SMOKE

While most sensory pleasures enter our lives as food and drink through solids and liquids, luxury tobacco is unique. It is savored through smoke.

Smoke is so familiar that it is easy to overlook. Yet it is one of the most extraordinary mediums through which human beings experience the world.

Smoke is not simply the product of combustion. It is the medium through which luxury tobacco is transformed into human experience.

To those unfamiliar with luxury tobacco, smoke is often perceived as a monolithic, pungent presence. To the smoker, however, smoke becomes an intimate, remarkably dynamic medium, transporting aromatic compounds, delivering nicotine, and giving rise to an extraordinary range of sensory perceptions.

Yet, the smoker and the bystander are not experiencing the same phenomenon.

Smoke is both physical and fleeting, constantly changing from moment to moment. Visible enough to be seen, substantial enough to be sensed, yet too transient to be possessed.

For only a fleeting moment, smoke transports aromatic compounds, delivers nicotine, and gives rise to an astonishing depth of life-enriching sensory experiences. Then it continues on its journey, dissipating into the world, becoming something altogether different.

The bystander does not experience the most extraordinary qualities of smoke. The smoker does.

Perspective changes reality.

Luxury tobacco changes perspective.

Education Changes Perspective

 

Most people think education is about acquiring information. It isn't. Information is only the beginning. The true value of education is that it changes the way we see the world.

Before we learn, we see isolated facts. A cigar. A lighter. A pipe. A humidor. A tasting note. A favorite brand. As our education grows, those individual pieces begin to connect. Agriculture becomes connected to manufacturing. Manufacturing connects to preservation. Preservation connects to service. Service connects to taste. The fragments become a complete picture.

Most people enter the luxury tobacco world through a single doorway. Perhaps it's a favorite brand, a manufacturer, a YouTube personality, a friend, or a local cigar lounge. There's nothing wrong with any of those starting points. They often spark a lifelong passion. The challenge is that every doorway offers only one view of a much larger landscape. If your "education" comes exclusively from a single perspective, your understanding of the industry will inevitably be biased.

Luxury tobacco deserves a different approach to education.

We believe luxury tobacco should be studied from the tobacconist-consumer's perspective: brand-neutral, product-neutral, and centered at the convergence where luxury tobacco products meet the consumer. It is the nexus of accountability. It is here, at the point of service, where products are honestly compared, informed recommendations are made, traditions are preserved and shared, and the consumer begins to think like a tobacconist. Rather than beginning with marketing messages or brand narratives, we begin with the enduring fundamentals. Once those fundamentals are understood, every product, every manufacturer, every blend, and every claim can be evaluated from a well-educated, brand-neutral perspective.

Great education doesn't simply teach us new things. It also helps us recognize and replace misconceptions. It grounds us in fundamental truths and changes the way we think. As our perspective changes, the luxury tobacco industry becomes more connected, more understandable, and more rewarding.

At Tobacconist University, we believe the tobacconist stands at the center of the luxury tobacco industry. It is where growers, manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers ultimately converge. From that perspective, the entire landscape comes into view.

When you become a Certified Tobacconist, you don't simply acquire more knowledge. You begin to see the industry from the center.

When you change your perspective, you change everything.

At the Point of Service

 

AT THE POINT OF SERVICE

Where everything that came before is either realized… or lost.

Every premium cigar represents generations of agricultural knowledge, craftsmanship, fermentation, aging, blending, and tradition.

Long before a cigar reaches the hands of a consumer, seeds are selected, tobacco is cultivated, leaves are harvested, cured, fermented, sorted, aged, blended, rolled, inspected, packaged, transported, and stored. Hundreds of hands contribute to the process. Entire lives, families, traditions, and companies are devoted to preserving and refining the craft.

But the journey of the cigar does not end when the cigar is made.

It ends at the point of service.

That is the moment where the cigar meets its ultimate consumer, and where everything that came before is either realized… or lost.

Even in the hands of an experienced smoker, the condition, presentation, storage, humidity, handling, rotation, cutting, lighting, and overall context in which a cigar is delivered will shape the experience that follows. These are not secondary details. They are determining factors.

For new and occasional cigar smokers, the stakes are even greater. Many are curious but uncertain. Some are intimidated. Others simply do not yet know what they do not know.

