04 February,2009 11:55 AM IST | | Agencies
While US President Barack Obama tries to kick his smoking habit, a Nicaraguan company has produced the latest in a flood of merchandise trying to cash in on his popularity -- Obama cigars.
Granada Cigars, a small outfit based in Nicaragua's tobacco-growing north, is using local and Cuban leaves to hand-roll cigars wrapped with a gold band that says Obama 44, to commemorate the 44th US president.
The cigars come in various sizes and strengths and the company says some 13,000 have been ordered so far across the US.
"Distribution is booming, the cigar is selling because of Obamamania and we want to take advantage of that," said company director Miguel Ramirez.
Obama has pledged not to smoke in the White House, but has admitted it is hard to quit after two decades.
US companies have printed cigar bands with Obama's smiling face to celebrate his victory, but Ramirez says his specially made cigars are one of a kind.
That adds to thousands of Obama products -- like comics, candy, hot sauce and even a sex toy -- that hit the market during the media frenzy of the Democrat's campaign and inauguration. The Obama-themed items also include a soap called The Audacity of Soap, after the president's Audacity of Hope book, and Ben & Jerry's Yes Pecan! ice cream, a riff on his 'Yes we can!' campaign slogan.
