On the other side, at the foot of a façade of the Partagás factory, there is a truck with the insignia of that legendary industry and in the foreground, in the middle of a fertile tobacco plantation, two men harvest the leaves that they will later load on a cart pulled by oxen.

All these pieces are carved out of wood and impress due to their realism, and much more so when one discovers that they are humidors to store and preserve cigars.

Craftsman Jorge Luis Milán explains that this is just a sample of Decuba, Arte en Maderas’ work, a project founded in 1995, whose creations have been sold in more than 80 countries.

“The aim has been to produce packaging that, in addition to its utilitarian function, expresses the tobacco culture and also Cuban culture,” Milán notes.

An Agricultural Sciences graduate, Milán explains that at the beginning, the project included only three people, who in the mid-1990s decided to come together to make cigar cases. Decuba is affiliated to the Cuban Cultural Goods Fund (FCBC).

“We started doing very simple things, however, we realized that there was a wide field of work, so we started to improve ourselves and train new artisans.”

With the help of a retired professor from the provincial arts school, a training process was initiated that continues today.

“Thanks to this, we have colleagues specialized in techniques which were almost extinct, such as marquetry,” Milán states.

FROM CUBA TO THE WORLD

A short time later, Decuba’s products began to gain popularity. In 1997, exports began through the Habanos S.A. Corporation and would later also do so through the FCBC.

In 2004, given the quality of this work, Habanos granted the project a license to use its tobacco brands in its designs.

Allegorical images of tobacco growing in the Vueltabajo plantations, or pieces inspired by important personalities of the art world, are part of the project’s extensive catalog. Photo: Ronald Suárez Rivas
More than simple wooden containers for preserving cigars for prolonged periods – with devices that regulate temperature and humidity – the humidors that come out of this workshop are true works of art.

“The fact of uniting designers, marquetry, carvers, carpenters, cabinetmakers and painters, among other specialties, has allowed us to achieve a high quality result,” Milán notes.

“If a line like Cuban cigars, recognized as the best in the world, is combined with craftwork, it acquires added value.”

This explains why during the last two decades the works of this Pinar del Río-based project have reached more than 150 cities in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, accompanying a product that distinguishes this province and the country.

Allegorical images of tobacco growing in the Vueltabajo plantations, or pieces that resemble heritage buildings of Old Havana or Trinidad, or are inspired by important personalities of the art world, are part of the extensive catalog that has been enriched over the years.

There is even a line of humidors decorated by the most important visual artists of Pinar del Río.

“We have made pieces up to two meters high, with capacity for between 800 and a thousand cigars,” notes Decuba, Arte en Maderas founder and director Milán.

“Each design is the result of teamwork, and the constant exchange of ideas among the more than 20 artists that the project brings together,” he adds.

WOODEN ART

Awards and recognitions at events such as the International Crafts Fair (Fiart), and dozens of exclusive series for Habanos S.A., testify to the excellence of Decuba, in addition to the fact that the project has donated the money raised by dozens of pieces in auctions at international events to the Ministry of Public Health.

However, Milán notes his disappointment that, although his project and other similar initiatives that exist in the country have managed to break into very difficult markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Cuba continues to import humidors and containers, to later export them with its tobacco products.

“You can even find them if you take a tour of the specialized stores of some provinces such as Havana,” says the craftsman, noting that this situation is illogical: importing goods from abroad to export them again; when they could be made in Cuba, with the necessary supplies.

“We need to seek more adaptable forms of integration and complementarity between agencies and ministries, because although there is a policy to avoid imports, in practice they continue,” he adds.

Convinced that Cuban artisans have the skills and talent to take on any task, no matter how complex it may be, he explains that Decuba and the Cuban Cultural Goods Fund are currently working on the creation of a new workshop, on the outskirts of the city of Pinar del Río.

This will make it possible for the project to venture into other productions and improve working conditions, but above all, it will increase the capacity to make humidors that help to conserve Cuban tobacco in climates very different from ours, and to spread Cuban culture throughout the world.

(Granma)

The closing ceremony is scheduled tonight to the early hours of Saturday (at the Pabexpo fair grounds) where the Habano Prizes of the Year (corresponding to 2017) in the categories of Production, Business and Communication will be granted.

These awards are compared with the Oscar cinema prizes, but on the cigar industry, and they are conferred to persons who promote and foster the habano industry as well as their marketing. On the other hand, the funds of the humidors and cigar auctioned each year go to funding the national health system, particularly cancer research and treatment.

After a week of surprises and emotions, visits to factories and plantations, besides the exchange of impressions and experiences at workshops, and drinks tasting, the Festival comes to an end successfully, organizers assure.

Smokers of Premium cigars from all over the world again turned their eyes to the Cohiba Brand, that together with Partagas reigned over the 20th Festival, from February 26 to March 2, at the Havana Convention Center.

This event is a superlative attraction for those who have any relation at all with this sector and, above all for lovers of the highest quality cigars the world over.

In the closing gala will stand out from Cohiba, the Robustos Harvest 2014, its most Premium proposal, besides the Maduro Line of Partagas, another star of the event.

