The Real Smoke Podcast with Charles and Mick latest episode!
This week’s episode of The Real Smoke Podcast featured a compelling conversation with Uche Obua, founder of Tribal Trilogy Cigars. Uche shared his journey from growing up in Baltimore to pursuing a career in pharmacy, and how a single New Year’s gathering introduced him to the world of cigars.
That night, possibly while smoking a Plasencia cigar, something clicked. The cigar stood out—not just as a smoke, but as the element that made the evening memorable. That moment planted a seed.
Uche spoke fondly of his parents and their rich heritage, which would later inspire the name and identity behind his cigar brand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many, he found himself reevaluating his path. Wanting to get more involved in the cigar industry, the idea struck him: a mobile cigar lounge.
At first, many doubted the concept, calling it impractical. But Uche’s determination never wavered. Despite having no prior experience in building a lounge, he pushed forward and created his first mobile setup—overcoming every obstacle that came his way. That success eventually led to a second lounge, expanding his reach and turning his vision into a thriving business.
But Uche didn’t stop there.
He became a sales representative for another cigar brand, where he forged a strong connection with the owner. Through that experience, he learned to roll cigars and deepened his understanding of tobacco. With this growing expertise, Uche had a realization: Why not create my own cigar line for my lounges instead of sourcing from others?
That question became a mission. He found the right partner in Nicaragua, and with his knowledge of rolling and tobacco, he just needed someone to help bring his vision to life.
From there, Tribal Trilogy Cigars was born.
Want to hear more about Uche’s journey and what sets his brand apart? Tune in to the full episode of The Real Smoke Podcast for the inside story.
Take a listen to the episode and drop a comment with your thoughts. Let’s keep the conversation going.
I’m John Cardenas, also known as Johnny Havana in the cigar industry. What I love about being involved with Cigar Public is that I have the opportunity to learn and share the stories of those in the cigar industry. I’ve formed lifelong relationships over a cigar and conversations. I’m committed to providing honest reviews of cigars and sharing my experiences with you. @JohnnyHavana
