In the recent 25th edition of the Habanos Festival, participants had the opportunity to visit the La Corona Factory in Cuba, where Humberto Santana, a 58-year-old cigar roller, shared details about the manufacturing process of the renowned cigars. Santana emphasized that the number of leaves used can vary, but the quality must be uniform across all cigars.
Cigar rollers, both men and women, make each cigar by hand, with dedication and skill. Yordanka Herrera, a 43-year-old roller, proudly mentioned that she strives in her work with love knowing that many people will enjoy the cigars she produces together with her colleagues.
Depending on the type of cigar, each roller must produce between 80 and a hundred cigars a day. Their quality is rigorously evaluated by a group of experts to ensure the high standards of Habanos SA, the company that markets Cuban brands, which generated 827 million dollars in 2024.
Being a cigar roller is considered an art that requires agility and passion, as Herrera mentioned, who while gracefully arranging her hair, stated: "Being a roller is an art, and what you need to have is agility and a love for it."
The master roller Alvin Mustelier, 64 years old, highlighted the importance of cigars as ambassadors of Cuban culture around the world. Mustelier, with 28 years of experience, has taken his art to China on several occasions, showcasing the excellence of Cuban tobacco at international events.
The La Corona Factory has 243 rollers and around 600 workers in total, who are responsible for different stages of production, from selecting the leaves to packaging the cigars. The cigar-making process follows strict quality controls at each phase, ensuring a high commercial value final product.
Located in Havana, La Corona is the largest factory out of the four that operate in the region, using tobacco leaves grown in Vuelta Abajo, known as the best tobacco-growing land in the world. The brand has a long history, registered in 1845 by Perfecto López, and has maintained its production of cigars continuously since 1902.
Being a cigar roller requires months of study and years of practice to acquire the necessary experience. Herrera, with 17 years of experience in cigar making, emphasizes the dedication and effort involved in this artisanal craft where tradition and passion for Cuban tobacco are fused.
