Better Than Cuban? What People Say About Principes Cigarillos—Is It True?

It was honestly surprising to see claims like “better than Cuban.” Sure, La Aurora is a well‑known brand and their cigars can be tasty, but Principes are still cigarillos—and much of the lineup is flavored. So where would the kind of high‑grade tobacco come from that could seriously compete with classic Cuban profiles?

What are these cigarillos really like? How do they taste, and is the tobacco actually noteworthy? Here’s a straightforward, hands‑on review.

Availability and price (U.S.)

Principes have been easy to find stateside for years, with steady distribution. A pack in this format typically runs around $8–9. That’s not exactly cheap for machine‑made cigarillos, and because Principes is best known for flavored lines, you might hesitate if you’re after straight tobacco. The “Original” line isn’t marketed as flavored, though—so the question is whether it’s worth the spend.

Packaging and construction

The pack looks nice but it isn’t airtight; there’s a front window that shows what’s inside. Each cigarillo is individually wrapped, though those sleeves aren’t airtight either. If stock sits a while, you could encounter an overdry stick.

Format: Chicos. It’s long for a cigarillo—about 4.75 inches—yet fairly slim at roughly a 28 ring gauge. The cello will keep your pocket clear of crumbs, but it won’t prevent a bend or break, so avoid carrying single sticks loose.

All Principes cigarillos are machine‑made and come pre‑cut, which keeps prep to a minimum. The body tapers slightly at the mouth end, but with cut filler it won’t change flavor or strength if you light either side.

Blend, aroma, and materials

Despite the “Original” name suggesting a straight tobacco blend, the first aroma off the cello hints more at a light vanilla sweetness than pure leaf. It’s subtle, and I hoped it wouldn’t show up in the smoke.

Each stick wears a natural tobacco wrapper over a denser homogenized tobacco leaf (HTL) sleeve—more a construction choice than a drawback, since it helps hold the cut filler together. The brand markets this line as all‑tobacco, Dominican‑origin filler. Looking inside, you’ll see dark, ribbon‑cut leaf and a bit of stem. Relative to the total it’s not much, and to their credit, it doesn’t introduce off‑flavors.

Flavor and performance

Light‑up is easy, with a comfortable, slightly firm draw. The profile starts simple: wood, cedar, and a moderate bitterness. Strength sits below medium.

Through the midpoint there’s minimal evolution. After the “equator,” a light nutty undertone appears and intensity ticks up a notch. Near the nub you’ll find the most nuance: a faint floral hint, a clearer tobacco‑leaf tone, and the cedar shifts more toward nuts. If you take your time, a stick lasts about 15 minutes.

Value and comparisons

I didn’t pick up a strong vanilla note in the smoke itself, but the overall bouquet is pretty tame and the strength modest. Given the price, there’s tough competition. For a deeper, more characterful tobacco taste in a quick format, I’d look at dry‑cured cheroots like Parodi or Toscano Toscanello, or classic minis like Villiger Export—often comparable or cheaper depending on the retailer.

Bottom line

Principes Original are straightforward, convenient cigarillos with clean construction and an easy draw. They burn reliably and avoid off‑notes despite the HTL binder and bits of stem, but the flavor stays simple and shy of medium. If you want an unfussy 15‑minute smoke and like a milder profile, they’ll do the job; if you’re chasing complexity or richer tobacco character, better options exist at the price.

For adult consumers 21+ only. Pricing and availability may vary by state and retailer.