Colombian black tobacco is cultivated in two key regions: Santander and Montes de María. The latter is renowned for its production of the Cubita varietal since 1870, when Captain Joaquín Pizarro of the Sotavento Restoration Army introduced Cuban seeds to what is now the municipality of Ovejas in Sucre.
Emmanuel Gutiérrez Pérez
@Cigarchicote
The Cubita leaf has gained recognition in the global tobacco industry over the past decade, as several Central American factories and boutique brands have incorporated it into their cigar blends –either to balance body or enhance combustion.
With the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show taking place in New Orleans this April, here’s a brief look at some cigars that have featured Cubita black tobacco at the event.
Read in the magazine (rotate your device for a better reading experience):
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CAO
In the late 2000s, CAO introduced a Colombia line under its Escaparate series, which included Cubita tobacco. Later, at the 2014 IPCPR (1), they launched the CAO Colombia line with four vitolas named after Colombian cities and cultural elements: Bogotá (6″ x 60 Gordo), Magdalena (6.25″ x 54 Torpedo) , Vallenato (5″ x 56 Churchill), and Tinto (Robusto, ring gauge 50).
Still in production, these cigars offer a mild-to-medium strength profile, featuring an Honduras Jamastrán wrapper, Cameroon binder and Brazil Matafina and Colombia Ica Mazinga as fillers.
Another classic, the CAO Consigliere, has included Colombian tobacco since its 2005 debut. It earned a spot in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 in 2006 and reappeared at the 2016 IPCPR in three vitolas: Associate (5″ x 52 Robusto), Soldier (6″ x 54 Toro) and Boss (7″ x 56 Figurado).
Its blend remains unchanged: Brazil Mata Fina wrapper, Honduras binder and Nicaragua, Dominicana and Colombia Tairona fillers.
The CAO Amazon Basin series made waves in 2014 by incorporating rare Brazilian Bragança tobacco. While Cubita wasn’t in the original blend, it was added to the 2023 Extra Añejo Limited Edition (5,800 boxes of 18 Toros, 6″ x 52).
At PCA 2025, CAO is relaunching this line in the Toro vitola, featuring an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper and a Nicaragua, Dominicana, Brazil Bragança and Colombia Cubita filler.
Two other limited editions from CAO’s Amazon tetralogy also used Colombian leaf:
– CAO Anaconda (2017 IPCPR) – 6″ x 52 Toro with Brazilian Habano Bahiano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler from the DR, Brazil (Bragança/Arapiraca), and Colombia (Cubita).
– CAO Orellana (2019) – Toro with Brazilian Cubra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican/Brazilian/Colombian filler.
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GRAN HABANO
Founded by Colombian Guillermo Rico, this Honduran factory made history at the 2010 IPCPR with El Gigante –a 6-meter (236-inch), 60-ring-gauge cigar. In 2016, they debuted La Conquista, featuring a Nicaragua Corojo wrapper, Nicaragua binder and Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia filler.
For their 20th Anniversary (2021), they released a limited edition (delayed to PCA 2022 due to COVID) with a Nicaragua Corojo Shade wrapper and a Nicaragua Perú and Colombia filler.
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LA AURORA
The Dominican Republic’s oldest factory, La Aurora, has honored Cubita in two aged-tobacco lines:
- La Aurora Hors D’Age – Master blender Manuel Ynoa’s cognac-inspired creation with an Ecuador wrapper and binder and a 12-year-aged Dominicana, Nicaragua and Colombia leaves. Debuted at IPCPR 2018-2019 and PCA 2024-2025. The 2020 Gran Toro (6″ x 54) ranked #6 in Cigar Journal’s Top 25.
- Puro Vintage 2014 (2024) – Includes Cubita in the filler of its 6.5″ x 50/60 Salomón, alongside Nicaragua and Dominicana tobacco.
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VEGAFINA
Among the first premium brands to use Colombian leaf, Vegafina celebrated its 1998 founding at PCA 2020 with the Vegafina 1998, featuring an Ecuador HVA wrapper, Indonesia Java binder and Dominicana, Nicaragua and Colombia Tairona fillers. The VF42L (7⅛” x 42) ranked #6 in Cigar Journal’s 2021 Top 25.
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OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS
– Alec Bradley – Relaunched the Maxx Culture Connecticut at IPCPR 2015 with Nicaragua wrapper, Costa Rica binder, and Dominicana/Nicaragua/Colombia filler.
– El Artista – Featured Cubita in the Buffalo Ten Maduro Box Press Toro (6″ x 50) at IPCPR 2019.
– Fratello – Showcased Colombian tobacco in the Oro Fuoco (2019) and 2024 Pocahontas Limited Edition.
– Gurkha Seduction (2015 IPCPR) – Ecuador Habano wrapper, Olor Dominicano binder and Colombia Corojo filler.
– Macanudo Emissary España (PCA 2024) – U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Nicaragua binder, and filler including Colombia Cubita.
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NOTE
(1) Formerly the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), rebranded as the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) in 2021.