At the point of service, a single recommendation, experience, or interaction can either deepen curiosity and appreciation… or quietly end the journey before it ever truly begins.

This is why the tobacconist matters.

The perspective, judgment, and standards required at the point of service are not acquired overnight. They are forged through years of experience, accountability, problem-solving, and continuous learning.

Great tobacconists are not born. They are forged through fire, ember, and ash.

The tobacconist stands at the intersection between generations of craftsmanship behind the cigar and the consumer who ultimately experiences it.

At that moment, they become the custodian of everything that came before and the gateway to everything that follows.

The work of the farmer, the fermenter, the blender, the roller, and the manufacturer is either honored and fulfilled through proper execution… or compromised before the cigar ever has the opportunity to express itself as intended.

This is why standards matter.

This is why education matters.

This is why service matters.

The role of the tobacconist is not simply to sell a product. It is to preserve and elevate the experience that generations of craftsmanship worked to create, while helping carry that culture forward to the next generation of cigar smokers.

Tobacconist University was built around that exact philosophy.

Not around passive learning, empty titles, or superficial expertise, but around the real-world execution of knowledge at the point of service, where the industry ultimately becomes real for the consumer.

Because in the end, everything comes down to that final moment:

where the cigar meets the consumer,

and everything that came before is either realized… or lost.

Become part of the culture preserving and elevating the cigar experience.

Honor & Humility

 

There is a difference between simply consuming cigars and dedicating yourself to the craft, responsibility, and continual learning required of a certified tobacconist.

Cigars are consumed.

Education must be earned.

A certified tobacconist is not defined by ego, performance, or personality. The role carries something far more meaningful: stewardship.

Every cigar represents years of cultivation, fermentation, aging, craftsmanship, and tradition. Hundreds of hands contribute to the journey long before the cigar ever reaches a customer. At the point of service, that responsibility is ultimately placed in the hands of the tobacconist.

That responsibility should create both honor and humility.

Honor in representing the traditions, standards, and culture of premium tobacco well.

Humility in recognizing that learning never ends, details matter, and the experience is never truly about ourselves.

The best certified tobacconists understand that service matters. Knowledge matters. Presentation matters. Hospitality matters. The small details matter.

These professionals are often the quiet backbone of the industry: helping customers celebrate milestones, discover new experiences, build confidence, create memories, and slow down long enough to savor time together.

Certification alone does not make someone extraordinary. But the willingness to pursue standards, education, and continual improvement says something meaningful about a person’s character and commitment to the craft.

Today, we simply want to recognize and honor the certified tobacconists, students, and professionals around the world who continue to uphold those standards every day.

Your work matters.

And we honor you for it.

Everything Leads to This Moment

The history, tradition, and artistry behind every cigar are realized at the point of service, where the cigar meets its ultimate consumer. 

Every cigar represents years of cultivation, fermentation, aging, and craftsmanship.  Leaves are grown, harvested, cured, and blended with mastery and intention. Each cigar passes through hundreds of hands before being crafted into a finished product. 

That experience does not execute itself.

Even in the hands of an experienced smoker, the condition, presentation, and context in which a cigar is delivered will influence how it performs. Storage, rotation, humidity, handling, and knowledge are not secondary details. They are determining factors.

This is where the role of the tobacconist becomes essential.

Not only as a curator of inventory, but as the custodian of quality and the champion of standards. The tobacconist is responsible for ensuring that every cigar is preserved, represented, and delivered as intended.

The tobacconist does not exist solely to guide the novice. They exist to uphold the standard. They are the point at which the work of the industry is either upheld or compromised.

At that moment of service, everything that came before is either realized or forgotten. 

Tobacconist University is built by tobacconists, for tobacconists, from the ground up to operate at that exact moment, where the customer meets the product. It is not built for passive learning. It is built for execution at the point of service. It is a structured system designed to train, certify, and support professionals at the point where the industry becomes real.

Through a comprehensive curriculum, tiered certification pathways, and defined standards of knowledge, service, and accountability, Tobacconist University goes beyond passive learning and quiz-based certification.

It is not designed to test what someone can recall. It is designed to impart strong fundamentals and shape how a professional performs.

Tobacconist University teaches the foundation and fundamentals the right way, so that professionals can continue to learn from anywhere, while knowing what is right and what is not. Because once the foundation is built incorrectly, everything that follows becomes distorted.

