If Legalized, Cuban Cigars Could Hit Twin Cities Soon

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The aroma of 500 cigars surrounds you inside the humidor at Infinity Smokes in downtown Minneapolis. None of the cigars is from Cuba, for now.

Store owner Tarik Hamouda said that could change.

"All of these boxes will, or would, could be replaced by Cuban cigars," he said. "Ninety percent, at least. It could be 100 percent Cuban. If it gets here, people will buy nothing but Cubans."

Even though Cubans are now illegal in the U.S., Hamouda is always asked about them.

"Of course, they always ask about them," he said. "'Do you have Cuban cigars? Do you have some hidden somewhere?'"

Does he?

"Of course not," Hamouda said, with a chuckle, adding that he already knows how to get Cubans.

"The cigar manufacturers make Cubans, but they send them outside the country," he said. "Once they are allowed to, we'll have them."

Cigars grown and produced in the Dominican Republic are the most popular now. Some are made from tobacco plants imported from Cuba, which can't be sold in the U.S.

If they become legal, Hamouda expects a run on Cubans at first.

"At the beginning, I think it's going to be through the roof," he said. "After that, I'm not sure if people will get used to smoking a Cuban cigar since it's available."

Minnesota farmers and businesses are also encouraged by President Obama's move to normalize relations with Cuba.

Trade sanctions were eased about 15 years ago. State farmers sold Cuba about $27 million in corn, soybeans and other products in 2012.

Minnesota-based Cargill has been working to establish free trade between the two countries.

Congress will still have to act to lift economic sanctions against Cuba.