It was a party for smokers

HAVANA – In spite of the intense global campaign against smoking, cigars continue to be the characteristic emblem of a personality type, and even of a certain social standard. Its sale increased to $531 million in 2019.

And Cuba, owner of the best land for the cultivation of the tobacco leaf, last week held the XXII edition of the International Habano Festival under difficult economic conditions that, apparently, did not make a dent in the entire agricultural and industrial process (it takes almost 100 steps to make a cigar before smoking it) except the impossibility of accessing the important U.S. market.

But that does not seem to matter much in spite of the advantages that the legal arrival of cigars would bring to U.S. territory. All growth indicators have risen in every spot on the planet where that fabulous tobacco leaf is marketed and where our cigar bands are capable of satisfying the most exquisite tastes of smokers from around the world.

The Cuban-Hispanic executives were very happy and optimistic at the press conference that kicked off a real smoke party in Havana. During the Festival, the 2,200 attendees lived through many happy surprises. 

The Spaniards, for example, demonstrated great satisfaction and few concerns. Representatives of the Chinese market, which is increasing, said they were following with interest the development of the coronavirus. China is the Cuban cigar’s second largest consumer, ahead of Spain. They are followed by France, Germany and Cuba.

The Festival, considered by experts as the most important in the world, includes multiple activities that included the presentation of new cigar bands, visits to plantations and factories, the trade fair, the humidor auctions, seminars, the sommelier contest, the third edition of the Habanos Word Challenge, and included the presentation of the Montecristo perfume, as well as the book written by Reinaldo González, “El bello habano” (The Beautiful Cuban Cigar).

The Habanos SA Company currently markets a total of 27 brands which include the well-known Cohíba, Montecristo (the most popular), Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Bolívar, and H. Upmann. 

It turned out to be four nights when the city of Havana was covered in aromatic smoke for all who dared bring a Cuban cigar to his or her lips. It is, after all, an ancestral custom.