• Skip to main content
  • Go to main navigation
  • Go to language selector
SearchFree text

Swedish Match
  • svenska
Close
  • Swedish Match websites

    • Image Bank
    • Swedish Match Brasil
    • Swedish Match Industries
    • Snus and Match Museum
  • Brand websites

    Smokefree

    • Swedish Match e-commerce service (SE)
    • Swedish Match e-commerce service (CH)
    • Swedish Match e-commerce service (NO)
    • General (US)
    • Longhorn (US)
    • Pinkerton Tobacco
    • Niqo Co.

    Lights

    • Cricket
    • Nitedals
    • Redheads
  • Other

    • Swedish Match Denmark
    • The Solstickan Foundation (SE)
  • Our company More Less

    Our company

    • Operating locations
    • Vision and strategy
    • Markets More Less
      • Our product categories and markets
      • Trends
    • Company history More Less
      • Svenska Tobaks AB
      • Svenska Tändsticks AB
      • Swedish Match AB
    • Corporate brand
  • Our business More Less

    Our business

    • Smokefree More Less
      • Nicotine products and regulations
      • History of snus
      • Snus production
      • Ingredients in snus
    • Cigars More Less
      • History of cigars
    • Lights

    Snus production

  • Corporate Governance More Less

    Corporate Governance

    • Annual General Meeting More Less
      • AGM address and minutes
      • Auditors
      • Articles of association
    • Board of Directors
    • Management
    • Corporate Governance reports
    Participants at the AGM

    Annual General Meeting

  • Sustainability More Less

    Sustainability

    • Sustainability strategy
    • Goals and progress
    • Our contribution to the UN SDGs More Less
      • UN SDGs aligned with our focus areas
      • UN SDGs beyond our focus areas
    • Strategy and organization
    • Materiality assessment More Less
      • Other topics outside our focus areas
      • Sustainable Tobacco Program
    • Value chain
    • Code of Conduct More Less
      • Supplier Code of Conduct
    • Focus areas More Less
      • Improve public health
      • Ensure ethical business practices
      • Reduce environmental impact
      • Human rights in our supply chain
      • Equal opportunity
    • Risk management
    • Sustainability reporting
    • Sustainability FAQ
    • Sustainability contacts
  • Investors More Less

    Investors

    • The share More Less
      • Per share data
      • Share capital development
      • Dividend information
      • Share holdings
    • Calendar
    • Presentations
    • Financial reports More Less
      • Interim reports
      • Annual reports
    • Financial tables More Less
      • Income statement
      • Balance sheet
      • Cash flow analysis
      • By product segment More Less
        • Sales
        • Operating profit
        • Operating margin
      • Key ratios
      • Statement of comprehensive income
    • Debt information More Less
      • Debt sources of financing
      • Debt programs
      • Outstanding bonds
      • Credit rating
    • IR contacts
    • Information on cash offer announcement by PMI
    • To the minority owners of Swedish Match AB
  • Media More Less

    Media

    • Press releases and news
    • Images More Less
      • Swedish Match logotype
    • Videos
    • Pressroom smokefree products
    • Media contacts
  • Snus and health More Less

    Snus and health

    • Our standpoint
    • The Swedish Experience
    • Research on snus
    • Smoking cessation
    • GOTHIATEK® More Less
      • GOTHIATEK® standard
    • Snus and the Swedish Food Act
    • Nicotine More Less
      • Nicotine labeling of Swedish Match products
      • Snus, nicotine and nicotine addiction
    • Tobacco use More Less
      • Tobacco use in figures
    GOTHIATEK® Quality standard

    Swedish Match quality standard

  • Career More Less

    Career

    • Employee strategy
    • Our culture More Less
      • Employee surveys
    • Work environment
    • Diversity and non-discrimination
    • Competence development
    • Compensation and benefits
    • What we do
    • Vacant positions
    • Student
    • HR contacts
    employees

    Vacant positions

Our websites
Language:
  • English
  • svenska
Our business
  • Smokefree
  • Cigars
    • History of cigars
  • Lights

History of cigars

It is believed that the first people to use tobacco were the indigenous people of North America, perhaps as early as 8,000 years ago.

When Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492, they were given tobacco leaves as gifts. Indigenous Americans rolled dry tobacco leaves in a cornhusk, lit the roll, and inhaled the smoke.

In the 1700 and 1800s, snus was the main form of tobacco use; but around 1840, cigars became popular. After the First World War, cigars received tough competition from the "new-fangled" cigarette.

Today, very exclusive cigars are made by hand the traditional way. Most cigars, however, are made by machine.

During the 90´s, cigar smoking has enjoyed a renaissance which has also resulted in an increasing number of women showing interest in cigars.

Share

Share Facebook Share Twitter Share Linkedin

Share this page by email

Incorrect email
Incorrect email
Home / Our business / Cigars / History of cigars

Contact us

  • IR contacts
  • Media contacts
  • Sustainability contacts
  • HR contacts
  • Consumer contact
  • Web contact

Find us

  • Headquarters
  • Sales office
  • Factory
  • Distribution
  • Store
  • Research & Development
  • All addresses
Map

Corporate headquarters

Phone: +46 10 13 93 000

Sveavägen 44
SE-118 85 Stockholm

Corporate headquarters
Swedish Match

Swedish Match AB
SE-118 85 Stockholm

Phone +46 10 13 93 000
Corporate reg no. 556015-0756
contactus@swedishmatch.com

About the website

  • Sitemap
  • Site policy
  • Privacy notice
  • Information about cookies
  • Legal responsibility

Find information

  • Search
  • FAQ
  • Archive
  • Glossary

Subscription services

  • Subscription service
  • RSS

Follow us

Facebook Twitter Linkedin