Lа Aurora little cigars — about four million pieces per year

About a hundred years ago, the Dominican planter Eduardo Leon Jimenez, whose family has been growing tobacco for several generations, decided to start producing his own cigars. In 1903, don Eduardo opened a small cigar factory in the small town of Guazumal, located between Tamboril and Santiago, which he called La Aurora. The cigars produced at the factory were named Lа Aurora little cigars. This factory was the first cigar factory in the Dominican Republic.

Wide in the middle and tapering at the edges, Lа Aurora little cigars were the first officially registered brand of Dominican cigars.

At first, there were only three twisting machines working at the factory. Gradually the popularity of the brand among Dominican smokers grew, the demand for cigars increased, and Don Eduardo had to hire new workers. Donkeys were used to deliver products to other cities on the island. By the 30s, Lа Aurora little cigars became cramped within the walls of the old factory, and the family opened a new one in Santiago.

An end to the quiet and measured existence of the family business was put in the early 90s by Guillermo Leon, the grandson of don Eduardo. After becoming Executive Vice President of La Aurora S.A. in 1993, he was involved in promoting the family brands La Aurora and Leon Jimenes to the global market. The first importing country was, of course, the United States. Lа Aurora little cigars, in particular, were sent there about five hundred thousand pieces a year – a third of the total.

After several years, the Lа Aurora little cigars reached Europe, but under a slightly changed name. It was decided to remove La from the name of the brand so that the names of the cigar and the factory would not mix in the mind of the smoker.

American appetites continued to grow, and by 2002 La Aurora was producing 4 million Lа Aurora little cigars a year. About a third remains in the Dominican Republic, the rest is exported, mainly to the United States.