Cuban Cigar festival hosts masterclass in cigar rolling

Global Business

Cigar rollers

The Cuban Cigar Festival annually draws thousands of enthusiasts from around the world. This year, visitors are getting the chance to learn the secrets of the trade.

CGTN’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

Cuba prides itself on growing the finest cigar tobacco in the world. It also takes pride in the people that make those cigars.

At this year’s Cuban cigar festival, master-classes are being offered by Cuba’s top instructors.

The instructors teach the class the importance and function of each leaf. They point out that a professional roller usually can churn out 10 to 12 cigars each hour.

But that is only after they pass a nine-month long class. Instructors point out that learning the craft in one-single day is a tall order.

“This is a job which in many ways is repetitive and you are doing it for eight hours a day, sitting at a workbench, repeating the same operation over and over again. So, cigar rollers really have to love what they are doing,” cigar rolling instructor Arnaldo Ovalle said.