Cigar makers say it takes years to become an expert roller

February 15, 1999
Web posted at: 7:09 p.m. EST (0009 GMT)

HAVANA (CNN) -- With more than three decades of experience, Leopoldina Gutierrez has become as valued a part of Cuba's most famous export as the tobacco leaves she rolls.

Gutierrez and her fellow cigar rollers have mastered the art of shaping an exceptional smoke.

"To learn how to make a good cigar, you learn it with time," she says.

These days, Gutierrez is rolling more cigars than ever before.

Cuba aims to produce 200 million cigars this year, double the amount produced in 1997. Next year, the target will reach 300 million. And even that figure is below worldwide demand, cigar makers say.

In order to meet this growing demand, Cuba is reopening abandoned factories and training a new generation of cigar rollers.

Thousands of Cubans have enrolled in cigar rolling schools, taking a nine-month course to learn the basics. But cigar makers say it takes years to truly become an expert.

Cuba wants to produce 200 million cigars in 1999

Some critics fear Cuba is sacrificing the quality of its cigars for quantity. They claim today's cigars are not as consistently good as they used to be.

Cuba's cigar makers rigorously defend the quality of their cigars.

"There are some that pick them, and some that criticize them. I think the Cuban Habanos has maintained its quality despite the increase in production," said Exposito Diaz, general manager of Casa del Habanos.

To protect cigar quality, quality control inspectors regularly patrol factories. Their job is to make sure an export that brings hundreds of millions a year in hard currency to Cuba doesn't go dry.

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