Cuban cigars are pure natural tobacco products made from raw tobacco leaves that have been dried, fermented, and aged and are products of the red soil. Cubans smoke 250 million cigars each year, and the other 65 million “Havana” cigars are exported abroad and can be purchased. Here we explain what makes famous brands such as the romeo and juliet cigars so special.
Authentic Preparation Method
The tobacco used in Cuban cigars needs to be naturally fermented for about two years, and the tobacco leaves of the best Cuban cigars need to be naturally fermented for more than five years. The natural fermentation technology of Cuban tobacco is the best in the world. Coupled with the unreplicated climatic conditions, the fermented aroma of Cuban cigars has become the most essential and fundamental part of the taste of Cuban cigars. The taste of Cuban cigars is similar to that produced by burning caramel, cedarwood, dried palm leaves, walnuts, cinnamon, cocoa, and coffee beans. There are 32 brands of Cuban cigars and more than 300 cigars types under those brands. Each brand and each cigar type hold its own unique flavor.
Tobacco Mixing Method
The method of manual tearing is adopted to tear the tobacco leaf into two pieces lengthways, and then the core is made. This is also the characteristic of hand-made cigars. The cores of Cuban cigars are rendered from the following three types of tobacco leaves. After combining various proportions, they form the distinctive flavor of each brand:
LIGERO– Although LIGERO is translated as “light,” On the contrary, this is a kind of tobacco leaf with deep color and strong flavor. Ligelu tobacco leaves are refined by picking the fastest growing and most potent part of the top of the tobacco plant and need to be stored for at least three years before use.
Sego Tobacco Leaves (Sego)– Made from the middle part of tobacco plants, lighter in color and dry in texture. There is a required 18 months time frame for maturity. The tobacco taste is much lighter than most others.
VOLADO– The original meaning of this cigar name is “Flying Leaf,” but it is a leaf collected from the base of a plant. It can be used for nine months after maturity. It has a very light aroma and is mostly used to help cigars burn. The bundled tobacco leaves are mostly the leaves collected from close to the bottom of the plant, which similar to Cuban culture is deeply rooted in the intoxicating aroma of tobacco.
The Famous Havana Cigars
There are many Cuban cigarette factories, but the famous brand cigar manufacturers are all in Havana. Havana cigars embody the maximum level of Cuban cigars and become one and the same with Cuban cigars. Many “old smokers” believe that “Havana” cigars are the best cigars in the world. There are 35 existing cigar brands in Cuba, with more than 500 varieties.
There are two ways to make cigars: machine rolling and hand rolling. Generally speaking, hand-rolled cigars are better than machine-rolled ones. Cigarette workers are real artists. To make Havana cigars, you need to choose good quality tobacco leaves. Also, the cigarette worker must devote himself/herself to it, with dexterous hands, delicate cutting of tobacco leaves, and proficient cigarette mixing technology, the finishing touch is just right. After making a cigar, the worker often stares at his masterpiece with pride and self-appreciation.
