Art of cigar rolling handed down in Cuba
HAVANA — Rolling cigars completely by hand is an art that has been passed down from generation to generation in Cuba.
Jose Alvarez, a Cuban cigar roller with over 25 years of experience, has transferred his passion and professional knowledge about rolling cigars to the rest of his family.
Now at La Corona, one of the four largest cigar factories in Havana, he works along with his son and granddaughter.
“In my family, cigars are a tradition. Since I was a kid, my parents worked as cigar rollers in Cienfuegos (a city on the southern coast of Cuba) and I visited factories where tobaccos were made to learn about this world,” Alvarez said.
On each working day, Alvarez rolls about 120 cigars on average, which is “exhausting, but rewarding at the same time”, he said.
“Cigars are a symbol of Cuba,” Alvarez said, adding: “We make a product that is the best in the world and we must maintain its quality.”
Thousands of cigars are produced daily and then sold worldwide. Last year, cigars brought an income of $500 million for Habanos S.A, the company that sells the exclusive Cuban cigars.
According to data provided by the company, Europe remains the largest market for Cuban cigars, with 54 percent of sales, followed by America with 17 percent, Asia Pacific with 15 percent and Africa and the Middle East with 14 percent.