Though they are the most well-known, the countries of Central America and the Caribbean are not the only major tobacco growers in the world. Quality leaf and fine cigars are made in several other regions.

Cameroon in Africa, squeezed between Nigeria and the Central African Republic, is known for producing a high quality wrapper leaf that makes its way into cigars made elsewhere. Based on Sumatran seed, the tobacco made from it is very mild. This gives it a favored position for those seeking to emphasize the filler. The distinctive vein pattern helps pick out a Cameroon wrapper.

Indonesia, too, has made use of Sumatran born seeds to develop a native industry. Dark-brown and neutral in flavor, the leaf is much like the Cameroon and often used in wrappers. The small size of Indonesian cigars makes them easier to spot.

Even the Philippines maintain a tobacco growing business that produces cigars worth investigating. Though not considered at the level of the Central American product, the hybrids grown there make an aromatic cigar that’s distinctive to this small, but prosperous nation.

Conditions in Mexico are conducive to fine tobacco cultivation and cigar production. The San Andreas Valley there uses a cultivar of Sumatra-seed that forms the base of filler for good Mexican cigars. A variation is used for maduro wrappers, dark-brown or reddish-brown tobacco that adds delightful accents to the local product.

That strain makes an excellent starting point for the multi-step process that creates Mexico’s distinctive cigars. Full-flavored, dark and aromatic they are definitely worth a try when you travel there.

Though the South in the United States is no longer the tobacco king of the country, fine wrapper leaf continues to be grown in the U.S. Just look north to the famed Connecticut River Valley north of Hartford. The shade-grown brownish-yellow product from that region is so highly prized it has its own name: Connecticut Shade.

Highly elastic - a quality very useful for rolling and other steps in the production process - it also has a wonderful medium-bodied flavor. That adds delightful accents to a blend of Ligero fillers. The result is frequently a premium smoke.

But Connecticut Shade isn’t the only type grown. The equally renowned Connecticut Broadleaf has earned its reputation over the centuries as it has developed in the northeastern United States. Heavier than shade-grown tobacco, that dark leaf often makes its way into maduro-style cigars.

Wherever the tobacco originates, the same quality standards apply to the final result. If it tastes good and burns well, it’s a fine cigar. In the end, if you enjoy the smoke, you’ve found a good cigar.

Even if you don’t have Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s bank account, you can still treat yourself on those special occasions to a truly fine cigar. You’ll spend a little more but, as the women’s hair ads say “You’re worth it”. Whether as a birthday gift you give yourself, or just a reward for a good day’s work, these cigars will make you feel like the Chief Executive.

Of course, in the world of expensive cigars - just as in the world of fine wine - there are items that can best be labeled ‘collectibles’. The Montecristo No. 2 made in 1961 that sells for around $400 per stick might better be framed than smoked. Similarly, the 1947 Flor de Farach Coronas are probably best displayed under glass than smoked with a glass, even if they do come wrapped in the original cellophane.

But there are still fine cigars with a hefty price tag that are definitely made for smoking. The Padron Anniversary series at around $65 per stick are a case in point. The Graycliff for slightly more (around $75) are another. Either of these would compete well with a fine snifter of brandy for any cigar aficionado’s attention.

Even the $35 Cohiba Piramides would be appreciated at a fine club where you need feel no shame lighting up. Smooth, medium-bodied and with a distinct aroma these are quality cigars at a very affordable price.

H. Upmann also has a Piramides worth investigating. Very strong, reminiscent of a Montecristo No. 2, with hints of mocha. Be sure to clip the cap well to get a good draw. This Cuban cigar with a German name continues to rank among the greats, despite its reaching out to the masses.

On the higher end of the scale, Cohiba has a Lanceros that goes for around $350. Creamy, lightly veined and a very smooth draw. This slender wonder has hints of espresso and a very spicy aftertaste.

Punch makes a small Habano that is very mild, goes easy on the spice, and still maintains a full flavor. The Churchill is especially well liked by those who know cigars. They also make a very heavy cigar, full of earthy tones and oriented toward those who like their smoke strong. The Monarcas, for example, is a definite ‘must try’.

If you’re searching out the unusual you’ll want to try some Ashton Cabinet limited edition cigars from the Dominican Republic. Full-bodied with complex overtones, they are available in a range of sizes.

Of course, if it happens that you really are looking for a collectible that you can also smoke, there may be a few of the 1937 La Corona sticks still around. This 5½ x 42 baby runs for about a cool $1,000.

