Box-pressed cigars, what you need to know

Far less familiar than cylindrical cigars, square cigars, also known as box-pressed, have their followers among certain enthusiasts. A look at these unusual cube-shaped cigars.

A square cigar, you said?

Indeed. They appear to have emerged in Cuba at the start of the twentieth century. Accounts of their origin differ from one source to another. Some hold that the shape made it possible to fit more cigars into the boxes and to bring down transport costs. Freshly rolled and pressed against one another in square packaging, they took on the shape of their container. Other sources claim that the shape was devised so that the cigars would not roll around in their box during transport, nor on the table while they were being smoked.

They are far less widely known than classic cigars, yet according to enthusiasts and specialists, the square shape brings out the aromas of the tobacco. Rolled under a specific pressure, the tobacco leaves are tightly packed while still allowing an easy draw. With each puff, the smoke has time to cool, which those tasters say makes the aromas easier to pick out. Combustion is also steadier and slower, so the cigar lasts longer. According to some smokers, square cigars tend to go out less often.

How are box-pressed cigars made?

The rolling process for box-pressed cigars is the same as for classic cigars. It is the packing method that gives them their distinctive shape. They are stored very tightly in a rectangular or square box. The boxes are stacked on top of one another, then pressed by hand with a specific pressure to hold and seal them without damaging the wrapper.

Note that some cigars are rolled in a square format from the outset. The term “box-pressed” covers all cube-shaped cigars, whatever their manufacturing method.