Certification is tied to application, to conduct, and to representation at the point of service. Every certified tobacconist operates within a system that extends beyond the classroom, supported by real-world tools, resources, and infrastructure built for the trade.

This includes professional listings that identify qualified tobacconists to the public, The Tobacconist Handbook as a foundational reference for the industry and behind the counter, ongoing research and development through the R&D Lab, and scalable programs such as the CCST Maestro system, which allows certified professionals to train and certify others across the industry.

Together, these elements form a living system. One that supports not only individual knowledge, but the consistent execution of standards throughout the industry.

Because in the end, it all comes back to the moment where the cigar meets the customer, and everything that came before is either realized or lost.  That is why the standard matters.

The Tobacconist's Guide for New Cigar Smokers

 

Entering the world of premium cigars is not about knowing everything. It’s about how you approach the experience, how you learn, and who you learn from.

There are countless brands, blends, and opinions in the luxury cigar world. It can feel overwhelming at first. That’s normal.

You do not need expertise to begin. You need curiosity, awareness, and the willingness to engage.

There are no stupid questions to a true tobacconist. If you’re ever made to feel otherwise, you’re simply in the wrong place.

At the same time, no single voice should define your experience. Not a tobacconist, not a friend, not something you read online. Learn from multiple sources. Compare. Experience. Decide for yourself. Taste is subjective.

Even among certified professionals, perfection is rare. Only about 3% of our certified tobacconists score 100% on their final examination. After working with thousands of tobacconists across experience levels, one thing becomes clear: mastery in this world is built over time, not assumed at the start.  This is a lifelong process of refinement, not a fixed state of knowledge.

Education in this world is not about being told what is right. It’s about developing the ability to recognize what is right for you and your palate.

With that foundation, here are the principles that will guide your experience. In a market increasingly filled with generated content, Tobacconist University remains grounded in real-world experience, tested knowledge, and professional application.

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The Principles

1. Start With Curiosity, Not Expertise

• You are not expected to know anything starting out
• No one person knows every brand or product
• A good tobacconist welcomes curiosity
• The more you ask, the faster you learn

Questions are not a disruption. They are the foundation of your experience.

 

2. Choose Your Tobacconist Carefully

• A great tobacconist listens and educates - not pontificates
• They guide your experience, not control it
• If you feel dismissed or uncomfortable, move on

The right environment accelerates your growth. The wrong one shuts it down.

 

3. Learn Broadly - But Filter Everything

• Talk to different tobacconists
• Listen to other smokers
• Pay attention to your own experience

But understand this: much of what you hear will be incomplete, biased, or misunderstood.

• Magazines reflect advertiser bias
• Salespeople reflect paycheck bias
• Social media reflects attention bias
• Individuals reflect personal taste

The cigar world is a mix of subjective experience and objective fact. Most people never learn to clearly distinguish between the two.

That is why structured, vetted education is essential.

Tobacconist University’s academic curriculum is free and designed to give you a reliable reference point, so you’re not relying solely on opinion, marketing, or misinformation.

If the world of luxury tobacco feels overwhelming at first, that’s normal.  It means you’re paying attention.

 

4. Understand the Fundamentals (Not the Myths)

Don’t Judge a Cigar by Its Wrapper (or Band)

• Lighter does not mean milder
• Darker does not mean stronger
• Appearance does not equal performance
• Branding influences perception more than most realize

We select with our eyes, but cigars often defy those expectations.

Visit our academic content on Cigar Myths to avoid common pitfalls and misunderstandings.

Vitola: Size & Shape

• Vitola refers to the size and shape of a cigar
• Ring Gauge (rg) is the diameter of a cigar represented in 64ths of an inch
• Different vitolas influence smoking time, flavor experience, and tactile sensations
• Over time, you will develop preferences based on occasion, mood, and timing

But don’t overthink it. 

Pick a cigar that feels comfortable in your hand and mouth for the time you have to enjoy it.

Comfort leads to confidence. Experience refines the rest.

One of the most common mistakes new cigar smokers make is overanalyzing early decisions.  In practice, comfort and experience will guide you more effectively than theory ever will.

