1491

& before

Two strains of tobacco, Rustica and Tabacum are native to North and South America. The former in North America and the latter in South America and the Caribbean. Most every culture cultivated it, even those who farmed nothing else.

1492

October 29th - Columbus sails into the calm waters of Bahia de Gibara, Cuba (what he then called Hispaniola). He sends two Spaniards onto the island where they meet Taino “Indians” who are smoking huge “cigars” - tobacco leaves wrapped in corn husks.