Explore The Top Cigar Factories in Cuba
Cuba is the most infamous tobacco producer in the world, so it’s no surprise that it’s home to some amazing cigar factories. Thanks to its unique climate and close proximity to South America, tobacco was introduced to Cuba thousands of years ago. Cuba’s illustrious tobacco growing history dates back to between 3,000 and 2,000 BC with the natives. When the Spaniards reached this Caribbean island, they quickly adopted the native’s curious smoking habits and brought it back to Europe. This sparked a new social phenomenon, and Cuba scrambled to keep up with this new international demand.
Despite being an instant hit, Cuba’s tobacco production had to overcome multiple obstacles. From the 1717 royal monopoly to Castro’s revolution, there were no shortage of unforeseen surprises that nearly uprooted the industry. While these disasters forced many producers to flee the country, a few companies managed to weather the political turmoil. Defying both the odds and multiple unfavorable governments, these factories continued to produce quality cigars for generations. The feats of these cigar factories are shocking, since they managed to overcome the obstacles.
To highlight the resilience of Cuba’s tobacco industry, we compiled a list of their best cigar factories. From war to revolutions, these production plants have seen it all. Now that Cuba is getting reintroduced to the modern world, these cigar factories are quickly becoming their national identity. In a world that’s getting overcome with globalization, Cuba’s cigar factories provide a welcome burst of individuality. Prepare to get an intimate look at Cuban culture by exploring the shocking history behind their top cigar factories!
La Corona
Even though this factory is relatively new, the sheer amount of premium cigars they produce puts it on our list. Armed with a massive team of workers, this factory pumps out an impressive 30,000 hand rolled cigars every day. These encompass over 25 premium cigar brands including Flor de Cano and San Cristóbal de la Habana. Extremely complex cigar types such as the Cuaba Salomon are also effortlessly created by their master rollers.
While La Corona’s cigar catalogue is impressive, it pales in comparison with their streamlined production process. Over six hundred workers attend to every imaginable detail of the cigars’ transformation. The sorting, cutting, rolling and pressing of the tobacco leaves all takes place on the factory’s grounds. They also boast a tasting room and unique lighting system that’s draped along curved poles in the rolling gallery. This factory is located on the corner of the biggest baseball stadium in Cuba, so there’s no excuse not to visit. Just make sure to avoid the adjacent cigar shop, since it’s known to be filled with fake cigars.
Romeo y Julieta
Even though Romeo y Julieta is one of the most revered brands in Cuba, their factory has recently been overtaken. When the original 1800’s H. Upmann Factory was shut down in the early 2000’s, they scrambled to continue producing. Faced with multiple new plant closures, H. Upmann got creative to save their company. Instead of building new factories that were bound to fail, they took advantage of factories that were already operational.
In 2011, H. Upmann employees moved into the Romeo y Julieta factory. Today their décor is dominated by H. Upmann propaganda that includes a marble staircase with a huge gold banner. This romantic setting is home to over 204 torcedores who roll an impressive selection of cigars. On top of creating H. Upmann releases, they also make Montecristos and Romeo y Julietas. This robust selection of amazing Cuban cigars has made Romeo y Julieta a huge destination for cruise ship visitors.
Partagás
Out of all the cigar factories operating in Cuba, none are more symbolic than Partagás. This is due to the fact that this resilient factory has managed to stay open for 166 years. Given Cuba’s tumultuous history, surviving this long is a tremendous feat. What makes this factory so enchanting is their lack of renovations. From cracked staircases to worn paint, it’s painfully obvious that this factory was built in 1845.
Despite the obvious need for repairs, this factory is brimming with history. Every day their legions of workers don red shirts with the Partagás logo and get to work. Aside from Partagás, they also roll Bolivar, La Gloria Cubana and many more prestigious cigar brands. All four stories of this factory are filled with motivated workers who are pumping out amazing cigars. This factory has been expected to close for years, so come get a dose of Cuban history before production moves!