Cigar Rolling in Cuba - A Traditional Craft

Contents:

Working Conditions Like 200 Years Ago
Cigars Rolled Only with Training

When it comes to the tradition of cigar-making, not much has changed in Cuba over the past two centuries. High-quality Cuban cigars like those from Cohiba or Montecristo are "totalmente a mano," meaning 100% handmade. However, this craft requires experience, a delicate touch, and a dedication to perfection.

Working Conditions Like 200 Years Ago

Cigar roller at work What makes Cuban tobacco so special is not only the excellent soil and the art of proper cigar-rolling, but also the outstanding climate. The hot temperatures give the tobacco its sweet-spicy, distinctly Cuban character. However, what benefits the quality of cigars is not appreciated by the workers at the cigar factories. Most production facilities do not have air conditioning because the risk of drying out the tobacco leaves due to cooling is too high.

It has become a convention that music – usually salsa – plays over loudspeakers while the workers are at their tasks. One can also often hear a voice reading out the news. This tradition stems from the long history of the torcedores (cigar rollers). In the past, workers in cigar factories would pay for these readers themselves. It was less about entertainment and more about access to knowledge and education. Rolling cigars is a monotonous, repetitive task, and sharpening the mind is an important concern for many of the workers.

Cigars Rolled Only with Training

Cigar roller at work Once all the tobacco leaves are carefully sorted and prepared, the cigar rollers step in. They have the most demanding job in terms of craftsmanship. They can only perform this job after completing a nine-month apprenticeship in cigar-rolling. And it's worth it. A well-trained cigar roller benefits from their technique when it comes to pay. Only when a cigar is flawless and visually perfect is it placed in a wooden box and packaged with the others. If something is slightly off – such as the weight, length, wrapper, or construction of the cigar’s head – the cigar is discarded. This reflects on the cigar rollers because their bonus depends on how many perfect cigars they roll.

Cigar rolling is a profession with a long tradition. It requires a good eye and a finely honed touch. In Cuba, people are proud of their cigars, and so are the torcedores. Their cigars are considered the best in the world.