Joya de Nicaragua brought to light the characteristics of the Nicaraguan tobacco. The Havana seed wrapper was very bright with a light brown patina. The cigar yielded a bouquet, full of taste on the palate and its aroma was unmistakably pleasant and enveloping. The construction was excellent and it was packed in 25 cigar wooden boxes. The Logo was an oval shape with a tobacco plantation and three peasants cutting tobacco in the field. This scene was very colorful and gave an image of freshness to the boxes. The success of Joya de Nicaragua obtained such a level that in 1976 the sales reached 9 millions units in United States.

By this time the brand became so famous that the American government named it the official cigar of the White House. Joya de Nicaragua became the most famous brand of Nicaraguan cigars being a classic in the American market. It was the leading brand during the 70's among the rich blended premium cigars in the USA. By this time the brand started to have great success in Europe and was exported mainly to Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Holland.

Joya de Nicaragua was created at the end of the 60's in Esteli, where Caribbean experts started the tobacco cultivation a few years earlier with the purpose of supplying fillers and wrappers to American manufacturers. The tobacco demand from America was not up to expectations, so the solution was to open a cigar factory and export cigars manufactured in Nicaragua to the United States. The idea was supported by the Nicaraguan government that created a program of assistance for the tobacco growers of the northern region of the country. The economic potential of this industry immediately drew the attention of President Somoza in such a way that he decided to become the main shareholder of the Nicaragua Cigars Company, the first cigar factory in Central America that was created at the beginning of 1968. Thus the first Nicaraguan cigar brand was born under the name of JOYA DE NICARAGUA, "the Jewel of Nicaragua".

The fertile valleys of Esteli and Jalapa were excellent for the production of prime quality tobacco. The valley of Esteli with its comfortable climate and rich soil was the optimum place for the production of fine and flexible wrapping leaves. The valley of Jalapa generated very rich and aromatic filling leaves. The skills of cigar making were quickly learned by the people of the zone, always under the strict quality control of Caribbean experts.

In 2002 a new line was introduced: JOYA DE NICARAGUA ANTAÑO 1970 commemorating 32 years of the introduction of the brand to the American market. This is a real strong cigar that performed admirably in the tasting of some specialized American publications. It rated 91 in CIGAR INSIDER in July 2002. In the June 2003 issue of the Robb Report, the magazine dedicated to the Luxury Lifestyle, ranked Antaño 1970 among the top five cigars in the world in 2003. The Robb report said "A welcome return to the great cigars originally created by Joya de Nicaragua in the 70's."

We invite you to enjoy JOYA DE NICARAGUA the true Nicaraguan "puro" a masterpiece that carry on the history and traditions of a country.