Aganorsa Leaf

Aganorsa Leaf is a vertically integrated Nicaraguan tobacco grower and cigar maker founded by Cuban-born Eduardo Fernandez. Growing some of the most sought-after tobacco in the industry, Aganorsa supplies premium leaf to dozens of manufacturers while producing its own acclaimed cigar lines.

Key Facts

The Story

In 1998, Eduardo Fernandez, a Wharton-educated former banker born in Havana, moved to Nicaragua with a singular dream: to grow tobacco that captured the essence of classic Cuban cigars. He assembled a world-class team of Cuban agronomists who had worked at the highest levels of Cubatobaco for over half a century. AGANORSA — an acronym for Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A. — is the family's growing operation that cultivates signature tobaccos across Nicaragua's prime regions. Their factory, Tabacalera Tropical in Estelí, employs hundreds of skilled rollers. Originally operating under the Casa Fernandez name, the company unified its identity in 2018 by rebranding as Aganorsa Leaf, tying the cigars directly to the farming operation that makes them possible. Today, Aganorsa Leaf is recognized as one of the premier tobacco growers in Nicaragua, supplying leaf to numerous prestigious brands while producing their own highly rated lines including the Signature Selection, Supreme Leaf, and JFR series.