ABOUT HABANOS

The Habano Denomination of Origin may be applied to all cigars in which 100 per cent of the tobacco used has been grown in Cuba. Likewise, it is an essential requirement that all cigars manufactured in Cuba are subjected to numerous quality control checks, both during the agricultural and curing process, as well as during all stages of manufacturing in the factory. The same rigorous procedures are applied to the selection of the appropriate leaves, quality control, of draw, of the true flavor of each of the brand names and, finally, the quality of the cigar's appearance and presentation. The quality of the Habano Cuban cigar is the result of the mystical union of four elements: soil, varieties of Cuban black tobacco, climate and the wisdom of our agricultural workers and cigar makers. Numerous attempts to achieve the standards of an authentic Cuban cigar in other areas of the world with seeds of Cuban origin have failed to attain its unequalled quality. These elements: the harmonious combination of the sun, the average temperature, atmospheric humidity, soil and subsoil composition are those which make "the quality of the Cuban cigar, both in terms of agriculture and manufacturing, unique to Cuba". Therefore, the Habanos Cuban cigar trademark printed on the boxes of brand names is the guarantee that these cigars are backed by the Habanos Denomination of Origin Protection. This is a seal of quality and origin that is awarded to only the best cigars manufactured in Cuba under the strictest quality control measures, with the best leaves selected from the island's tobacco regions.

  • The cigar numbs sorrow and fills the solitary hours with a million gracious images.
    George Sand
  • The cigar is the perfect complement to an elegant lifestyle.
    George Sand
  • After a truly good meal, an outstanding cigar is still the most satisfying after-dinner activity that doesn't involve two human beings.
    Brad Shaw

HISTORY OF HABANOS

The Tobacco plant originally came from South America. Even though it is impossible to state exactly when it was brought to the largest island in the Antilles, it can be most appropriately said that; that happened between 3000 and 2000 B.C. The Aborigines considered tobacco a miraculous medicine and an essential element in their religious, political and social ceremonies. In addition to this, Tobacco was a part of their agriculture and hence it was inseparable from their lives. Europeans were introduced to this crucial source of great physical and spiritual pleasure when they first reached the Americas. It didnt take long for the Old Continent to develop an absolute passion for it. As expected, Spain was synonymous with smokers, who were as a consequence to this habit, subjected to terrible punishments for smoking. The practice later spread to Persia, Japan, Turkey and Russia, where the most severe punishments were established. Interestingly, as the ban on smoking persisted, what came into light was a rather amusing fact: tobacco became increasingly popular for its medicinal purposes. On April 11, 1717, King Philip V established a royal monopoly on tobacco-growing in Cuba; a decision which has gone down in history as the Estanco Del Tabaco. Tobacco-growers who opposed the tedious law lost their lives. The monopoly remained in effect until June 23, 1817, when a royal decree exterminated the monopoly, permitting free trade between Cuba and the rest of the known world; as long as it was through Spanish ports.  Hence slavery was abolished in the trade of tobacco-growing. Sugarcane wasnt such a delicate crop, and slaves could be used in its cultivation and harvesting, but, as José Marti said: tobacco plants had to be handled as carefully as if they were fine ladies. Immigrants from the Canary Islands worked in the tobacco fields, laying the foundations for a very special breed: Cuban farmers. The 19th century provided the final reaffirmation of Cubas tobacco production. Suffice it to say that, in 1859, there were nearly 10,000 tobacco plantations and around 1300 cigar factories in the capital. Cuba entered the 20th century in very precarious conditions, for its devastating war of independence had just ended.

CULTIVATION

The Cuban archipelago is very close to the Tropic of Cancer. Its Western region where the finest tobacco in the world is grown has a relative humidity of 79 percent, an average annual temperature of 25º C. (77º F.) and a particularly favorable amount of rainfall. In addition to these special climatic features, the chemical composition and agricultural facets of the soil in Cubas tobacco-growing areas cannot be bettered. The skill and care which the Cuban tobacco workers put into each of the many steps of the making of a Habano make for a product of the most superior quality. The cultivation process begins in the seed bed, an area in which the seeds are planted under the best conditions for their germination and later development and where the seedlings remain for 40 days, until they are ready to be transplanted to the fields. The seedlings are planted in stages, beginning in October. The leaves are picked between 45 and 80 days after planting. Later, the leaves are taken to the curing barns, where they are dried and fermented. In the sorting houses; (which are of great economic and social importance) skilled workers, the majority of whom are women, gently and delicately select, classify and sort the leaves.

PRODUCTION

In the factory, the leaves that will be used as wrappers are separated and sprinkled with water to restore the humidity they lost during processing and reduce their fragility. Later, sorters classify them by size and color. With damp fingers, they rub, pull, smooth out and examine each leaf. Then they select between 18 and 20 kinds of tobacco leaves, which will become the Habanos’ wrappers. The most demanding job is that of the cigar maker. He places half a leaf of binder on his table, then picks up an assortment of different kinds of leaves and shapes them into a bundle. To cover the cigar, he smoothes the wrapper, trims the edges with his knife and wraps it around the bundle. The nearly completed Habano is caressed by delicate hands. The flat of the knife is pressed along it to attain perfect finishing, and the end of the cigar that will go in the smoker’s mouth is shaped. Then the cigar is placed in a tiny horizontal guillotine, and the tip is clipped to make the cigar the desired length. Once their shape and size have been checked and approved, the Habanos are gently tied with a ribbon in groups of 50. Then they are sent to a vacuum fumigating chamber, where they are immunized against plagues. After this, they are placed in special closets, where they remain for three weeks, to remove excess humidity. Then they go to the classification and packing department, also known as the selection department. Lastly, a cigar band is placed around each one.

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