Nicaraguan cigars have a long history tracing back to 1959 when the great Cuban cigar makers fled Cuba at the start of the Castro regime. Though it has only been since the turn of the 21st Century that Nicaragua has really hit its stride as the pre-eminent cigar producing country of the world, they are proudly responsible for making over 190 million sticks that are exported each year. This makes Nicaragua the No.1 premium cigar exporter in the whole world.

Nicaraguan cigars are rich and flavourful. It’s the rich volcanic soil found within its main produce growing regions that drives the creation of the best non-Cuban cigars in the world. These regions include Estelí, Jalapa Valley, Condega Valley and Ometepe.

Nicaraguan cigars are rich and flavourful. It’s the rich volcanic soil found within its main produce growing regions that drives the creation of the best non-Cuban cigars in the world. These regions include Estelí, Jalapa Valley, Condega Valley and Ometepe.

Estelí, Nicaragua, is a region with dark, dense soil that is responsible for strong tobaccos which are significantly spicy in character. With lots of sun the plants harvested within this region contain thick leaves. That means leaves with depth of character and flavour. They are used mainly as a filler component in a cigar’s blend. These same Esteli grown plants also give way to leaves for use as strong binders and Sun Grown wrappers.

The soil in the Jalapa Valley Nicaragua is similar to that found in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio valley. It’s a fine, sand-like soil that is slightly red in colour. This porous earthy dirt in Jalapa helps grow leaves that are relatively soft and with sort of a reddish tint. The Jalapa leaves are also quite sweet and aromatic making them a perfect cigar filler component. The nicest of leaves though are set aside for use as wrappers. The Oliva Serie ‘V’ range comprising the Oliva Serie V Melanio Double Toro,Oliva Serie V Belicoso, Oliva V No.4 Liga Especial and the Oliva V Churchill Extra (just to mention a few) all prominently feature the heavily fermented Jalapa Valley ligero leaf in their cigar blends.

Condega Valley is an area known for its cloud cover and humidity. Its soils are rocky and rough and renowned for high mineral content. Although the produce from this region is more mild in nature, the range of flavour is incredible. Leaves from plants grown in the Condega Valley are a little thinner in texture that those from other Nicaraguan cigar regions. They come with a slight sweetness about them, but with strength to them that make them a great fit for use as binders.

Ometepe is an island in southwest Niacaragua’s vast Lake Nicaragua. It's known for its twin volcanoes and its high humidity that envelopes the entire region helps maintain the quality of its rich, volcanic soil. Filled with nutrients, the land consists of soil that requires virtually no fertilization. It produces a sort of mellow to medium character leaf. The produce is earthy and sweet and cures quite quickly making it most commonly used as fillers in a cigar.

So you might be asking are Nicaraguan cigars good? The best Nicaraguan cigars provide a classic smoking experience that often exceeds that provided by their Cuban counterparts. A few of the best Nicaraguan cigars you’ll find at CigarBox include the Tatuaje RC No. 2, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Press, the Oliva Serie V No.4 Liga Especial and everyone’s favourite, the La Mission 1959.