Is Cuba opening up? When it does, will a Cuban cigar be a real Cuban cigar?

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There are no doubt, in this writer’s mind and the minds of many other cigar enthusiasts that Cuba will soon be opened up to the American consumer. Obama is determined to see that it becomes a reality. Now that the u.S. Embassy is open in Cuba, and the Cuban embassy opens in theU.S., The normalization of a diplomatic relationship between the two countries begins the process of lifting the embargo. When the embargo is finally lifted, and a flood of American consumers rushes to get their first legal taste of the forbidden Cuban cigar, what will they get
As it stands now, my sources on the island tell me that Cuban cigars are now being made with tobacco purchased from other countries. These tobaccos are blended with tobacco grown in Cuba to manufacture the cigars they sell.
In my opinion, there are two main reasons why this may be true 1) the demand for Cuban cigars remains high and the purchase of outside tobacco makes it possible for Cuba to continue to produce and sell their most popular export. 2) Because of their need to keep up with the demand for their cigars, they have over used the soil in which the tobacco is grown. They have been planting and re-planting in the same soil without allowing it to rest and re-build the nutrients it needs to produce one of the best tobaccos in the world. Instead, the results are an inferior grade of tobacco. To make up for this inferior tobacco, Cuba, is forced to purchase superior tobacco from other countries.
So for those of us who are waiting with great anticipation of getting our hands on a true Cuban cigar, even if it is not a counterfeit, but truly was manufactured in Cuba, we may find that it is no better or worse than the high-end cigars that are currently available in the u.S. From such countries as, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua.
This is not to say that all cigars from Cuba will be blended, but if they are you will never truly know. I believe that those of us who purchase our first Cuban cigar will enjoy it regardless, because of the mystique that is Cuba.

Embargo lifted? Beneficial to the cuban people?

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In my last blog post, i was discussing the fact that Cuba is making purchases of tobacco from other countries to keep up with and prepare for the cigar market to come, once the u.S. Embargo is lifted.

The blending of Cuban tobacco with other tobaccos will probably go undetected by the average cigar smoker. I am sure that the Cuban government will make sure that the appearance and construction of these cigars will be excellent and that they can easily be passed off as authentic.

When the embargo is lifted, a situation will be created, in which the Cuban government (the Castro brothers) will reap the rewards of a tremendous economic windfall. Several questions come to my mind regarding this windfall.

1- How much of this economic windfall will trickle down to the Cuban people?
My guess, not much
2-How much will this economic windfall affect the way in which the Cuban people live their daily lives?
My guess, not much
3-Will the people of Cuba gain any personal or political freedom from the embargo being lifted?
My guess, no

The people of Cuba will not have any improvement towards a democratic say in how their lives and the way in which their country is managed. Not as long as the Castros are still in power.

Many Cuban officials and politicians in the United States make the claim that this will be the beginning of a better life for the Cuban people. In my opinion, as a born son of Cuba, this is simply not true. The situation that existed the day my father left his beloved Cuba, to ensure that his family had the freedoms that should belong to all people, still exists today. The only free people of Cuba are the Castros and their cronies.

Even though, I am a cigar lover; I will have to think twice about purchasing cigars from Cuba. Because each dollar spent by the people of the United States, will be used for the benefit of the Castro regime. That thought should go through each of us, prior to sending dollars to Castro.

The Cuba, I Remember

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With all the talk and publicity of late, relating to the opening of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, my mind wanders back to the memories that I have of Cuba. I remember the carefree days, as a child, before the days of Fidel Castro.

I remember being with my father walking through the rows of tobacco. I was about six years old at the time. My father was a giant of a man to me then. But he seemed smaller when he stood in between the tall tobacco, which stood about six to seven feet tall. We would walk through the fields so that my father could inspect the plants for bugs or other problems that could hurt the crops.

To this date, I can remember the blue skies with just a few white clouds. The warmth of the sun shining down on us, we thrived on the heat. Our skin was always tan because we worked in the fields from sunrise to sunset.

We would find time to hunt in the valley, it was lush and green. We would fish in the blue-green crystal clear water, always bringing home only what we needed.

We spent most of our time on the plantation, but, on the weekends we would head to the beach. My family and extended family would all meet up at the beach house. The house was up on stilts, and when the tide would roll out, my cousins and I would pick up the crabs left uncovered and put them in a basket. They would be cooked, and we would all gather outside at the picnic tables to enjoy our feast. There we would eat, talk and laugh. Those were the good days of the Cuba, I remember.