Flor de Selva Año del Dragón

Maya Selva treats us to a new module to celebrate Chinese New Year. In Mayan and Chinese cultures, animals are given special importance. The elders say that we all have a totem animal or "nahual" to guide us throughout our lives.
Combining traditional Aztec hieroglyphs with Chinese motifs, Maya has skilfully blended the strength and serenity of the dragon to present us with this magnificent double corona.

The texture is firm and well-rounded, with an exceptional size (19cm for a 52-gauge cigar) and a full-bodied flavour. The tasting that follows promises to be long and enjoyable. Allow around 75-90 minutes to fully enjoy this "little" gem, of which only 2,024 boxes have been produced (150 for Switzerland).

Once the imposing red and gold band adorned with the famous dragon has been removed, the cigar is even more beautiful. Its wrapper comes from the Jamastén region. Smooth and even, it feels silky to the touch. The nose already detects vegetal and leather aromas.

Honduras

Chardonnay

Double Corona

Nuts

Tasting notes

Notes

The first puffs are very pleasant. Light and with a subtle hint of coffee. They already fill the mouth and will keep our taste buds active for several seconds.

The draw is smooth and a punch cut is ideal for concentrating the aromas. The ash that forms is slightly fluffy. Upon closer inspection, this texture can be found across the entire wrapper.

The first third delights us with its subtle yet complex aromas: a soft, slightly salty note mixed with the praline of creamy chocolate.

The second third brings a host of new flavours, with stronger hazelnut aromas and a slight increase in roasted and spicy notes.
The journey to the land of Maya continues with the empyreumatic and woody notes of an aged barrel.

The final third continues in the same vein. The aromas remain consistent and the strength is still skilfully controlled. The finish is pleasant, and as you set the core aside to let it cool, you realise that nearly an hour and a half has passed.

Pairing

Maya is sufficient unto herself 🙂 If thirst strikes, a barrel-aged Chardonnay from Les Fils Maye will be just the ticket to slay this dragon.

Cigar anecdote

Total number of boxes produced: 2,024 | Distributed in Switzerland: 150

About Flor de Selva

Maya. One word is enough to command respect. She is a legend in the world of cigars, and thanks to her, women are represented with such pride. Maya is Madame Blue Smoke’s favourite; an evening at Royal Cigar to meet Maya in the flesh. It is the discovery of an incredibly rich and profound personality, proud of her country and her heritage. It is the breath of charisma through her words, her dazzling authenticity, the resonance of her values in her deep voice.

Like a warrior, she aims to fly the Honduran flag as high as possible in the world of cigars. It is a mission accomplished, for in 2024, Maya was awarded the “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 2024”

Madame Blue Smoke has an idol: Maya Selva.

Here, it is emotion speaking. Maya is an incredibly charismatic leader. Inspiring, radiant, warm. When she speaks, she mesmerises the crowd. A male-dominated crowd. She stands tall among the giants of the cigar world, alongside Eric M. Newman and Robert C. Newman, Rocky Patel, Manuel Quesada, Benjamin “Benji” Menendez, and Carlito Fuente.

But I don’t think that’s what drives Maya. She sincerely wants to put Honduras on the map, create jobs, restore the cigar industry’s reputation and make her country a key player in the sector.

Maya is a team. Every member we met—advisors, importers, sales representatives, brand managers—speaks with respect and conviction about her values, is convinced of the products, and is moving in the same direction.

It was therefore with undisguised emotion that we watched her take to the stage at the 2024 Cigar Trophy Awards ceremony.

Maya’s core value: ethics

Maya aims to create jobs in Honduras and to involve every trade that contributes to the making of a cigar. From the tobacco fields to the packaging that wraps the cigars. Consequently, every box produced comes from Honduras, including the raw materials.

Maya does not compromise. Its brand manager, Nina Cobos Rosa, told us at Intertabac: “Initially, the new bands for the ‘Villa Zamorano’ brand were to be gold-toned with green. The material for the gold finish was not available in Honduras; it was impossible to source it. Maya decided to change the band’s colour scheme to greener tones so that the band could be produced entirely in Honduras.”

Where does this Honduran icon come from?

Born to a French mother and a Honduran father, Maya grew up in Tegucigalpa. After studying engineering in France and the USA, Maya returned to Honduras with a master’s degree under her belt, but not yet ready to decide on a career.

It was then that she spent a year learning how cigars are made in the Danli region. Drawing on her academic background, she meticulously studied all the essential parameters involved in crafting high-quality cigars.

In 1994, her meeting with Nestor Plasencia proved decisive for her career. And a year later, after planning the production criteria for her cigars with Nestor, she launched “Flor de Selva” on the French market.

Read Maya Selva’s story