 

5. Words Matter - Learn the Language

• Strength = nicotine impact
• Flavor = taste + aroma
• Body = depth and fullness of flavor (mouthfeel)
• Spice = a specific sensation, not overall strength

A cigar can be full-bodied, rich in flavor, and low in strength.

Misused language leads to confusion, poor recommendations, and missed experiences.   

Precision in language leads to precision in understanding.

Tobacconist University maintains a structured academic glossary to standardize terminology and elevate understanding across the industry.  We also provide our Certified Cigar Reviews platform at no cost, allowing you to document and evaluate your experiences with structure and consistency. 

 

6. Respect the Environment

• Move with awareness in the humidor
• Handle cigars with care
• Be mindful in shared spaces
• This is a culture, not a transaction

A humidor is both a sanitary environment and a controlled space of preservation.

Visit our educational content on Humidor Etiquette and Lounge Etiquette for deeper learning.

 

7. Savor the Experience

• Cigars are meant to be enjoyed slowly
• They will show you if you’re smoking too fast
• Your environment shapes the experience
• Climate and wind will affect your cigar and taste
• Rushing diminishes flavor
• Being present enhances it

A cigar rewards patience. It punishes urgency.

 

8. Build Your Own Palate

• Every palate is different
• Disliking something is part of learning
• Don’t rely on trends or hype
• Smoke multiples to form real conclusions

Premium cigars are handmade, natural products. Variations happen.

Your taste is what matters. The goal is to understand what is right for you. 

Learn more about your taste by visiting Taste College.

 

The Golden Rules

• Cigars are not inhaled
• Light the foot. Smoke from the head
• Remove all cellophane, cedar, and ribbons before lighting
• Cigar bands are more easily removed after the glue warms
• Do not stomp out a cigar. It will go out on its own
• Be mindful of your ash and ember
• Do not judge others. Taste is subjective

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In Closing

The premium cigar world is built on knowledge, respect, and shared experience.
Approach it with curiosity and awareness, and you will always find your place in it.

Over time, questions become understanding. Information becomes knowledge.

With the right foundation, you are not just participating in the culture. You are helping sustain it.

If you want to go deeper, explore the Tobacconist University academic curriculum or begin your path with CCST certification, the foundational standard for professional tobacconists.

From that foundation, these are the principles that will guide your experience.

The difference is not the cigar. It’s how you experience it.

In a market increasingly filled with generated content, Tobacconist University remains grounded in real-world experience, tested knowledge, and professional application.

This academic contribution is built on decades of experience from hundreds of tobacconists who are, first and foremost, consumers themselves, continuously refining their understanding of the craft, while helping you discover and elevate your taste.

What Is Tobacconist University?

For generations, the luxury tobacco industry has been sustained by knowledge.

Knowledge passed from cigar and pipe makers to protégés.

From master tobacconists to apprentices.

Shared across humidors, lounges, and retail counters.

Refined in fields, factories, and through experience.

Yet in an industry built on expertise, formal education has long been limited, fragmented, or nonexistent.

Tobacconist University was created to change that.

From the beginning, our mission has been clear:

Educate. Engage. Advance Culture.

Tobacconist University exists to elevate knowledge, professionalism, and credibility across the luxury tobacco industry.

Our goal is not simply to provide certifications.

Our goal is to strengthen the intellectual and cultural foundation of the industry itself.

Over the years, TU has developed the most comprehensive and free body of educational material ever assembled for luxury tobacco professionals and enthusiasts.

Our Campus includes:

• Tobacco College

• Accoutrements College

• Taste College

• Service College

• The industry's most comprehensive glossary of terms

• A continually expanding body of frequently asked questions and reference materials

Unlike most academic institutions, this curriculum is largely available to the public. It does not exist behind a paywall.

We believe knowledge strengthens the entire industry.

- Retailers benefit.

- Consumers benefit.

- Manufacturers benefit.

- The culture itself becomes stronger.

Through structured learning, standardized certification, and a global network of trained tobacconists, we are building something the industry has never had before:

A true academic and professional foundation for luxury tobacco.

Whether you are an enthusiast, a retailer, or an industry professional, Tobacconist University provides a clear path:

To learn.

To refine your craft.

To elevate your role in the industry.

This is more than education.

This is the advancement of a culture.

