| Cigars have been an important part of American | | | | However, through the mid to late 1990s, several cultural |
| culture for many years. In the 19th century, cigar | | | | phenomena caused the popularity of cigar smoking to |
| smoking was extremely common, while cigarettes | | | | skyrocket once again in the United States. The |
| were still comparatively rare. The cigar business was | | | | unexpected resurrection in cigar smoking created a |
| an important industry, and most of the fine cigars in the | | | | demand that was difficult to meet given the few cigar |
| US were imported from Cuba, the cigar haven of the | | | | brands available. Moreover, the implication of America's |
| world. However, after President John. F. Kennedy | | | | Cuban trade prohibition, imposed nearly 30 years |
| imposed a ban on imports from Cuba due to political | | | | earlier -- well before many of the new cigar |
| reasons, cigar sales took a back seat. At that time, | | | | aficionados were born -- became very obviously a |
| cigarette sales picked up very quickly. Purchasing | | | | hurdle. Many cigar retailers tried to capitalize on the |
| Cuban cigars became illegal in the US. Unfortunately, | | | | craze and could name a price on almost every brand |
| cuban cigars were the most commonly smoked cigars | | | | of cigar. Slowly, a number of cigar manufacturers |
| and were the favorites of all American cigar smokers. | | | | within the country arose and so did the sales of cigars. |
| Although, many Americans sought to illegally purchase | | | | Cigars sales soon came in competition with cigarette |
| Cuban cigars, many also chose the easier way out | | | | sales in the United States. |
| and shifted to cigarettes that were freely available in | | | | There is still a great demand for cigars all over the |
| the American market. | | | | country and the sales of cigars are still looming large. |