blessednxs65
Is it Nicaraguan
If youre an American cigar smoker, you know the name Te-Amo.
Created in 1964, it was at one time of the top-selling brands in the United States, with robust flavors and wide distribution. But after the end of the Cigar Boom, Mexican cigars have fallen on hard time.
In a marvelous review of the Mexican cigar industry in the Summer 2005 issue of Cigar Magazine, Steve Saka reported that production at Nueva Matacapan Tabacos the Te-Amo factory in San Andres Tuxla, Mexico included 17 million cigars for export. By 2005, it was about five million with two million going to the U.S., about 2.5 million consumed in Mexico and a half-million or so sold in Europe.
What happened?
What we need to do now is to make cigars Americans will like, said Alberto Turrent in the article. Over the past couple of years, the factory has introduced new blends, including the A. Turrent line and the brand new Te-Amo World Selection, all distributed by Altadis U.S.A.
We thought it was time to take a taste test:
A. Turrent:
[Mexico: available in 5 sizes]
This blend debuted in 2005 to salute the 125th anniversary of the Turrent familys involvement with tobacco, which started with a move from Spain to Mexico in 1880.
Unlike many Mexican cigars that are made only from Mexican-grown tobaccos, the A. Turrent blend includes a Nicaraguan wrapper along with a San Andres Criollo wrapper and Mexican-grown filler leaves. The result is a medium-bodied smoke with a slightly spicy, slightly peppery aroma.
The flavor features a creamy core, with a subtle, spicy finish. Very well made, it has a perfect draw and an even burn. Theres just a note of pepper at the very end, but its well balanced and signals the end of an enjoyable cigar. At suggested retail prices of $3.50 to $5.00 each, your wallet will also enjoy it!
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo Natural wrapper:
[Mexico: available in 8 sizes]
Here is the famous Te-Amo brand, so well known throughout the U.S. and once one of the most popular brands in the country.
The tobaccos are all from Mexico and with a natural wrapper, the blend offers a medium body and a spicy aroma. The flavor is creamy with a note of sweetness and a medium finish, creating an enticing balance between the flavor in your mouth and the spicy scent on the nose.
Well made with an even burn and a nice draw, this is an easy cigar to smoke, but the flavors are not as stout as you might expect. But its also a bargain at suggested retail prices of $2.65 to $4.85 each in sizes from the No. 4, a petit corona of 5 inches and 42 ring gauge, up to the massive C.E.O. at 8 1/2 inches and 52 ring.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo Maduro wrapper:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The maduro-wrapped version of Te-Amo only comes in three sizes: Churchill, Robusto and Toro, all in boxes of 25.
Stock up now.
Mexican-grown maduro wrappers are among the worlds most sought-after and for good reason. As demonstrated on the Te-Amo maduro line, it brings a direct and clear sweetness to a cigar and an enviable consistency in taste.
The Te-Amo maduro has a full body, but offers a perfect balance between a toasty and just slightly spicy aroma and a sweet taste with a note of caramelized flavor. Its smooth and consistent and offers just a tinge of spice near the end.
At retail prices of $3.50 to $4.00 each, it wont be hard to make this one of your regular cigars and youll understand clearly why Altadis U.S.A. created Team Te-Amo from among some of the top U.S. Senior Tour golfers.
Overall grade: A: Exceptional.
Te-Amo Aniversario:
[Mexico: available in 5 sizes]
The Aniversario blend was introduced in 2000 and was one of the first Mexican-made cigars to include non-Mexican leaf, with Dominican and Nicaraguan filler leaves.
Its a bit stronger than the standard line, with a medium-to-full body and a dark Habana-2000 wrapper. The flavor has a tinge of sweetness which continues through the finish.
Well controlled, the flavor stays consistent throughout and ends when a peppery signals the end is near. This is a pleasant cigar thats easy to smoke, but is also modest and reserved. Careful smokers will enjoy it, along with the very reasonable retail pricing of $4.20 to $5.50 per cigar.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo World Selection Dominicana Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The newest project from Te-Amo is the brand new World Selection, offering unique, themed blends on three different styles: Dominicana, Honduras and Nicaragua. They will debut in stores in October 2007.
