The Partagás´ Real Fábrica de Tabacos
If you´re visiting Havana, and have not yet come across one of its most emblematic symbols, Cuban cigars, I feel you´ve lost part of your time, and your money.
So, I invited you to the Partagás´ "Real Fábrica de Tabacos" (Real Tobacco Factory), the best of its kind in the city. This factory is so big that it produces more than eight million cigars a year, 50 percent of the the entire city´s output.
The Partagás´ Real Fábrica de Tabacos is the oldest industry still around; it was founded in 1845 by the Catalan, Jaime Partagás y Ravell, who had ventured into the business in 1827 as an owner of a small tobacco factory. The new company started modestly, but with Don Jaime´s zeal and his employees´ good cigar creations, in just a few years, it became one of the most solid industries in the Cuban capital, a reference and pride of Havana. The cigar quality is unmatched, as the Catalan had significant technical breakthroughs in a key area of the process: the leaves´ fermentation. Because of this, Partagás cigars can be identified by their wraps´ clear brown color, and for being the strongest Cuban cigar, with more body in their aroma, contributing to its exquisiteness.
The Partagás factory also initiated the work figure known as the "tobacco reader," who during their shift, reads all about cigars, information in newspapers and magazines, articles by renowned journalists, as well as works of universal literature; this is so the workers could increase their knowledge and general culture. As our national hero José Martí said, cigars accumulated the most educated men in the country.
Today, the Partagás brand has the greatest to offer, and the most extensive series of all brands currently owned by Habanos S.A.; they have more than 40 registered models on catalog. Although some are machine made, such as "Chicos," designed for the somewhat demanding client, Partagás makes 20-some superior quality cigars, among which are "Lusitanias," "Shorts," "Serie D n.°4" (Robust), "Serie D n.°3 Limited Edition" and "8-9-8 Dalia."
Browse their facilities, get to know in detail the various steps within the manufacturing process, breath in the strong, yet fragrant leaf aromas and check out the professional rigor and excellence of the artists wrapping the cigars, something unbeatable; the Partagás factory is a must for tourists interested in cigars, as well as those wanting to approach this fascinating world. And, if you´re purchasing a box of cigars as a gift or for yourself, the factory´s bar has a showroom where you can get one for a good price.
Details:
520 Industria Stree, between Dragones and Barcelona
Central Havana.
Visiting hours from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
T: (53 7) 862 0086
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