Ever since Christopher Columbus and his crew discovered the tobacco plant in 1492, cigar smoking has been a part of history. But who exactly smoked the first cigar? It’s an interesting question with a bit of a complicated answer. Let’s go back in time to find out more about this fascinating tale.
The Origins of Cigar Smoking
Tobacco is believed to have originated in the Americas around 6,000 BC, so it’s no surprise that Native Americans were probably some of the first people to smoke cigars. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus landed on the islands of modern-day Cuba and Hispaniola that Europeans learned about this new plant and its effects. The natives smoked leaves from the tobacco plant rolled up in other leaves or placed in clay pipes as part of their religious ceremonies. This gave European explorers their first glimpse at cigar smoking.
The Spanish are Credited for Spreading Cigars Around the World
The Spanish were responsible for spreading cigars around the world after they conquered most of Central and South America during their colonization period between 1519 and 1821. Spaniards observed native people using tobacco and began to experiment with different ways to consume it, eventually leading to cigars becoming popular among wealthy socialites in Europe during the 16th century. From there, demand only increased, leading to tobacco plantations being established across Europe and Asia by 1600 AD.
It’s clear that cigar smoking has been an integral part of many cultures throughout history, but who actually smoked the very first one remains shrouded in mystery. While Native Americans are believed to have been some of the earliest smokers, it was ultimately the Spanish conquistadors who spread cigars around Europe and beyond in the 16th century, leading to its widespread popularity today. So next time you light up a hand-rolled cigar or puff away on your favorite machine-made stogie, take a moment to think about all those who came before us and helped make this wonderful tradition possible!
