CA Review Panel: Te Amo The Original San Andres

The Cigar Advisor Review of Te Amo The Original San Andres

Te Amo The Original San Andres Backstory

As Mexican San Andres Maduro wrappers continue to rise in popularity, the veteran cigar smokers among us remember their introduction. It came from “Te-Amo”, an everyman cigar—as commonplace in the hustle and bustle of city life as a cab.

Te Amo has since lost the hyphen but continues to be owned and operated by the Turrent family in Mexico. And the name isn’t the only thing that’s been tweaked. Turrent’s popular Mexican San Andres leaf has a new trick up its sleeve. Instead of using their native Mexican varietals, Casa Turrent upped the ante with a Cuban seed grown in their lush, Mexican soil.

Can this Habano reach the same fever pitch as its predecessor? Is their rebranding enough to bring one of the most popular cigar brands of yesteryear back to the forefront? That’s what we’re here to find out. Check out our reviews and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Cigar Details:

Factory: Casa Turrent – Mexico

Sizes Reviewed: 5” x 54

Strength: Full

Wrapper: Mexican Habano San Andres Maduro

Binder: Mexico

Filler: Mexico

Presented in boxes of 20

John’s Tasting Notes…

Summary: Smoke enough cigars and you’ll get a basic idea of what to expect, based on the blend. When we see San Andres, we’re prepared to taste earth, sweetness and pepper. But when the whole recipe is Mexican tobacco, a lot of the unexpected shows up, too. This new Te Amo starts off with nothing but strong tastes of charred wood and earth, very powerful. Any sweetness that’s in there is very reserved (it’s much more prominent in the retrohale), and the finish is heavy, dark and peppery.

By halfway the sweetness comes out of the retro and lands in both the profile and the aroma. Te Amo cuts back on the charred wood and peppery finish, becoming a straight up, earthy Mexican puro. That lasts until near the end, where a sun-grown Habano citrus taste appears – along with all the big, dark and heavy flavors from the beginning. It finishes how it starts.

Most San Andres-wrapped cigars you encounter are Maduro; and while this Te Amo isn’t, a lot of the tastes are the same: earth, pepper, sweet. The big difference in this cigar is how heavy those flavors land on the taste buds. This blend is heavier, darker, with lots of body and thick, chewy smoke. Compared to the old school Te-Amo? They don’t share much more than the name, as this “Original San Andres Cigar” is a higher caliber smoke. So, if you like trying new cigars, exploring the humidor, or just want to experience the more exotic tastes of a 100% Mexican cigar (because let’s be honest, there aren’t that many of them) - this is definitely on your to-do list.

Gary’s Tasting Notes…

Summary: Not Your Ordinary, Everyday Te-Amo

The first few puffs were sweet and spicy out of the gate. Once the cigar settled in, it was a mix of sweet and tangy flavors. By inch one and then some, the cigar set a mellow path with a taste that was very smooth and fairly sweet. The cigar was light in flavor, but very relaxing. As the burn drew closer to the midpoint, the sweetness improved and the smoke was more medium in body.

As it crawled slowly towards the midpoint the flavors were well-balanced, medium-bodied and the amount of sweetness was just right for me.

The party really got going in the final stage. I picked up a nice floral flavor and aroma as the base flavors became more vivid at this point. On top of that, nutty and cedary flavors entered the mix and everything held on beautifully right down to my last puff.

I was pleasantly surprised with this new Te Amo, which is miles apart from the cigars that we normally associate with Te Amo. So, get that image out of your head. The Original San Andrés selection was no doubt blended for more experienced smokers. However, I also feel that this all-Mexican recipe makes a good choice for newer cigar smokers, so the field is wide open. Even better, they kept it affordable.

I was genuinely impressed with the Robusto’s overall performance. It had just the right amount of sweetness, balance, and mellowness that I like, plus it was great with my coffee. I can’t predict whether this new selection will vault Te Amo back to new heights of popularity among cigar smokers, but with the Original San Andrés line, the legendary brand has given itself a very achievable goal.

Paul’s Tasting Notes…

Summary: The Turrent Family—makers of Te Amo—were using San Andres tobacco before it was cool.

Cast any pre-conceived notions about San Andres tobaccos out the window. The Turrent family—along with the capable mind of Rafael Nodal—have given us a Mexican San Andres based puro with a twist. Yes, it’s all Mexican tobaccos—but the wrapper isn’t the usual run-of-the-mill chocolatey San Andres Maduro. It’s a Habano seed leaf grown in Mexico and one of the elements that separates this cigar from the rest.

It’s this unique wrapper varietal that’s responsible for the peppery inauguration. Not ordinary pepper mind you, for this isn’t an ordinary Nicaraguan Habano. The pepper is more smoky, woodier, and a little denser. It has an almost sweet element as well, like a kiss of lime on a street taco. Heading towards the second portion of The Original San Andres the flavors are balanced and rich including earth, bittersweet baking chocolate, strong black coffee, and whispers of cream.

The second part and closing portions of the Te Amo hovers somewhere between medium to full-bodied with a spectrum of flavors. It’s kind of like when a jazz ensemble hits its groove—remixing and hitting on variations of the theme. And the theme here is smoky pepper, earth, leather with highlights of coffee, chocolate, and citrus.

The Turrent’s could’ve easily done the expected with the Te Amo The Original San Andres and no one would’ve blinked an eye. Instead, while looking back at their heritage they leapt forward with a new wrapper varietal. Now, as to who would enjoy this new Te Amo—I’d say it’s a great pick for a newcomer looking for something beyond the Connecticut River Valley and at the same time there’s enough in the richness and complexity to keep a seasoned enthusiast coming back for more.