(Prensa Latina)

This is an extremely attractive part of the Festival, and along with the visit to the plantations, it illustrates the attendees in the most complicated and beautiful processes of this Cuban product.

The visitors talk in the industries with quality cigar heads, cigar rollers and workers who can provide ideas as accurate as possible about this island’s world-famous agro-industry.

Some experts explained opportunely this journalist that a deepening in the history and architecture related to the Cuban tobacco appeared linked to the tobacco factories in this capital.

Researcher Lourdes Domínguez, from the Office of the Historian of Havana, analyzed in her works the oldest history of tobacco.

Expect Carlos Venegas, of the Juan Marinello Cultural Center in Cuba, marked Havana as the city of the tobacco, first with the manufacture of snuff and later rolled cigars.

The tobacco factories were rebuilt from 1773 to 1778 and the milled tobacco was replaced by the rolled one in late 18th century.

As of 1840, the big tobacco factories raise, in this capital usually with two plants, with 600 or 1,000 workers.

This time, the delegates to the Festival can learn some details of the current situation of the tobacco factory production.

(Prensa Latina)

Since the first edition of the festival in 1999, every year during the last week of February, Havana becomes the globe’s cigar capital.

The event is attended by a wide variety of participants, from lovers of this unique product; industry professionals such as distributors and specialist retailers; international figures from the worlds of culture, gastronomy, film, fashion and sports; to collectors and luxury consumers, all of whom share a single passion: Cuban cigars.

The 20th Habano Festival is scheduled to take place from February 26 through March 2, which in addition to celebrating the best premium, hand-rolled cigars in the world, will also see participants learn more about the secrets of one of the island’s oldest and most treasured traditions.

Surprises, new offers, and launches of exclusive vitolas; as well as pairings with some of the best products in the world which also boast the title of protected designation of origin, will all feature during the event, about which Granma International spoke with Inocente Núñez Blanco (INB) of Cuba and Luis Sánchez-Harguindey (LSH) from Spain, representatives of Habanos S.A, event sponsor and leading distributor of Cuban cigars worldwide.
Over almost two decades of festivals, what has been the event’s key contribution for Cuba and a product like Cuban cigars?

INB: The contribution has been very positive for various reasons. Business has steadily grown over recent years and we have gained new consumers.

Our distribution network has expanded year after year, as such Cuban cigars are now present in over 165 markets (countries), with the exception of the United States (due to the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba).

Our marketing strategy undertaken over the years, in addition to the festivals, has helped to maintain the passion for Cuban cigars despite current international restrictions, which facilitate and regulate all promotional and consumption activities related to this product.
What new offers will be presented at this year’s festival and to what brand will the event be dedicated?

There will be lots of new offers because we want to highlight Habanos S.A.’s main brands during this 20th edition. This is why we will be dedicating nights to the famous Cohiba cigar brand with the presentation of the Robusto Reserva vitola, 2014 Harvest, as well as Partagás with its Maduro No.1, No.2 and No.3 lines.

We will also be launching Hoyo de Monterrey, Le Hoyo Rio Seco, and Vegueros Centrofinos cigars.

Other new offers that visitors will greatly appreciate during this event will be the launch of the 2018 Limited Edition Romeo y Julieta Tacos, Bolivar Soberano and H. Upmann Propios, among others.

There will also be a special cigar tasting with Torres brandies from Spain, and the first international Habanos World Challenge (HWC) contest.

(The aforementioned event will see contestant’s knowledge of cigars and different stages of its development – from agricultural and industrial processes to practical and demonstrative aspects – put to the test. Winners of qualifying rounds held in different countries will travel to Havana to participate in the final.)
Tell us a bit about Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz’s relationship with the festivals…

The first Habano Festival was held in 1999 and was honored with the presence of Fidel, who gave a speech after the auctioning of five precious wood humidors specially designed for the occasion and signed by him.

He also attended the second festival in 2000 and alongside him at his table was celebrated Colombian writer and Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Gabriel García Márquez. He attended the auction of six humidor made exclusively for the occasion and a set of two boxes of antique cigars, all signed by him. Funds raised in these auctions are donated in their entirety to Cuba’s National Public Health system.

Later on, the Comandante en Jefe’s interaction with figures who participated in these events had a notable influence on the impact of the festivals.

Nor can we forget that the Comandante en Jefe of the Cuban Revolution and his close collaborator and comrade in the struggle in the Sierra Maestra Celia Sánchez Manduley, who founded the prestigious Cohiba brand in 1966, the most famous in Habanos S.A’s catalogue, and distinguishing Cuba in any scenario, specialist or not, in the world of cigars.

It is precisely for these reasons and the fact that Fidel and Celia created it, that we are so meticulous and rigorous with this brand.
The benefit auction supporting the Cuban Public Healthcare system is an eagerly awaited event. After 19 festivals how much money has been raised?

The traditional auction is a highpoint for participants at the festival. Prestigious Cuban artists have made tasteful, creative and beautiful humidors which have been auctioned.

