As a Torcedora, entrepreneur, and advocate for women in the premium cigar industry, Temi Bu, as she’s known in the business, not only crafts exceptional blends but also champions the vital role of women in this centuries-old art form. Through her brands, Emperors Cut Cigars and Serendipity Cigars, she aims to restore the industry’s essence of camaraderie and unity while inspiring a new generation of women to claim their seat at the table.
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Temi spent her early childhood and teenage years in Panama, surrounded by tobacco fields and elders who rolled their own cigars to enjoy at home. This experience planted in her a deep curiosity for an industry that, beyond being about blended tobacco leaves, represents unity, fellowship, and an unparalleled sense of belonging.
Growing up, Temi developed a unique affinity for the art of cigar-making, drawn to its power to bring people from diverse backgrounds together –a connection that wouldn’t exist without the cigar as the centerpiece. “That’s what captivated me from the very beginning,” she recalls.
As time passed and her awareness grew, Temi realized that women played a crucial role in the industry, from the fields to the rolling tables. However, she also noticed that, beyond their behind-the-scenes contributions, women were not fully accepted to take their rightful “seat at the table.” It was then that she knew she had to take action.
From that moment on, Temi dreamed of being part of an experience where people could sit back, relax, and be enveloped by the same sense of camaraderie she remembered from her childhood. This vision led to the creation of two ventures: Emperors Cut Cigars, a collaboration with six fellow tobacco enthusiasts, and Serendipity Cigars, a boutique brand dedicated to delivering a more personalized experience for her clients. “It’s like being a pastry chef,” she explains. “I talk to them, understand what they want, and then design the blend and cigar that best suits their tastes.”
Temi is also a Torcedora, a skill she initially approached as a curiosity or a game but which evolved into a professional pursuit over time. Her craftsmanship is remarkable, with her favorite vitola being the Lancero –a complex and demanding format to produce.
“Tobacco is all about proportion and placement, and the Lancero has just the right amount of leaf to enjoy at any moment, allowing you to appreciate the flavors without overwhelming the palate. It’s a challenging size, but the result is magnificent.”
In addition to her work in the tobacco industry, Temi is a software engineer and a chemist at heart, making creation and innovation second nature to her. This scientific perspective drives her to look beyond the product, tasting every leaf –regardless sometimes feeling sick– to ensure every step of the process is flawless. “Especially with Serendipity, I strive to be 100% involved in every blend because quality is deeply personal to me.”
A Woman in the Industry
“In my early days as an enthusiast, I used to visit cigar lounges, places I admired for the sense of community they fostered. But there was a resistance to women being part of that community, and that’s what primarily motivated me to create my own brands.”
Temi’s involvement in the industry goes beyond being a brand owner and Torcedora. Supported by different associations, she allocates a portion of her earnings to donate to women in tobacco-producing countries. “It was unacceptable to me that so many women were involved in the industry without receiving the recognition they deserved. That’s why I decided to find a way to give back to them and their families.”
According to Temi, it’s a mistake to think that women are newcomers to the industry. She explains that women were actually the ones who created cigars in the first place. “The delicate and tender hands of our ancestral women were responsible for the process from the very beginning. The problem is that they weren’t recognized until very recently.”
The world is changing, and women in the industry are finally beginning to receive the acknowledgment they deserve for their role in every step of the process –from seed to smoke. “People are starting to appreciate women’s contributions to the industry because we’re not just a pretty face. We come from diverse backgrounds like technology, agriculture, and more.”
Finally, Temi’s message to women who want to be part of this experience is to stay authentic and true to themselves. She also extends an invitation to understand the intricacies of the art of cigar-making.
She often recalls the words of her abuela, a pivotal figure in her personal development:
“A mother understands, forgives, cares, protects, teaches, forgets, suffers, defends, but above all, loves you more than herself.”
These words, now as a wife, mother and entrepreneur, guide her in everything she does. “They help me remember where I come from and the care I received from my abuelo and abuela –care that I now replicate in every relationship and project I undertake.”