The Dominicana Blend has a Connecticut Shade wrapper and is full-bodied with a Mexican maduro binder (!) and Dominican and Mexican filler tobaccos. Theres a creamy and slightly caramelized taste that stays consistent to the end. Theres just a pinch of spice that pops up in the second half thats actually quite entertaining.
The Dominicana selection has the quietest taste of the three World Selection blends, but for those who enjoy a lighter cigar, this could be a fine choice.
Overall grade: B+: Very Good.
Te-Amo World Selection Honduras Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The Honduras blend incorporates Honduran-grown leaf in the filler but features a Mexican-grown Corojo wrapper. Theres a light, toasty aroma to this blend and a medium-to-full body.
Theres a tingle of spice to this cigar with an undertone of light caramel in the background. It doesnt shout, however, but remains controlled, comfortable and even throughout. Theres more balance between the caramelized and spicy elements in the second half.
The Honduras Blend is the most robust of the three World Selection styles, with plenty of character and appeal right to the end. Like all three styles, its very reasonably priced at $3.50 to $4.00 per cigar.
Overall grade: A: Exceptional.
Te-Amo World Selection Nicaragua Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The Nicaragua Blend has, of course, Nicaraguan-grown leaf in the filler, but has a Mexican-grown Criollo wrapper and Mexican maduro binder.
It offers a medium-to-full body and a notably spicy aroma. Theres a fairly rich caramelized taste and an entertaining balance that comes from the spicy scent.
A note of spice enters on the finish in the second half, but this cigar is pleasant, well made and just tastes good.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Theres plenty to like about the A. Turrent and Te-Amo lines, which can also claim the distinction of introducing the very popular Toro format. These cigars are well priced and well made, so why not finish your evening with a taste from south of the border. If you make the right selection from the wide variety of blends we tasted, youll be glad you did!
Created in 1964, it was at one time of the top-selling brands in the United States, with robust flavors and wide distribution. But after the end of the Cigar Boom, Mexican cigars have fallen on hard time.
In a marvelous review of the Mexican cigar industry in the Summer 2005 issue of Cigar Magazine, Steve Saka reported that production at Nueva Matacapan Tabacos the Te-Amo factory in San Andres Tuxla, Mexico included 17 million cigars for export. By 2005, it was about five million with two million going to the U.S., about 2.5 million consumed in Mexico and a half-million or so sold in Europe.
What happened?
What we need to do now is to make cigars Americans will like, said Alberto Turrent in the article. Over the past couple of years, the factory has introduced new blends, including the A. Turrent line and the brand new Te-Amo World Selection, all distributed by Altadis U.S.A.
We thought it was time to take a taste test:
A. Turrent:
[Mexico: available in 5 sizes]
This blend debuted in 2005 to salute the 125th anniversary of the Turrent familys involvement with tobacco, which started with a move from Spain to Mexico in 1880.
Unlike many Mexican cigars that are made only from Mexican-grown tobaccos, the A. Turrent blend includes a Nicaraguan wrapper along with a San Andres Criollo wrapper and Mexican-grown filler leaves. The result is a medium-bodied smoke with a slightly spicy, slightly peppery aroma.
The flavor features a creamy core, with a subtle, spicy finish. Very well made, it has a perfect draw and an even burn. Theres just a note of pepper at the very end, but its well balanced and signals the end of an enjoyable cigar. At suggested retail prices of $3.50 to $5.00 each, your wallet will also enjoy it!
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo Natural wrapper:
[Mexico: available in 8 sizes]
Here is the famous Te-Amo brand, so well known throughout the U.S. and once one of the most popular brands in the country.
The tobaccos are all from Mexico and with a natural wrapper, the blend offers a medium body and a spicy aroma. The flavor is creamy with a note of sweetness and a medium finish, creating an enticing balance between the flavor in your mouth and the spicy scent on the nose.
