Curious about Haitian cigars

[jjirons69]

Forgive me for my ignorance...I was curious why I never seen Haitian cigars for sale. They share Hispaniola (western 1/3) with the DR, so you would think they make a lot of cigars themselves. I know they're a really poor and undeveloped country, ranking really low in all the developmental statistics for the western hemisphere. Is that the reason or do we also have some kind of embargo with them? I know we had issues with Aristide, but he's gone now. They also support Cuba. Just curious. Couldn't find much info on it and thought someone here may have a better insight.

[No1der]

Good question. I have no idea if Haiti produces cigars now or ever in the past.

If they have a background in tobacco cultivation etc I would think that they could make some good cigars.

You see, Cuba has a history of tobacco cultivation that goes back to before it was discovered by the europeans. In other words there was tobacco cultivation going on on that island before it was even called Cuba.

I admitadly don't know too much about Haiti but I believe that it is primarily comprised of a population of former slaves from Africa and back in the days of slavery, the major product that came from Haiti was cane sugar and related products.

If Haiti had a tobacco history it's very possible that it was lost with the major shift in the major crop as well as the influx of Africans to work the fields.

I know I'm typing a lot but saying very little but I'm hoping that something of substance will appear in all this text I've just produced.

[Sisyphus]

Tobacco was grown in Haiti even before it was grown in Cuba. And it's still a cash crop. But as a practical matter, maybe no one in Haiti knows how to make a decent cigar or has the means to start an industry. And it seems that no one from outside of Haiti wants to go there. Heck, I wouldn't. But stranger things have happened....

-Ken

[No1der]

Originally Posted by Sisyphus

Tobacco was grown in Haiti even before it was grown in Cuba. And it's still a cash crop. But as a practical matter, maybe no one in Haiti knows how to make a decent cigar or has the means to start an industry. And it seems that no one from outside of Haiti wants to go there. Heck, I wouldn't. But stranger things have happened....

-Ken

Yeah, I didn't know if Haiti had a history of growing tobacco or not but I guess I was at least partly right that the huge influx of slaves disolved the cigar making population to a large degree.

I don't know anything about the soil conditions or political conditions in Haiti today but if both are favorable it might be a decent idea for some cigar maker/company to buy up so land and set up shop.

I really know very little about the subject with the exception of what I said about what I already posted so everything else is just speculation on my part.

[Blueface]

The sad thing about Haiti is that although it shares part of the island with the Dominican Republic, Haiti has really destroyed its resources.
Trees are disappearing at an alarming rate to use for coal.
As such, landslides are a regular thing there.
I read somewhere that country is the worst of the third world countries.

[Sisyphus]

Maybe there's potential. But as BF says, the political and economic conditions in Haiti are among the worst on the planet and there is a long history of such conditions. The neighboring Dominican Republic is the world's largest cigar producer and it would make sense to expand production into Haiti, but the Dominicans are overwhelmed by Haitian refugees and other problems spilling over from across the border. Private investment into Haiti just disappears, as does much of foreign aid, etc. But maybe someday....

-Ken

[ccforme]

Not surprisingly, apparently there's at least few who do make them:
http://www.freewebs.com/haitiancigar/about.html

[jjirons69]

Originally Posted by ccforme

Not surprisingly, apparently there's at least few who do make them:
http://www.freewebs.com/haitiancigar/about.html

Here's where we can get them ...

You can buy YAQUIBA Cigars at :

1) Le Calumet, 3 Rue Pinchinat in PétionVille,
2) The Duty Free Shops at Aéroport International of Port-au-Prince ( Rhum Barbancourt's booth ),
3) At Restaurants, Hotels ,Bars and Service Stations.



I like the service station option. Might get some pork rinds to go with it.

[Blueface]

How cool technology is.
If you google "Haitian Cigars", this thread comes up.
Just stumbled into that trying to get more information on them.
It is the simple things that humor me.

[mdtaggart]

I just sent them an email to see how I can order some. I tried the other web site www.YAQUIBA.com but its not up.

[Cigar Jack]

My guess is the major reason is the political instability of the country has kept anyone interested in growing cigars looking elsewhere.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by mdtaggart

I just sent them an email to see how I can order some. I tried the other web site www.YAQUIBA.com but its not up.

any luck in contacting them? There is a Miami phone# on the website http://www.freewebs.com/haitiancigar/contact.html

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by Blueface

How cool technology is.
If you google "Haitian Cigars", this thread comes up.
Just stumbled into that trying to get more information on them.
It is the simple things that humor me.

I think that means that not many people are looking for Haitian cigars.

[Texan in Mexico]

Originally Posted by mdtaggart

I just sent them an email to see how I can order some. I tried the other web site www.YAQUIBA.com but its not up.

If you are serious I will go in on a box with you - maybe we can get a couple others as weell?

PM me if it works out.

[JPH]

Good Haitian rum: Barbencourt

They export it....I don't see why not cigars.