Cigar Factory Tours and Cigar Experiences
Located in central Havana, just one of Cuba’s near forty working cigar factory’s opens to a small number of visitors each morning for a not-to-be-missed tour experience even for the non smoker. Experience at first hand how one of the worlds most famous luxury products are still hand rolled in factories that have totally escaped the progress of technology and rely on expert rollers called Torcedores or Torcedoras with females now dominating this expert craft.
Leaving the tropical heat of the day and enter into what could be a 19th Century factory, with a clamour of workers and that daily bustle of activity. Up to two hundred rollers can be in attendance, using very basic wooden boards and utensils and making between 60 – 150 cigars a day depending on the brand. Different brands are made in the factories determined mainly by the quality and size of the tobacco leaf, with the best quality tending to be the Cohiba brand. Often puffing away on their own cigar using their daily allowance, they are read to by a chosen ” Lector ” who covers the daily newspapers, political messaging and novels chosen by popular vote.
The fully guided tour shows the whole process of how Cuba’s world-famous cigars are handmade using tobacco leaves brought in mainly from the plantations at Pinar Del Rio. You can also watch the sorting and packaging process linked to tobacco quality before the cigars are boxed ready to be exported throughout the world. Whilst cigar smoking remains strong , the younger generations globally are not taking up the art of cigar smoking and with the massive potential USA market very heavily restricted , what is the future of this amazing handcrafted luxury product ?
At the end of the guided tour the factory shop offers a wide choice of cigars and other related items at VERY competitive prices compared to Europe and the USA .
For those who like the finer things in life or have an interest in the global passion and etiquette around Cuba’s legendary cigars, our private cigar tasting experience with a local expert is not to be missed. They will introduce you to the world of tobacco and cigars, the history of the culture of cigar smoking and how they should be stored , lit and enjoyed properly and you can take part in this historic art form.
The very best rums and coffee accompany the art of smoking a cigar and our expert will guide you through the world of traditional rums that are produced in Cuba, including the famous Havana Club brand. There will be the chance to enjoy a couple of aged rums and some local coffee and chocolates.
For those who are not staying in Vinales Valley on their tailored holiday, our privately guided day tour from Havana is a classic introduction to this beautiful UNESCO preserved World Heritage site and does cover Cuba’s tobacco plantations. Take a stroll into the valley and visit the world-famous tobacco plantations where you can learn about the process of the production of the tobacco leaves for Cuba’s cigars. Visit a small local farm, meet the farmer and visit a selection house where the tobacco leaves are graded for use for the different brands of Cigar when handmade at the factory.