Education, Storytelling & Engagement

 

The Experience That Defines the Tobacconist

Education, storytelling and engagement are what tobacconists do best and above all. That is the experience that drives customers into our stores instead of into an algorithm, a discount website or a cigar of the month club.

In the world of luxury tobacco, products alone do not build culture. Knowledge does. Meaning does. Story does.

Tobacconists stand before customers every day, getting feedback, listening, absorbing and thoughtfully distilling information on an individual basis. There are no shortcuts when providing face to face service. There is no hiding behind screens or advertisements. There is only authenticity, accountability and consistency.

That is where our culture lives.

Education Is the Foundation

Consumers today are extraordinarily well informed. In fact, one of the greatest challenges facing retail tobacconists is also one of the most exciting facets of our industry: the depth of passion and knowledge among luxury tobacco enthusiasts.

It is hard to imagine another consumer base that studies, debates and dissects products with the same intensity as pipe and cigar lovers.

But information alone is not education.

The internet is saturated with opinion, bias and hyperbole. Brands naturally promote themselves. Forums amplify personal preference. Inaccuracies circulate easily. Many consumers absorb flawed information without realizing it.

This is where professional tobacconists become indispensable.

Education is the foundation of credibility. It allows the tobacconist to distinguish between fact and opinion, substance and marketing, tradition and myth. It transforms scattered information into structured understanding.

A great tobacconist does not simply repeat what they have read. They interpret. They contextualize. They guide.

Storytelling Gives Education Meaning

Education without storytelling becomes sterile data. Storytelling without education becomes marketing fluff.

The balance is where engagement is created.

When a tobacconist explains the migration of Cuban seed to Nicaragua, the difference between Sumatra and Broadleaf, or why a particular vitola performs differently, the product becomes more than tobacco wrapped in leaf. It becomes a profound narrative grounded in knowledge.

Customers are not just purchasing a cigar. They are participating in an experience. They are broadening their palate. They are refining their understanding.

And they return because that experience cannot be replicated online.

Engagement Is Earned

Engagement is not forced. It is earned through professionalism, consistency and genuine care.

Tobacconists must be accountable to their customers every single day. We stand behind our recommendations. We adjust when feedback demands it. We grow alongside our clientele.

It sounds simple, but it requires discipline and commitment.

At Tobacconist University, we believe tobacconists are the keystone of our industry. We strive to support and defend them because when the professional tobacconist thrives, the culture thrives.

Our certifications are not decorative credentials. They contribute to your credibility. They become part of your story when serving customers. They reinforce that you are committed to substance over hype and knowledge over noise. GET CERTIFIED!

Great tobacconists understand the difference between information and education. Through storytelling and engagement, they help customers navigate between the good and the bad, always striving to broaden experience and enhance enjoyment.

Always be educating, and you will flourish as a tobacconist.         

     

TU: The Unredacted Story

The PCA Interview: Looking Back At 29 Years Of Tobacconist Education

When was your organization founded/launched?

Tobacconist University (TU) was founded in 1996 as a proprietary educational program for a two-store chain of luxury, full-service retail tobacconists in ivy league and tourist towns.  It also provided educational seminars for consumer events and certifications.  In the 1990s, the release of Cigar Aficionado magazine facilitated a cigar boom which elevated consumer knowledge and sophistication, creating a need and opportunity for highly trained professionals.  By the early 2000s it was clear that the emerging internet was also providing a huge amount of information, both good and bad, so TU evolved into a publicly available educational resource.  By 2008 the professional Certified Retail Tobacconist (CRT) program was available online at www.tobacconistuniversity.org and TU became the official educational curriculum of the RTDA-IPCPR-PCA, providing free education and low-cost certification to brick and mortar retail tobacconists, as well as consumers.

Tell us about your educational program. What can people get from going through it?

The majority of our academic curriculum is available for free, online in the TU CAMPUS.  It includes Tobacco, Accoutrements, Taste and Service Colleges, as well as a Tobacconist FAQs and the largest online and multi-media/hyper-linked glossary of tobacco/tobacconist related terms anywhere in the world.   We start with the definition that a Tobacconist is an expert in tobacco and all the related accoutrements and provide all of the history, science, agricultural, manufacturing, business-specific and practical knowledge that is necessary to achieve that minimal goal. 