Well made with an even burn and a nice draw, this is an easy cigar to smoke, but the flavors are not as stout as you might expect. But its also a bargain at suggested retail prices of $2.65 to $4.85 each in sizes from the No. 4, a petit corona of 5 inches and 42 ring gauge, up to the massive C.E.O. at 8 1/2 inches and 52 ring.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo Maduro wrapper:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The maduro-wrapped version of Te-Amo only comes in three sizes: Churchill, Robusto and Toro, all in boxes of 25.
Stock up now.
Mexican-grown maduro wrappers are among the worlds most sought-after and for good reason. As demonstrated on the Te-Amo maduro line, it brings a direct and clear sweetness to a cigar and an enviable consistency in taste.
The Te-Amo maduro has a full body, but offers a perfect balance between a toasty and just slightly spicy aroma and a sweet taste with a note of caramelized flavor. Its smooth and consistent and offers just a tinge of spice near the end.
At retail prices of $3.50 to $4.00 each, it wont be hard to make this one of your regular cigars and youll understand clearly why Altadis U.S.A. created Team Te-Amo from among some of the top U.S. Senior Tour golfers.
Overall grade: A: Exceptional.
Te-Amo Aniversario:
[Mexico: available in 5 sizes]
The Aniversario blend was introduced in 2000 and was one of the first Mexican-made cigars to include non-Mexican leaf, with Dominican and Nicaraguan filler leaves.
Its a bit stronger than the standard line, with a medium-to-full body and a dark Habana-2000 wrapper. The flavor has a tinge of sweetness which continues through the finish.
Well controlled, the flavor stays consistent throughout and ends when a peppery signals the end is near. This is a pleasant cigar thats easy to smoke, but is also modest and reserved. Careful smokers will enjoy it, along with the very reasonable retail pricing of $4.20 to $5.50 per cigar.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Te-Amo World Selection Dominicana Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The newest project from Te-Amo is the brand new World Selection, offering unique, themed blends on three different styles: Dominicana, Honduras and Nicaragua. They will debut in stores in October 2007.
The Dominicana Blend has a Connecticut Shade wrapper and is full-bodied with a Mexican maduro binder (!) and Dominican and Mexican filler tobaccos. Theres a creamy and slightly caramelized taste that stays consistent to the end. Theres just a pinch of spice that pops up in the second half thats actually quite entertaining.
The Dominicana selection has the quietest taste of the three World Selection blends, but for those who enjoy a lighter cigar, this could be a fine choice.
Overall grade: B+: Very Good.
Te-Amo World Selection Honduras Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The Honduras blend incorporates Honduran-grown leaf in the filler but features a Mexican-grown Corojo wrapper. Theres a light, toasty aroma to this blend and a medium-to-full body.
Theres a tingle of spice to this cigar with an undertone of light caramel in the background. It doesnt shout, however, but remains controlled, comfortable and even throughout. Theres more balance between the caramelized and spicy elements in the second half.
The Honduras Blend is the most robust of the three World Selection styles, with plenty of character and appeal right to the end. Like all three styles, its very reasonably priced at $3.50 to $4.00 per cigar.
Overall grade: A: Exceptional.
Te-Amo World Selection Nicaragua Blend:
[Mexico: available in 3 sizes]
The Nicaragua Blend has, of course, Nicaraguan-grown leaf in the filler, but has a Mexican-grown Criollo wrapper and Mexican maduro binder.
It offers a medium-to-full body and a notably spicy aroma. Theres a fairly rich caramelized taste and an entertaining balance that comes from the spicy scent.
A note of spice enters on the finish in the second half, but this cigar is pleasant, well made and just tastes good.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Theres plenty to like about the A. Turrent and Te-Amo lines, which can also claim the distinction of introducing the very popular Toro format. These cigars are well priced and well made, so why not finish your evening with a taste from south of the border. If you make the right selection from the wide variety of blends we tasted, youll be glad you did!
