Welcome
Welcome to Leaves to Ash, an online gathering place designed by and created for Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf. Speaking to the niche, vibrant, and ever-growing community of tobacco passionados, we intend to provide a forum to which members of this community can turn for all things cigar and briar related!
We hope to share our knowledge and passion, acquired during more than thirty years in the tobacco industry, with you all…
Mr Cigarman & The Pipe Duchess
“Tobacco is the plant that converts thoughts into dreams” Victor Hugo
Mr Cigarman
My name is John Alexander, and my professional involvement in the tobacco and cigar industries has spanned over thirty years; for me, cigars are immensely complex, culturally significant, and beautifully artisanal works of art. Through this blog, I would like to share my knowledge and passion with you all, with the intention of helping you to elevate your smoking experience and of creating a space in which all passionados feel welcome.
The Pipe Duchess
My name is Dimi Maroudas, and this blog is, for me, an opportunity to share what I have learned both as a smoker and a professional in this beautiful industry. Pipe smoking is a personal ritual unsurpassed in uniqueness, and I have found the pipe smoking community to be one of the warmest and most welcoming out there! It is this sense of community and family which I hope to create here.
The Leaves
Cigar Leaves
Varietals
Over centuries of intentional and unintentional crosses, we have been left with a plethora of tobacco varietals to enjoy.
Countries of Origin
As the artisans traversed the globe, so did the premium tobacco with which they would work. Today, tobacco is grown in Cuba, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Brazil and the United States to name a few.
Explore
The production of cigar tobacco is rich with history, cultural significance, and craftsmanship. Click below to explore this timeless tradition
Pipe Leaves
Varietals
The plethora of tobacco varietals, resultant of both terroir and processes of manufacture, lend themselves to the complexity and seemingly endless variety of the blends which we enjoy.
Processes
Whilst many of the processes involved in manufacturing pipe tobacco have been tried and tested, many were discovered by chance.
Explore
Pipe tobacco smoking is steeped in thousands of years of tradition and history. Explore how these have served to define the hobby which we enjoy today.
The World's Finest Leaves
Indulging in a fine cigar or bowl of pipe tobacco has been likened to poetry in its most visceral form. In this light, the leaves are the words, comprising every line and stanza that entangle us. Explore the history, complexity and processes involved in producing the world’s finest leaves…
