient for you to determine the bouquet of the cigar.
When you light a cigar, use either a lighter (not one filled with gasoline), a match or cedarwood. When using a match, wait until the sulphur burns off before lighting the cigar. Anything else, such as using a candle, will tend to taint the flavour of the cigar because the chemicals and odours can affect the taste of the tobacco. Take time and care to light and smoke the cigar. And above all; don't inhale!
Unlike cigarettes, cigars will naturally go out if left unattended. If your cigar goes out, don't worry. Remove any ash clinging to the previously lit end by tapping the cigar. Blow through the cigar to clear away any stale smoke and relight the cigar. As long as the cigar has not been out for too long, the flavour will not be unduly affected. Continuous re-lighting of cigars will affect the flavour. There's absolutely no need to stub or grind a cigar out to extinguish it. Left in the ashtray it will go out by itself.
Without loss of quality Dutch cigars can be kept for 5 to 10 years. No special actions are required. They don't need a humidor to be kept. Just don't store them too dry or too wet. The cigars are packed in boxes or cedar cases, as this is the best way to store them.