Dona Elba (Verdadero Organic)

[craigchilds]

Dona Elba (Verdadero Organic)
Size: 6.5 x 50
Tobacco: Nicaragua (with Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper)

My friend gifted me a unique cigar when she returned from her vacation to Nicaragua, where she told me she toured an organic tobacco factory between Grenada and Managua. The cigar featured a light brown wrapper with a sharp, but faint prelight aroma. It had a pink band with yellow lettering and a somewhat fuzzy picture of a lady that looked like it had come off someone's home printer.

I found two small beetle holes underneath the band when I peeled it back. (Fortunately, the cigar was sheeved in cellophane, so hopefully nothing in my humidor was affected). This weakened the draw a little, but I found I could restore it by holding my finger over the holes when I puffed.

The taste was very interesting Not at all like what I've come to expect from a Nicaraguan cigar. It was a smooth and crisp, brimming with a sort of lemon-grass flavor. A couple online reviews noted the taste of raisins, but to me it was definitely more of a citrus nuance. Despite the connecticut wrapper, it almost reminded me of a cameroon. No spice. Medium body and strength. It had a noticeable tartness on the tongue, but with an airy finish and virtually no aftertaste. Paired well with a Yuengling lager, late in the afternoon, while grilling burgers over open charcoal.

A little internet research yielded a few interesting facts:

1. The Dona Elba Cigar Factory is owned by a man named Silvio Reyes. (He ran for mayer of Granada last year; I don't know if he won.)
2. Dona Elba cigars are sold in the United States under the brandname Verdadero Organic.
3. Organic cigars are grown with no pesticides, chemicals, or flavor enhancers. The soil that produces this organic tobacco has never been utilized to grow any other vegetation.

I think the concept of an organic cigar is strange. After all, aren't all cigars 100% organic? I can understand the use of pesticides (to get rid of the beetles, perhaps), but aren't most cigars free of chemicals and flavor enhancers?

But there's no denying this Dona Elba/Verdadero Organic is a different animal. It's fun to think that when the European settlers discovered tobacco in the New World, this is what it must have tasted like.

[Acesfull]

I smoked one of these a few weeks ago, it was an interesting smoke. I experienced the same tartness on the tongue and same citrus-like nuances. The prelight aroma.. was.. funky to say the least.. reminded me of the elephant house at the cincinnati zoo.. was uhmm "natural" smelling but was quite a pleasant smoking experience. The only thing I did not like about it was there was a consistant uneven burn that was probably due to poor rolling but the flavor was pretty good.

[docruger]

sounds like a interesting smoke. thanks for the post

[s.tyler]

an organic cigar would be free of insecticide, fungicide or other added chemicals. no data on added safety but the idea of smoking tobacco without added chemicals is appealing.