Cuban
Cigars - A Summary
Cuban cigars can be roughly divided into three categories–
- Machine made (which helps to keep the cost down), in a range
of sizes from 100mm to 150mm, and ring gauge (the thickness
of the cigar in 64ths of an inch) from 29 to 44. As these
cigars are machine made, they typically use a fairly short
filler. These cigars can be classed as Cuban, but not Havana. One
of the more widely available makes available in this category
is the Guantanamera range.
- Hand made using short filler. The tobacco leaves used in
the making of these cigars are known as short filler (decent
quality tobacco leaves, but not quite up to the standard of
the long filler used in Havana cigars). This helps to
keep the price competitive while affording a good quality smoke. Typical
of this type of cigar is the Jose L. Piedra range of cigars. Once
again, these cigars can be called Cuban, but not Havana. Sizes
in this range don’t vary widely, and are usually around
the 40 ring gauge, and about 135mm long.
- Habano (Havana) cigars are made with long filler, are hand
made, and use tobacco from selected parts of Cuba. Thus
all Habanos (Havana) cigars can be called Cuban, but not all
Cuban cigars can be called Habanos. While there are
some very good quality hand made cigars manufactured in countries
in and around the Caribbean, none can quite match the climate
and soil conditions of the best tobacco growing regions (vueltas)
of Cuba.
A Habano cigar is made using five types of tobacco leaf. Three
types of tobacco leaf are blended to form the filler which gives
a cigar its flavour, aroma, and burning qualities. Around
this, a binder is wrapped which keeps everything together and
gives the cigar its shape. Finally, the thin supple wrapper
that forms the outer skin and gives the cigar its appearance
is added.
Habanos
cigars are hand made by a Torcedor who has spent years learning
the craft of rolling a fine cigar using only a few tools. Most
are now women, and as they roll these cigars, they have books
and newspapers read to them. During a day, one of these
skilled workers will produce between 60 and 150 cigars depending
on the size and complexity of the cigar.
Finished
cigars are checked for weight, length, girth, consistency,
construction and appearance, and samples are taken apart by
the quality control department to check the internal construction
and blend of each worker. Each factory has a team of tasters
who meet daily to test cigars for draw, burn, aroma, flavour,
strength and overall quality. Smokers of a Habano can therefore
be sure that it is of the utmost quality and consistency.
Sizes available – 100 to 235mm long, and ring gauges 26
to 52.
