China now accounts for one third of cigar smokers

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In today’s cigar news, Tom Hancock at Smart Planet reports on the growing demand for premium cigars in China.  The economic boom that China has experienced in recent decades has vastly increased the middle and upper class, and allowed more financial flexibility for individuals (mainly businessmen) to enjoy what has typically been seen as a Western hobby. In fact, Hancock reports that one third of the world’s cigar smoking population is Chinese.

I’ve got to say, I’m actually pretty fascinated by the emerging cigar industry in China. I received a small pack of cigars from a company owned by the Chinese state tobacco monopoly, and the cigars are still sitting in my humidor, almost a year later. I can’t quite bring myself to smoke them, but there is certainly some novelty to the idea.