Over the last 19 habano festivals we have raised around 17.4 million USD for the Cuban public healthcare system.
Who are the artists this year that participated in creating the humidors for the upcoming auction and how many will be available to purchase?

LSH: With a product as prestigious as the Cuban cigar, we needed to have recognized artists creating the humidors, and Cuba has a long tradition of celebrated artisans and metalworkers.

As this is the 20th anniversary of the festival, we must up our efforts, which is why we are collaborating with highly regarded artists like José Roberto Fabelo Pérez, painter, sculptor, illustrator – who works with a range of different materials (wood, paper, fabric) – and one of Cuba’s most celebrated contemporary artists; or José Ernesto Aguilera, passionate about metalwork; as well as masterful artisans like Jorge Gil and Neury Alberto Santana. This year we are going to auction six humidors.

When exhibiting our products we always focus on our global brands; such is the case this year with our Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, H. Upmann y Hoyo de Monterrey collections.

However, another one: Rey del mundo will also be included in this edition of the festival. We do this sometimes because we want fans to become more familiar with other, lesser known but important brands, which we want to promote, and this is what we are hoping to do with Rey del mundo. So we will be auctioning six humidors with six global brands, as well as one featuring Rey del mundo cigars.
How many international participants are expected to attend?

The event is attended by lovers of Cuban cigar and industry figures from all countries. Participation in the festival usually ranges from between 1,500 to 2,000 people and we hope to see a similar number this year.

Various activities will be taking place over the course of the week, including seminars, a trade fair, and other activities which have been expanding year after year.

For this year’s festival we have about 85 expositors at the trade fair, with some countries participating for the first time, including Costa Rica, Bolivia and Colombia.

What we want to do with this year’s festival is expand cigar culture and make it more attractive to more people.

Our festival is the largest global event dedicated to premium cigars. We have an extensive distribution network with retail outlets in over 100 countries and highly knowledgeable distributors who also organize local events, which together with the Habano Festival, are some of the most renowned in the world.
How is Habanos S.A.’s catalogue structured?
Our catalogue is divided into two main sections; one which features our global brands of which there are six, like I mentioned before; and then we have another divided into brands according to value and volume, because our business is one based on value, however, we must also bear in mind those brands that we wish to feature in a more affordable price range.

So, our catalogue contains 27 brands and over 300 references, giving us a wide range with which to compete depending on the consumers’ price bracket and preference.
So the Cuban cigar business is doing well?

It is an ever improving business and one that continues to grow, as compared to others like the declining cigarette industry, which, in the world of cigars, is quite a statement.

Our counterparts, with an in-depth knowledge of one of Cuba’s most iconic and traditional products, agree that Cuban tobacco is universally renowned for its uniqueness.

According to Núñez Blanco, there have been attempts to imitate Cuban tobacco all of which have been unsuccessful, as this aromatic leaf belonging to the Solanaceae family, is born from the specific characteristics of Cuba’s climate, sun, soil, and the hard work and know-how of experienced tobacco producers and cigar makers, as well as the heritage of a country where habanos mean culture, tradition and cubanía.

ABOUT HABANOS

- In Cuba, the 1492 Spanish expedition commanded by Christopher Columbus saw tobacco for the first time in the New World. The Taino Indians rolled and burnt some mysterious leaves, which they called “Cohiba”, in a ceremony unknown to the Spaniards. From that starting point more than five hundred years ago, tobacco has been traded and planted throughout the world. Since its discovery, Tabaco Negro Cubano or Cuban Black Tobacco has been considered the best in the world.

- All Habanos are crafted “Totalmente a Mano” totally by hand using methods that were pioneered in Havana two centuries ago and remain virtually unchanged to this day.

- Habanos,S.A. was founded in 1994 and is a Cuban joint venture with capital owned 50%-50% by Cubatabaco, a Cuban Government company and Altadis, a Spanish company owned by Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, a British Tobacco Company. The company is the world leader in the commercialization of premium cigars, maintaining a presence in over 150 countries through its distribution network.

- Habanos,S.A has received Authorized Economic Operator status from the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba awarded to entities which guarantee reliability and security throughout their entire supply chain.

(Granma)

Considered the world’s best hand-made premium cigar, the habano is feted each year through the holding of a week-long celebration.

More than 1,000 people from some 60 countries will attend the event, although in total around 5,000 people are connected in some way, such as through smoking clubs that are holding their meetings here in Havana during the celebration.

Spokesmen from the international corporation Habanos S.A. are extremely satisfied with this event, above all because of the quality of this product, emblematic of the island’s economy.

The week has a busy program that includes international seminars, tastings, lectures, visits to plantations and factories, as well as cultural presentations.

Among the new features are the Habanos-Rioja Alliance, where cigars of this country are matched with Spanish wines from the Rioja region.

The activities are imbued with the brilliance of handmade cigars crafted by experts, where family tradition plays an important role, not only among the growers in the area, but also the cigar makers at the factories.

The Habanos Festival began in 1994 with a dinner that featured cigars, and 1995 inaugurated the Habano Man of the Year award that later was called Habanos of the Year Award, finally becoming a full-fledged festival in 1999.