What Makes Habanos the Best Cigars on Earth?
Cuban cigars, or habanos, enjoy international renown for their quality. The term habano literally means “something from Havana” and is the Denomination of Origin term reserved for only the best handmade Cuban cigars that undergo strict quality assurance measures.
Habanos S.A is the Cuban company that manages the promotion, distribution, and exportation of Cuban cigars throughout the world. It is the world leader in the commercialization of premium cigars and maintains a presence in over 150 countries.
Sales of $531 million in 2019 demonstrate the market stability and customer loyalty that Habanos S.A. has achieved. A quality Montecristo cigar at a Casa del Habano costs between $18-34. Although Europe, particularly Spain and France, are the most ferved consumers of Cuban cigars, Habanos S.A. is currently increasing its presence in emerging markets, such as mainland China and the Middle East, which are becoming increasingly important in the international cigar market.
The quality of a habano is said to lie in the union of four factors: Cuban climate and soil conditions, rigid quality control, the indigenous black tobacco plant, and the accumulation of Cuban farming experience.
Cuba is famed to hold some of the best land in the world for the cultivation of tobacco, especially the Vuelta Abajo region of the Pinar del Río province in the far western reaches of the country. This particular region possesses a unique microclimate and volcanic soil conducive to the cultivation of high-quality tobacco and the unique terrior of Cuban cigars.
A philosophy of detail guides the production process of habanos. During production, cigar rollers are supervised for their technique and the physical dimensions of their cigars. Before the final wrapper leaf is rolled cigars must pass a suction draw test. After production, samples are opened to analyze internal filler construction and the blending of leaves. Other samples are test-smoked and graded for draw, aroma, and strength. To complete the production of a habano, the tobacco leaves go through a total of 539 stages.
Habano is a luxury product created under the philosophy of detail; even the color-matching of the wrappers is taken into account as an important detail to deliver a full quality habano. To complete the production of a habano, the tobacco leaves go through a total of 539 stages.
The people behind Stage 540 are sure that the 540th stage, which is learning about the culture of Cuban cigars through real-life experiences, is the one that gives real meaning and purpose to the long road and the hard work that many Cuban cigar lovers go through to create these valuable products. Tobacco is a key element of Cuban culture and consuming them is a way of defending traditions and enjoying life and, of course, that no one makes cigars as well as the Cubans.
Over the years, Cuban botanists have carefully developed the particular variety of the Cuban black tobacco plant used today. Improvements have been made to be more disease resistant, produce more leaves, and not to flower. Some varieties have been developed specifically for the blemish-free and pliable final wrappers leaves. Despite attempts to grow tobacco seeds of Cuban origin in other regions of the world, the quality of tobacco made in Cuba is never quite reached.
It is interesting how popular the representation of Cuba as a country where time is somewhat slow and insignificant in life. When it comes to habanos you could not be farther from the truth. The time that is put into the cultivation and production of a good habano is one of the many determining factors that give the seal of world-class quality. The production of a single habano can take from 1 to 5 years which involves everything from the cultivation of the crop to the drying, fermentation, and aging processes. This is the dedication, traditional knowledge, and passion of hundreds of workers that enable the creation of the best cigar in the world. In the case of tobacco farmers this trade knowledge is literally passed down from generation to generation.
Given the 539 stages of making a Cuban cigar some believe that the 540th stage is learning about the culture of Cuban cigars. This is what allows the smoker to grasp the meaning, purpose, and hard work that goes into producing these valuable products. Smoking Cuban cigars, a prominent element of Cuban culture, is a way of maintaining tradition, enjoying life, and, of course, proving that no one makes cigars as well as Cubans.
During the Festival del Habano, humidors are auctioned for millions of dollars. The amounts collected are donated entirely by Habanos S.A. to the Cuban Health system as part of the company’s corporate responsibility.