That Cuba sets the gold standard as far as cigars go comes as no surprise to anybody. But that the market for Cuban cigars in India doubles every year might raise a few eyebrows. Well, it shouldn't since India does account for 12% of the world's smoking population and that's no small number.
So how come so many Indians are discovering Cuban cigars with a vengeance? There are many explanations to thar. The rising purchasing power parity, the number of Indians travelling abroad every year, the urge to try something new, perhaps to upgrade from a cigarette or just to earn bragging rights. Whatever be the reason, everyday there seem to be a hoard of new entrants joining the club.
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| Partagas Serie D Especial |
What then makes Cuban cigars so special? The soil in Cuba, the sun which is perfect for growing the best quality tobacco in the world and a cigar-rolling culture that dates back to a few hundred years. Cuban brands such as Cohiba, Montecristo, H upmann, Partagas, Romeo Y Julieta, Trinidad and Bolivar have a loyal clientèle that swears by them and refuse to smoke anything that doesn't come from the hallowed Habanos house of cigars.
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| Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchills - Box of 10 cigars available at www.cigarclubindia.com - the best place to buy authentic Cuban cigars in India |
However, one must be careful about counterfeits that have flooded the market and only a discerning eye may be able to spot the difference. Therefore, it is imperative that you purchase Cuban cigars from a reliable source. Quite a few five-star properties in metro cities now boast of a cigar stores. Some even offer cigar and single-malt lounges. The duty-free shops at airports are another reliable place to purchase cigars.
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| Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No. 2 Box of 25 beautiful cigars. |
The most convenient though is shopping for cigars anywhere and at any time and having them delivered to your doorstep, thanks to some excellent cigar websites such as
www.cigarclubindia.com. They deliver across India and are extremely responsive to questions about cigars, always have suggestions for newbies and take utmost care to ensure the cigars are preserved in perfect humidity and are just right for smoking.