An equally important fundamental premise in the TU Academic Curriculum is that “Taste” is subjective, so there is no objective right or wrong with regard to human preferences, likes or dislikes.  This perspective allows us to remain brand neutral and focused on un-biased education.  Above all, we focus on teaching strong fundamentals when science and facts apply and empowering individuals to develop their own perspective and opinions when artistry and taste is required.

What makes your organization’s approach to education different from its competitors?

Firstly, TU is the first and only organization to educate and certify tobacconists.  Recent years have seen 'influencers' attempting to sell education but we don't consider that competition.  

The TU Academic Curriculum was thoroughly researched and documented for more than a decade (1996-2008) before being released as a freely available public resource.  It is not hidden behind a paywall, but rather on display for all to learn, scrutinize and contribute to.  We are committed to triple sourcing our facts rather than parroting marketing jargon, subjective or editorialized opinion and biased or inaccurate information.  We start with the premise that ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and refuse to repeat information just because someone of repute ‘says so’.  Our RESOURCES section is available for public scrutiny on our website and it includes more than one hundred books (both current and out-of-print), scientific studies and professional interviews on every topic we cover.  In addition, all of our colleges, with a particular emphasis on Service College, have contributions from industry leading tobacconists as well as agricultural, pre-industrial and cigar making experts.    

Our Academic Curriculum includes hundreds of videos, photographs and graphics that are proprietary to TU, gathered through countless self-funded educational expeditions to factories and farms in Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, the USA and the Dominican Republic.  All of this effort is made to avoid bias, misinformation and to not be beholden to corporate or marketer influences.  Furthermore, it is necessary to create a substantive educational curriculum that dispels and corrects the erroneous information that is so commonly available and disseminated on the internet, in print and through marketing channels. 

How did you go about designing your educational program to be easy to navigate and consume?

Structuring an educational curriculum for an industry and products that are so diverse and profound was one of the most challenging aspects of creating and organizing TU, especially since no other organization has ever existed to educate and certify tobacconists.   In addition, our industry battles social stigmatization, extreme regulation and excessive taxation like no other.  Consequently, our educational curriculum must also serve as an ambassador of credibility and substance to the greater culture: the curriculum must be rooted in integrity.  The TU motto is Puro Integritas, a play on words and language that guides every facet of our vision and mission.

The layout and sequencing of the online curriculum must also be logical and linear.  For example, Tobacco College starts with ancient history as well as cultural, business and political context.  Then we define and study what is Nicotiana Tabacum.  Only after this foundation can we start to learn about Geography, Climate, Cigar Regions, Seeds & Plants, Growing, Nurturing, Harvesting, Curing, Fermentation, Cigar Rolling, Packaging, Aging, Shipping, Cigar Shapes & Sizes and the Marketing of Cigars.  Tobacco College rounds out the journey with Pipe Tobaccos and Cigarette education: providing a comprehensive perspective on the entire world of tobacco.  All of our Colleges are structured in a linear way, so that you hit the ”Next” button to ‘turn the page’ and continue studying:  it’s like reading a giant multi-media book, at your own pace and empowering you to come and go and revisit topics at your own discretion.

At the heart of the curriculum is substance, science and an extreme belief that words matter.  Words must be properly defined and used.  Therefore, our Glossary and curriculum webpages are hot-linked together: if you are studying inside a college and come across an important word, it will be linked to our Glossary or another curriculum webpage with expanded information.  The TU Glossary also hot-links words back into the curriculum for an enhanced learning experience.   This is an educational matrix designed for profound learning.  We believe our industry is plagued with the misuse and misunderstanding of simple terms and words that are bastardized every day by most people.  Words like “strength”, “taste”, “body”, “curing” and more, are misused by advertisers, so-called “experts” and online “educators” in print and on the internet every day.  But, if you are a Certified Tobacconist or passionate consumer who uses our Glossary and website, you should know exactly what those words mean in the proper context.  

You will find that our custom designed academic curriculum is very different from the Learning Management Systems (LMS) commonly found on the internet.  These contemporary websites/programs are used to teach things like food sanitation, boat safety  any consumer level course (e.g. Learn how to juggle, buy real estate, day trade, etc… ), and a plethora of for-profit educational enterprises for people and organizations who want to sell ‘courses’.  You can learn almost anything through today’s LMS products, but we found them restrictive to our goals and needs.  In many ways, LMS products are designed to guide you through a ‘module’ of content and quiz you at the end of that section: they are essentially teaching you how to pass the quiz.  It is important to note here that we do offer our CIGARS 101 course through an LMS and it provides an excellent, efficient and cost-effective fundamental learning experience for consumers.   

