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12
Jun
Introduction
Long before Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, or Honduras rose as tobacco powerhouses, Cuba had already written the first chapters of this story. Cuban cigar factories didn’t just shape the cigar as we know it—they created a culture, a craft, and an identity that transcended borders. In this blog, we take you back to the beginning—when tobacco was gold and Havana was its kingdom.
1. Tobacco in Cuba: A Pre-Columbian Legacy
Long before colonizers arrived, the Taíno people cultivated and smoked tobacco in spiritual ceremonies. They called it cohiba. It was more than a ritual plant—it was medicinal and revered. When European explorers discovered it in the 15th century, its fame spread across the globe.
2. The 18th Century: The Birth of Formal Cigar Factories
During the 18th century, international trade boomed and formal cigar factories began to appear in Cuba. One of the most iconic was the Real Fábrica de Tabacos de Partagás, founded in 1845. Others, like H. Upmann and La Corona, were also operating in Havana. These weren’t just production sites—they became hubs of innovation, artistry, and worker culture.
3. The “Reader” in the Cigar Factory: Culture at Work
A uniquely Cuban tradition emerged in the 19th century: the factory reader. As torcedores (cigar rollers) worked, a reader would read newspapers, novels, and even political essays aloud. It became a form of intellectual nourishment for workers and helped shape a socially aware workforce.
4. Cuban Tobacco: The Gold Standard
The Vuelta Abajo region in Pinar del Río was soon recognized as the finest land in the world for growing tobacco. Its soil, climate, and humidity created leaves of unmatched aroma, strength, and flavor. Cuban factories knew how to ferment, age, and roll these leaves into works of art.
5. From Havana to the World
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cuban cigars dominated the global market. Brands like Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Bolívar became symbols of prestige and luxury. Millions of cigars were exported yearly to Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
6. The Tobacco Diaspora
Political changes in the 20th century led many master cigar makers and tobacco-growing families to emigrate from Cuba. They carried their knowledge and passion with them, laying the foundation for major industries in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. But the origin—the soul of the craft—remains Cuban.
Conclusion
To talk about cigars is to talk about Cuba. About its lands, its factories, its readers, and its people. At Tabacalera Aragón, we honor that story with every cigar we craft. Because while cigars are now made in many lands, the legend began on a single island: the cradle of the cigar.
Introduction
Long before Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, or Honduras rose as tobacco powerhouses, Cuba had already written the first chapters of this story. Cuban cigar factories didn’t just shape the cigar as we know it—they created a culture, a craft, and an identity that transcended borders. In this blog, we take you back to the beginning—when tobacco was gold and Havana was its kingdom.
1. Tobacco in Cuba: A Pre-Columbian Legacy
Long before colonizers arrived, the Taíno people cultivated and smoked tobacco in spiritual ceremonies. They called it cohiba. It was more than a ritual plant—it was medicinal and revered. When European explorers discovered it in the 15th century, its fame spread across the globe.
2. The 18th Century: The Birth of Formal Cigar Factories
During the 18th century, international trade boomed and formal cigar factories began to appear in Cuba. One of the most iconic was the Real Fábrica de Tabacos de Partagás, founded in 1845. Others, like H. Upmann and La Corona, were also operating in Havana. These weren’t just production sites—they became hubs of innovation, artistry, and worker culture.
3. The “Reader” in the Cigar Factory: Culture at Work
A uniquely Cuban tradition emerged in the 19th century: the factory reader. As torcedores (cigar rollers) worked, a reader would read newspapers, novels, and even political essays aloud. It became a form of intellectual nourishment for workers and helped shape a socially aware workforce.
4. Cuban Tobacco: The Gold Standard
The Vuelta Abajo region in Pinar del Río was soon recognized as the finest land in the world for growing tobacco. Its soil, climate, and humidity created leaves of unmatched aroma, strength, and flavor. Cuban factories knew how to ferment, age, and roll these leaves into works of art.
5. From Havana to the World
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cuban cigars dominated the global market. Brands like Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Bolívar became symbols of prestige and luxury. Millions of cigars were exported yearly to Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
6. The Tobacco Diaspora
Political changes in the 20th century led many master cigar makers and tobacco-growing families to emigrate from Cuba. They carried their knowledge and passion with them, laying the foundation for major industries in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. But the origin—the soul of the craft—remains Cuban.
Conclusion
To talk about cigars is to talk about Cuba. About its lands, its factories, its readers, and its people. At Tabacalera Aragón, we honor that story with every cigar we craft. Because while cigars are now made in many lands, the legend began on a single island: the cradle of the cigar.
Roidel Aragon Lezcano
