On an island better known for beaches and trade winds, Benjamin Petrocchi set out to create something few people expected: a cigar cultivated and hand rolled in Aruba.
Aruhiba Cigars grew from that ambition. Petrocchi studied the craft through years of experimentation and visits to experienced cigar makers in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He then brought that knowledge home, adapting traditional techniques to Aruba’s distinctive climate and growing conditions.
The result was Aruba’s own locally produced cigar. Aruhiba tobacco is grown from Dominican and Cuban strains, creating a full and distinctive flavor offered in both mild and stronger varieties. From tending the plants to selecting the leaves and rolling each cigar, the process depends on patience and skilled hands.
The approach to cultivation is also locally thoughtful. Rather than relying on synthetic pesticides, the tobacco plants are protected with a natural preparation made from neem tree leaves. It is a practical solution that reflects the resourcefulness found throughout Aruba’s entrepreneurial history.
Every Aruhiba cigar carries the Made in Aruba identity. The presentation boxes and cigar cases turn the finished product into more than a souvenir. They allow visitors to take home a piece of local craftsmanship and the story of an Aruban entrepreneur who spent years developing something the island could call its own.
Visitors who meet the people behind Aruhiba discover that cigar making is a slow and deliberate craft. The experience creates space for conversation, questions and a closer look at how raw tobacco becomes a finished cigar.
Aruhiba represents the entrepreneurship Authentic Aruba wants visitors to discover. It began with curiosity, grew through learning and persistence, and became a product that carries Aruba’s name beyond the island.
Behind every cigar is a local story shaped by the land, the maker and the belief that something distinctly Aruban can stand proudly beside products from anywhere in the world.