About Tobacco Production in Bahia

Historically, the state of Bahia, Brazil, was home to five micro-regions known for tobacco production, but today only two remain: Mata Fina and Mata Norte. Mata Fina tobacco is prized for its smoothness, mild aroma, and sweet flavor. It’s a brown leaf that burns well and produces a slightly bluish smoke. In contrast, Mata Norte tobacco has less soft leaves, a stronger scent, and a drier texture. It’s a darker brown and produces a whitish smoke. Both of these varieties are used to create high-quality cigars. Other tobacco grown in less specific regions of Bahia is considered to be of lower quality.

The Menendez Family's Move to Brazil

  • After the nationalization of Cuba's economy in 1960, the Menendez family, founders of Montecristo and H. Upmann cigars, moved to the Canary Islands.
  • In the Canary Islands, they established Companhia Insular Tabacalera and began a search for high-quality tobacco comparable to that of Cuba.
  • They found a suitable match in the tobacco grown by the Amerino Portugal family in the Recôncavo Baiano region of Brazil.
  • This discovery led to a long-term partnership. In 1977, Félix Menendez Toráno and Mário Amerino da Silva Portugal officially founded Menendez Amerino & Cia. Ltda. in Bahia.
  • The company went on to become Brazil's largest manufacturer of handmade cigars.
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Alonso Menendez

Alonso Menéndez cigars are premium, handmade cigars from Brazil that blend two main types of high-quality tobacco from the state of Bahia. Mata Fina tobacco, known for its mild aroma and sweet flavor, is often used for the cigar’s wrapper. Mata Norte tobacco, which has a stronger scent and a richer flavor, is used in the blend to create a mild to medium strength cigar. The resulting cigars are characterized by their smooth draw and prominent notes of cocoa, hazelnut, and caramel, with subtle hints of herbs and spices.

The Charutos Alonso Menéndez Robusto Mata Fina

The drought is intensely light green, carefully finely ground. The fragrance hits with pleasantly sweet notes, with a subtle touch of paprika.

The taste is quite intense in its mildness, sweetish, with plant notes. In the flavor range there is a bit of bitterness in the nettle style. In the finish, sweetness returns and quite thick creaminess.

The Charutos Alonso Menéndez Robusto Connecticut

Dried light green, definitely juicier than the standard Tipo PU1, which is always pale green. Finely cut leaves, lots of dust.

A grassy-hay scent with a slightly floral flair. Floury notes are also noticeable. After pouring, the aroma of sour apple appears subtly, but wrapped in the smell of freshly baked dough.

The taste stands out with a solid level of bitterness and fresh, sour vegetation. Leaves a tightness on the tongue; the infusion is markedly tannic. The infusion gives the impression of being thick, heavy and dry, and the taste lingers on the palate for a long time. It has slightly woody notes. After a few pours, it softens, the bitterness almost completely disappears, and the taste becomes creamier and much milder, but still thick and expressive.

The Charutos Alonso Menéndez Del Patron

Available in the ROBUSTO and CORONA calibers, it is the result of the union and creative force of free labor

This cigar originates from Bahia, Brazil. Its cover is Piloto Cubano, which is Cuban seed planted in Bahia.

The capote is Fine Forest, and the core consists of Mata Fina and Mata Norte. In terms of strength, it is medium, with notable evolution, a feature that doesn’t stand out in other commercial calibers of the brand.

Cigatette Alonso Menendez Gold

Long cigarettes with mouthpiece. Measures: 12.7 cm x 0.9 cm in diameter

Alonso Menendez Gold (Gabriela) cigars, with a plastic mouthpiece, use Virginia smoke and a Sumatra natural smoke lid.

Cardboard package containing 05 cigarillos individually wrapped in cellophane, tobacco, reconstituted smoke (homogenized mantle)

Dona Flor Logo

Charuto Brands Dona Flor

Doña Flor was inspired by the main character in the book “Doña Flor e seu Dois Maridos”, a tribute from the president of Menendez Amerino & Cia to the friend and writer from Bahia Jorge Amado.

Dona Flor belongs to the Premium Cigars line, handcrafted with pure tobacco leaf; It is the result of a rigorous selection of fumes from Recôncavo Baiano, resulting in a product of exceptional quality with an aromatic character highly appreciated by European smokers.

Dona Flor Gran Corona Graduada

This cigar features a cover of Mata Fina, a capote of Fine Forest, and a core blending Mata Fina and Mata Norte. It has a Medium - Strong strength, measurements of 24mm x 150mm, and comes in boxes of 10 units as part of its Regular Line.

Dona Flor Corpo E Alma

Doña Flor Robusto Puro Mata Fina
Double ring cigar, mild to medium flavor, made with 100% Mata Fina tobacco with hints of herbaceous notes and a cocoa base.

Traditional Robusto Flower Donut
With a mild to medium flavor, with a slight hint of pepper, earthy notes, woody aroma and little fruity, it received the highest score in the Cigar Aficionado (92).

Selection Doña Flor Robusto
Double ring cigar, mild to medium flavor, slightly spicy, with woody and earthy notes, aftertaste sweetened with essential oils.

Cigarette Dona Flor

Dona Flor Puritos C / 10 cigarettes feature a cover made from Cuban seed planted in Bahia, a capote of Fine Forest, and a core blending Mata Fina and Mata Norte. Their composition includes a smoke mixture, tobacco smoke, and reconstituted smoke (homogenized mantle).

Spec Sheets
Dona Flor Logo

TOP 10 The World’s Most Iconic Cigar Brands

Dona Flor—a proud Brazilian cigar brand ranked among the Top 10 Iconic Cigar Brands Worldwide. Since 1980, we’ve distinguished ourselves by celebrating the exceptional Reconquista Baiano tobacco, meticulously cultivated in Brazil’s Bahia region.

As a flagship of Brazilian cigar craftsmanship, Dona Flor merges artisanal heritage with the bold, distinctive flavors of locally sourced tobacco. Our place in the global top 10 isn’t just a label—it’s a testament to our commitment to quality, cultural relevance, and the ability to turn every smoke into a sophisticated ritual. For connoisseurs seeking a brand that embodies Brazilian excellence and stands among the world’s most iconic names, Dona Flor delivers tradition, taste, and a legacy you can savor.
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