The Te-Amo is a medium to bold cigar made entirely in Mexico with all Mexican tobacco, the wrapper, the binder, and the filler. So I guess we can call this a Mexico ‘puro’. The cigar I chose for my review is the Te-Amo No.4. It is a petit corona size or shape which measures 5” x 42 ring gauge. The Te-Amo No 4 was featured in Gary Manelski’s article entitled “Top 10 List of Cigars That Cost Less Than Two Dollars”.
Flavor and Aroma
This cigar is normally a bit harsh and the first one that I smoked was not enjoyable. I decided to let another sit in my humidor for a couple of months to see if there was any improvement. Aging is a good thing to do with lower priced cigars which is great tip I learned from Gary when he did his series on aging Flor de Oliva’s. It was no surprise that the aging slightly improved the flavor and aroma. There is a nice strong outdoor woodsy odor that compliments the thick gray smoke. The taste calmed down from harsh to spicy, like mild chilies.
Draw and Construction
I used a small size punch on this, which helped to maintain a good draw for the entire smoke. The wrapper is very rugged looking with bumpy rough surface if you like that type of cigar. It lights easily, burns evenly and generates a nice black ash, which by the way does not hold on for more than half an inch. The cigar smokes for just 40 minutes, down to a little above the band. I don’t recommend smoking this cigar past that point as it will begin to drift into the ‘nasty’ range of smoking experiences.
Value
This cigar deserves its place on the ‘Top 10 for under $2’ list. It is a decent value for long fill cigar. At $38 for a box of 25 it places them at around $1.50 a stick. Remember to let these guys sit in your humidor for at least a month before smoking them.
