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The Philippines produces an excellent tobacco. The main tobacco-growing provinces are La Union, Ilocos, Cagayan and Isabela, all in Northern Luzon. Today most of the tobacco raised is used in the manufacture of cigarettes. However much more famous are Philippine Tabacalera cigars, produced by the La Flor de la Isabela company. Actually, after Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba and decreed that Havana cigars are no longer produced almost exclusively for export but for consumption in Cuba herself, many cigar connoisseurs around the globe were said to have shifted to Philippine cigars. After all the seeds were brought from Cuba during the early Spanish times.

While cigarettes are like fast-foods, cigars are more like elaborate French menus. There is not much to write about cigarettes but cigars are a science and an art just like French cuisine.

No-one bothers to question what particular kind of tobaccos are used in the manufacture of cigarettes but in the case of cigars not only the tobacco variety is of importance but also the single leaf. Considered the best quality because of their mildness are the older leaves of each tobacco plant. Actually the best single leaves are positioned on the plant just above the lowest - the so-called sand-leaves that lay on the soil. Sand-leaves are commonly separated and used as cover leaves. But in general, the lower leaves are used for the manufacture of cigars while the top leaves characterized by a more acrid smoke are used for cigarettes.

The Philippines grows around 50 million kilos of tobacco a year. The best quality grown in the archipelago is Simaba. It's a variety derived from Cuban tobaccos and therefore locally also called Cuban seeds. Simaba accounts for about 5 million kilos a year. Of this harvest only 10%, the finest tobacco, is used for the manufacture of Tabacalera cigars. Small quantities of Brazil and Sumatra tobacco are also grown in The Country . They are used primarily for blending. Simaba tobacco is exceptionally mild and Brazil and Sumatra are added to make the cigars stronger.

Cigars smokers are commonly particular not only about the kind of tobaccos they smoke but also about the shapes of the cigars. Tabacalera manufactures its cigars in 20 different forms. Tabacalera produces them from about the size of cigarettes to the size of the Coronas Largas Especiales which have a length of 20cm. The most exclusive Tabacalera cigars are the Coronas Largas.

A third aspect (after tobacco kind and cigar shape) is storage. Cigars can adopt the flavor of the particular wood a container is made of, they can absorb the flavor of a certain spirit that is allowed to evaporate in a cigar box, and first of all, correct storage of cigars avoids drying the tobacco. Special boxes have been invented that contain a humidifier. These boxes make sense for those who smoke cigars only on festive occasions.

Except for standard boxes, Tabacalera offers its cigars in very elegant Narra wood boxes of 25 and 50 cigars, in a Narra humidifier box, in double deck boxes that contain two kinds of cigars, and in sampler boxes that contain 5 different kinds of 10 cigars each.

Just like an elaborate French menu in comparison to fast-foods, a cigar is much more festive than a cigarette. While cigarettes would make only odd gifts for Christmas or any kind of jubilee, a box of cigars may be fitting for a smoker on any occasion. Tabacalera offers various ways to personalize such gifts of cigars. Initials can be engraved in Narra wood boxes for a minimal charge, and names or short messages can be printed on ring bands or cellophane wrappers for a low additional cost. A large number of European and American companies thereby can produce and give for Christmas presents of their own brand of cigars.

Tabacalera cigars can be bought in Manila in many outlets. Some shops having a large selection of Tabacalera cigars in the tourist belt of Manila are near the Exotic Garden on Del Pilar St and Bon Appetite Store in Harrison Plaza. These stores also accept orders for personalized boxes, ring bands and cellophane wrappers. However, to get cigars at factory prices we suggest going to the Tabacalera factory itself. Luckily the factory is located right in the tourist belt, at 848 Romualdez St (Tel 50-80-26, 521-56-80). All taxi drivers know the Tabacalera cigar factory. The fare is about 10 pesos from the center of the tourist belt.

Filipinos tend to favor imported cigarettes or those made in the Philippines under license such as Winston, Marlboro, Philip Morris. Europeans and Americans accustomed to paying 1.50 to 2 dollars a pack will find any cigarette here a good value. Local brands are better value than those produced under license.

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