Happiness is a good cigar
South Korea is undoubtedly one of the smoker-friendliest countries on earth. With one of the highest smoking rates in the world, the prevalence of attractive smoking advertisements, and cigarettes available nearly everywhere, it’s an easy city to light up in. According to the Ministry of Health, 25% of South Korean adults and 10% of teens are smokers- and an astounding 44% of adult men smoke. [Read more…]
Originally posted on June 10, 2021 @ 12:08 pm
Image: businessinsider
To make a cigar experience worth your while, you must know how to buy the right one. Cigar have so many variants to choose from that it is impossible to say if a person with no previous experience with cigar would like his/her first try. It would be advisable to ask the recommendation of a local tobacconist who understands the differences in the variants.
Newbie cigar smokers can get easily overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Â It is impossible to make the right choice just by looks since the magic of cigar lies in the flavor. Â Since it is impossible to try each and every brand and variant, it would be wise to have a certain idea of taste preference. Â Most tobacco flavor variants are self-explanatory and are referred to in relation to food items. Â These include spicy, sweet, cinnamon, peppery, butterscotch, vanilla, apple, grape, and orange, among a very long list of cigar flavors. Â There are also other terms used such as cedar, woodsy, copper, and even leather.
For the first buy, newbies are advised to do it the old-fashioned way which is through actual physical inspection.  Some of the things that can provide a clue to a cigar’s quality include freshness and color.  Wrappers should not break when pinched.  Cigars that are fresh have been properly stored in humidors which ensures maximized enjoyment.  Inconsistent coloring of cigars in  a batch may signify lack of freshness since this should not happen among cigars that have been manufactured within the same batch.
Determining the best cigar to buy requires real “tasting” .  Inhalation of smoke is not recommended in trying to establish cigar taste.  First-time cigar adventurers should try their first in a full stomach to avoid possible stomach cramps.  Online cigar stores can provide information to people interested in smoking cigar.  In buying a cigar, hand-rolled versions are considered superior over machine-made.
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Teresa is a researcher-writer on a wide range of topics.
Originally posted on January 31, 2013 @ 6:44 am
Christmas is just a few days away and people are still thinking of what presents to give. People who love cigars often get different kinds as gifts, but there are other things that they would also appreciate. Paying attention to details will make choosing easier.
First things first, get to know the recipient of the gift. Find out the brand, line, blend and size of cigar that person would want most. Since cigars often come in boxes of 25, it is a good idea to divide these into five and distribute them among friends. If you are willing to give them a box, that would be awesome.
If you are not sure of what kind of cigar they like, you can get them a sampler pack that contains various cigar blends for them to choose from. Who knows, they might just find their new favorite blend in one of them. Mild to medium cigar variants are always a safe option.
Cigar accessories also make great gifts. Pick an ashtray, lighter, cigar cutter, travel tubes or cases that fits the recipient’s personality. Better yet, have them engraved with their initials. Humidors also make great presents, but they are quite costly. A nice one costs $100 or even more. New cigar smokers would appreciate a 50-count humidor while veteran cigar smokers would probably need a bigger one.
If you are not sure of what to get, gift cards or certificates from cigar shops would be fantastic. Recipients can choose their present and you are sure that they will enjoy it. It is the easiest and surefire option, but nothing beats the thought behind picking something that suits the person you are giving gifts to.
Image from  Jungle Jim’s International Market
Originally posted on December 20, 2011 @ 3:33 am