Artista Cigars Signs its cooperation with China Tobacco International

Although they have been working together for many time and the agreement was announced back in August, Artista Cigars and China Tobacco International (CTI) marked the formal signing of their cooperation contract—strengthening their commercial and technological relationship—at Intertabac 2026. Among other things, this partnership opens the Hong Kong market to the Dominican cigar maker's products and plan a long-term interchange of knowhow and technology.

The culmination of the agreement is the creation of a new cigar, Artista Rucio, which is manufactured at two different locations—China and the Dominican Republic—using the same blend. Featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder, and a filler blend of Dominican Olor and Nicaraguan Ometepe tobacco, the Rucio is produced in a robusto size in Santiago de los Caballeros (DR), while the toro size will be manufactured at CTI’s facilities in Shandong (China). The new Artista Rucio will be unveiled in Hong Kong in December and will launch in international markets early next year.