scroley's blog

Now the cigars are completed and have passed inspection by the quality controllers, they are taken to the Escaparate. After all the rigours of the rolling process, the first step in this new phase is to allow the leaves to settle.

After posting my previous blog I was, quite rightly, reminded by Jack Charbot that I had missed out the draw test process. In my defence I have left many essential steps of the process out for the sake of interest. For example I missed a huge amount of information out about the preparation of the land, the nurseries of the plantation and the tending of the plants. I also skimmed over much of the work carried out by the Master blender and the tasting panels.

With the leaves now aged and the bales ready for use the Master Blender, or ‘Ligador’, makes the crucial selection of which leaves, in which quantities, are to be used to make up the future production quota for the factory. This vital process ensures the consistency and individuality of each vitola and brand produced under the Habanos name is maintained.

Now, with our tobacco harvest having been cured, undergone the first fermentation and classification, they are ready to be transferred to the Stripping Houses for another vital stage in the preparation.

Once these precious leaves have been given adequate time to cure, in the large barns mentioned in my previous blog, they are finally ready to leave the plantations. At this point responsibility for the wellbeing of the tobacco transfers to the Empresa de Acopio y Beneficio del Tabaco,

Following on from my previous post “Cuban Wrappers” - the freshly harvested tobacco leaves are taken to curing barns (casas de tabaco) for the slow and careful period of air curing. This removes moisture and turns the leaf by stages to golden brown. The leaves are sewn in pairs and hung from poles which are then placed on racks in the barn. As the leaf cures the pole is raised higher in the racks.

My annual pilgrimage to Cuba earlier this year with a group of UK cigar retailers. Travelled from Havana by coach for two bone juddering hours to Pinar de Rio, the western province that embraces all the important growing zones in the Vuelta Abajo region and the name of the provincial capital.