At that price, you’ll want a free glass of cognac to go with it. And, you would be in luck, since Prohibition was repealed in 1933. So, 1937 was a good year in at least one way.

Not too many years ago, cigars were out of favor. The image associated with them was one of sweaty politicians and slovenly couch potatoes. But the 19th century images of elegance have been reclaimed and brought back to popularity.

Smoking clubs, online or real, are now everywhere. Cigar reviews tout the pleasures of relaxing in a plush leather chair, Cabernet on the table, while puffing on a delicious corona. Whether alone or with a small group of friends, in the home or downtown, that experience is one cigar smokers know well. It’s a well-earned reward for a hard day’s work.

When you take up cigar smoking you enter that world. You’ll find joy in hunting down that perfect perfecto, the robust robusto. Just as it was once common to have a favorite barber, you can now seek out a preferred tobacconist. You’ll have many questions, but the answers are not far to seek.

You’ll find out about types of tobacco and styles of cigars and learn the difference between a lonsdale and a torpedo. You’ll discover the origins of those tobaccos and how they, and those who grow it, affect the flavor and quality. That will teach you why the Dominican Republic is a tobacco powerhouse, second only to Cuba.

You’ll discover the best way to cut, light and smoke one of those delectable blends. Guillotine, wedge or lanced will become terms as familiar as peanut butter and jelly. ‘Cedar strip or match?’ will become more than just a curious question.

You’ll learn easily and quickly how to store your treasures, both for everyday use and in order to enjoy those aged to increased delightfulness. The difference between blue mold and bloom will become obvious. You’ll discover how to spot a spoiled cigar and what to do to avoid that fate.

You’ll discover the many tools and accessories used to make cigar storage and smoking optimal. Cutters, lighters, humidors and other fine tools all have their distinctive properties. The novice will want to learn which types achieve the desired results, and how to use them to do it.

Then you’ll be in the best position to benefit from the advice readily available on the Internet about those fine cigars, those excellent tools and those life-enhancing clubs.

Take part in the cigar Renaissance. You’ll find the small investment in time and money will be returned in enjoyment many times over. When you’re sitting in that plush chair, swapping stories and smoking a great new Churchill you’ll understand the meaning of the word ‘Renaissance’ - rebirth.

Like any agricultural product made for enjoyment — wine, beer, flowers — the fresher cigars are when consumed, the more they’ll be enjoyed. Even the best cigars can’t be good if they’re stale. Fortunately, keeping good cigars in good condition for a good long time is fairly easy. Just store them properly.

The two factors that affect cigars the most — and they work together — are moisture and air.

Air has oxygen, which combines with many of the organic compounds in the cigar tobacco, ultimately deadening it. The chief reason is one similar to why metals rust: oxygen combines readily with many things, changing their chemical character. In the case of cigar compounds, there are oils, plant molecules and others that literally change into something else when they mix with air.

The other destroyer of good cigars is moisture, either too much or too little.

Too much can encourage the growth of beetle larvae and other organisms that even the most diligent quality control can not entirely keep out of cigars. It also encourages the growth of mold and can wilt and loosen the wrapper, while it spoils the interior. More moisture also means more oxygen, bringing the harmful effects listed earlier.

Too little moisture can also harm cigars. A dried out cigar causes tobacco to feel and taste stale. It causes the recently living plant to wither like dead flowers, with similar effects. Flavors become deadened and the wrapper can become crumbly and lose protective ability.

To keep them as fresh as possible, the right level of moisture (humidity) is needed. The best way to do that is by storing the cigars in a humidor, in which the humidity level can be carefully controlled.

Humidors, which come in a hundred sizes and styles, are boxes typically made of wood (and sometimes glass). Spanish cedar is popular because of its excellent insect resistance and moisture control.

Most have a gauge that allows you to judge the level of humidity, some of which are visible through glass. Maintaining the interior humidity level is accomplished by a combination of the wood, water holding mechanism (often a small sponge) and a tight seal.

For small amounts, one or two cigars, a glass or metal tube is often sufficient if they’re not stored there too long. They’re most often used when traveling or for partially smoked cigars. Since a good cigar can often last an hour or more, and are often more than an individual wants to smoke at one time, glass storage tubes are handy for storing the unused portion.

Never put a partially smoked cigar back into a humidor. The odor and compounds can steeply undercut the flavor of the other cigars. That lessens the value of a few dozen to a few hundred cigars (some humidors are huge), for the sake of keeping half a cigar for later. Not a good trade off.

Keep your cigars at the right level of moisture and away from the open air and you’ll find they can last for weeks or longer in top smoking form.