Kuba: Bestseller
Kuba: All items
Cuba is the most renowned country of origin for cigars. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean island of Cuba, locally known as Cuba, while searching for India and later brought the enjoyment of tobacco to Europe. Since the early 19th century, Cuban cigars have been the ultimate choice for cigar smokers across Europe and around the world. Generally, they are more robust and earthy than their counterparts from the Dominican Republic or Nicaragua. The exceptional agricultural conditions, paired with the traditional craftsmanship of the Torcedores in rolling cigars, are responsible for the unmatched premium quality of a Cohiba or Trinidad cigar.
Cuban Cigars: The Best Tobaccos in the World
Cigar enthusiasts and tobacco experts agree on one thing: the cradle of the world’s best cigars is in Cuba’s westernmost province—Pinar del Río. Its scenic beauty and diverse flora and fauna are among the reasons why parts of this province are considered particularly worthy of protection by UNESCO. Besides biosphere reserves, the Valle de Viñales is even a World Heritage Site.
The tobacco plantation area in Pinar del Río covers about 100,000 hectares, with an average plantation, called “la vega” in Cuba, being only between five and 150 hectares in size. The soils in Pinar del Río consist of copper-red clay, and the climate is humid with regular rainfall. The combination of geology and local climate produces flavors that aficionados miss in other regions.
Legendary Growing Region Vuelta Abajo
The most famous growing area is Vuelta Abajo in the western part of the island. Here, the best tobaccos for the finest hand-rolled long fillers are cultivated. Not far from the Viñales Valley lies the farm of the late Don Alejandro Robaina, after whom the Vegas Robaina (the Robaina Fields) brand was named. The annual average temperature here is between 26 and 27 °C, with about eight hours of sunshine per day and an average relative humidity of around 64 percent. These ideal climatic factors, which also partially apply to other regions of Cuba, make the island justifiably known as the world’s largest humidor. Among the most famous vegas is Hoyo de Monterrey, where high-quality filler tobaccos are grown. Some of the best wrapper leaves on the island come from the Vegas El Corojo.
Genuine Cuban Cigars: Original Habanos
The capital of Cuba, Havana, is called “Habana” in Spanish—cigars from there are referred to as Habanos. The name is exclusively reserved for cigars weighing at least three grams, made under the precisely defined quality criteria of the Cuban tobacco industry, and consisting of whole long-filler tobaccos. Technically, only such a cigar is a genuine Habano, whose raw materials come from Vuelta Abajo. The company Habanos S.A., which manages the international marketing and export of cigars, is also named after this.
“Havana Cigars”
Most Cuban cigar factories are located in Havana. The names of the six most famous fábricas, founded in the 19th century, are well known to any true aficionado: H. Upmann, Partagás, Romeo y Julieta, La Corona, El Laguito, and El Rey del Mundo. Following the Cuban Revolution of 1959, many of these traditional cigar factories were nationalized and given new names in honor of revolutionary heroes. For example, the famous H. Upmann factory was renamed “José Martí.” Buyers of Havana cigars should therefore know that the abbreviation “JM” indicates the original H. Upmann factory.
Most Popular Cuban Cigar Brands
Cohiba and Trinidad are among the top brands in the Cuban cigar industry. They are always allocated the best tobaccos and the most talented rollers. Cohiba and Trinidad are regularly chosen for the annual Ediciónes Limitadas. Only a few Cuban cigar brands have the honor of being released in a unique vitola (size) and in highly limited quantities.
Montecristo, Partagás, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Romeo y Julieta are classified as “Global Brands”—they are the most popular and best-selling Cuban cigars worldwide. The high-quality brands in the “Value Brands” category, including Bolívar and Punch, should also be mentioned. Quintero and José L. Piedra are affordable so-called “Volume Brands.”
Issues with Cuban Cigars
In recent years, Cuban cigars have often been available only in limited quantities. Why is this? Despite stricter non-smoking laws and economic crises, the demand for Habanos in many industrialized countries remains strong. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many aficionados discovered their taste for cigars while in quarantine. Moreover, demand continues to grow steadily in the Near and Far East. China, in particular, is said to have surpassed Germany in global demand, now ranking third—behind Spain and France.
Supply Shortages
In Cuba, mismanagement, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters heavily burden the state. As a result, Cubatabaco, the agency responsible for the tobacco industry, lacks both foreign exchange and manpower to meet global demand. Furthermore, Cuba’s infrastructure is often underdeveloped, leading to significant transportation problems. Resource scarcity and bureaucratic hurdles further complicate production and export.
Price Increases
Collectors and enthusiasts will have to dig deeper into their pockets for the unmistakable aroma of Cuban cigars. In recent years, prices for Cuban cigars have risen sharply worldwide due to global “price harmonization” with the expensive Hong Kong market. In Germany, where Habanos have historically been relatively affordable, these price increases are sometimes drastic. Luxury brands like Cohiba and Trinidad, as well as select premium series (Montecristo Linea 1935/Romeo y Julieta Linea de Oro/Partagás Línea Maestra) are particularly affected.
In this context, limited availability further intensifies price pressure. It remains unclear whether and when Cuban cigars will once again be fully available.
