Introducing Great Wall Cigars

Founded in the 1950s in Sichuan Province, Great Wall Cigars stands as China’s leading cigar manufacturer — a brand built not just on tobacco, but on political heritage, diplomatic finesse, and national pride. Originally established under government directive, its mission was to create a premium long-filler cigar worthy of China’s top military generals, party officials, and foreign diplomats. What began as a domestic initiative soon grew into an iconic symbol of status and ceremonial significance.

The legacy of Great Wall Cigars was forever sealed when Chairman Mao Zedong himself began gifting them to foreign dignitaries during the height of the Cold War. Among the most notable instances was Mao’s presentation of Great Wall cigars to French President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s — a moment that transformed the cigar into a diplomatic artifact. These weren’t just hand-rolled luxuries; they became instruments of soft power, carefully lit in moments of peace, respect, and political intent.

Behind each cigar lies centuries of Chinese tobacco cultivation. Sichuan, along with neighboring provinces like Yunnan and Guizhou, has grown tobacco since the Qing Dynasty. The origins of Great Wall Cigars date even further back than the 1950s — to Yichuan Industry Society, founded in 1918 and recognized as China’s earliest cigar-making enterprise. When the modern iteration of Great Wall began crafting cigars for Chairman Mao in the 1960s, a blend he personally favored was released to the public, elevating the brand’s reputation. The legendary 132 cigar, handmade and pre-cut, quickly rose to prominence and remains one of China's most respected cigar types.

Today, Great Wall Cigars offers a portfolio that bridges tradition and innovation. Distributed by Blencora Limited, its notable labels include the 132 Series, Spectacular No.1, and Fusion Edition, along with collector-grade masterpieces like the Mao Edition, Gold Leaf, and Silk Road Blend. Each cigar is hand-rolled using sun-cured native leaves and features detailed tasting notes and quality certifications, underscoring their premium status. These cigars are earthy, bold, and distinctly Eastern — reflecting the terroir of their origin and the meticulous craftsmanship behind their construction.

The rolling and aging process is equally steeped in tradition. At Great Wall’s headquarters, a trio of master rollers supervises nearly 100 highly trained female artisans, while foreign expertise — notably from Dominican master roller Lucrecia Valdez — helps maintain international standards. Under the stewardship of Li Wei, aging rooms store over 400,000 cigars, some dating back to 2009, maturing in climate-controlled conditions to ensure depth and consistency in flavor.

The company’s tobacco fields, just a short drive from the headquarters, evoke comparisons to Cuba or Nicaragua. The crop is nourished by seasonal rainfall and artesian mountain water. Since the early 2000s, Cuban seed tobacco has been cultivated here, alongside local varietals. A new initiative in Hainan province, China’s tropical southernmost region, is exploring new terroirs for future blends. There are even plans to develop a “Cigar Village” at the Shifang fields — a cultural center dedicated to Chinese tobacco heritage and cigar tourism.

Great Wall Cigars is more than a manufacturer — it is a keeper of Chinese tobacco heritage, a vessel of national pride, and a bold entrant into the global premium cigar scene. As international palates evolve and curiosity grows, this once state-exclusive treasure is poised to become a global connoisseur’s discovery — one puff at a time.