The TU Academic Curriculum is designed as a vast digital and multi-media library that is an easily accessible resource and library for lovers of luxury tobacco.  And we expect you to know everything necessary to pass our online exams.  Those who get certified by TU are expected to pass a 50 or 100 question multiple choice exam when they are ready to earn their consumer or professional certification.  And we expect you to retain and own the knowledge you seek. 

Our Vision is to build and project the credibility of the luxury tobacco industry in order to support cultural acceptance around the world – preserving luxury tobacco for generations to come.   Our Mission is to research, learn and teach in order to educate, certify and promote the most knowledgeable and honorable tobacconists and consumers.  In that process we provide resources for tobacconists to leverage for their customers and businesses - build credibility, culture and community for tobacconists and consumers - are the epicenter of cigar, pipe and tobacco education.  In short, we educate with a broad, serious and strategic purpose.

Why should people take the time to complete your educational program?

TU has developed the following certifications to meet the needs of consumers and professional tobacconists over the last 29 years - each serves a distinct need and purpose.  All current 3000+ TU Certified Tobacconists and apprentices are listed on the TU website under their company and/or individual name.  Every TU Certified Tobacconist must accept their specific Code of Ethics & Standards and pass the final exam with a 90% or better.  We encourage you to visit the GET CERTIFIED section of our website to see which certification will suit your goals and needs.  All of our programs are self-study at your own pace, include online final exams, website listings and the ability to print your diploma when you graduate.

CCT – Certified Consumer Tobacconist: a non-professional certification designed for avid consumer enthusiasts who are not employed within the luxury tobacco industry.  This is indubitably the most challenging and comprehensive curriculum for any consumer enthusiast.  The curriculum in our CAMPUS is the same that CRT and CST study for their professional certifications.  The final exam is 50 questions derived from the professional exams.  

CCST – Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist: our first and most important fundamental professional degree for those working with premium cigars.  The CCST degree is designed to serve cigar retailers, fine dining establishments, lounges, bars, event promoters, influencers and anyone seeking strong fundamentals and professional credentials around the world.  It is both time and cost efficient by concentrating the cigar curriculum into videos and succinct lessons that focus on Retail School, Cigar Fundamentals and Pairing School.  Our CCST Schools can be structured for individuals, stand alone or multi-location retailers, salesforces and/or any other organizational types. The final exam is 50 questions which includes specialized questions on “tasting” and “pairing”.    

CRT – Certified Retail Tobacconist: our most comprehensive and profound professional degree for full-service brick and mortar tobacconists.  This degree tests on Tobacco, Accoutrements, Taste and Service College as well as our Tobacconist FAQ and the TU Glossary.  The unparallelled education creates the world’s most prestigious and highly credentialled professional tobacconists.  Apprentices must work for an existing retail tobacconist for at least six months before taking the final exam – ensuring enough experience to earn the CRT designation.  When CRT leave a retail store/company their listing can be ‘moved’ to another retail store or they will be re-listed as a CCT if they do not return to the industry. 

CST – Certified Salesforce Tobacconist:  the counterpart to our CRT degree.  The CST degree is for employees of cigar distributors/brands/companies or other non-retail organizations. 

CCST Maestro – Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist Maestro: any CRT or CST who also has a CCST degree is eligible to curate and run their own CCST School and certify others under their own brand - which makes them a CCST Maestro.  A CCST Maestro can purchase ‘wholesale’ CCST certifications and use them as they please: they can be used for employees, sold for profit, to create brand ambassadors, given away as promotions and/or any combination thereof.   CCST Maestros can also upload their own content into their schools and use the course materials if they want to teach and certify through live events.

CMT – Certified Master Tobacconist: the highest professional level one can achieve as a TU Certified Tobacconist.  Only CRT and CST are eligible for this advanced degree.  Candidates must apprentice and prove hundreds of apprenticeship hours with cigar/pipe makers and TU Certified Retailers as well as making a substantive educational contribution to the TU Academic Curriculum.