Very few products can compete with cigars in the category of best Cuba travel souvenir for when it comes to taking a memory back home, tourists never hesitate to the idea of buying a good cigar, no matter the cost.
Over the years the culture of cigar smoking has spread worldwide and with it the popularity of Cuban hand-made cigars because according to experts the quality of the country’s productions is unparalleled.
However just like in wine, cigar quality relies in the climate conditions of the soil where the tobacco leaves are grown which in the case of the best “vitolas” in the planet has just one name, Vuelta Abajo. In this region located in the province of Pinar del Rio, the Habanos S.A company gives birth to the best brands in the market from the centennial Partagas, to the tempered Montecristo to the romantic Romeo and Juliet or world famous Cohiba.
Created to worship one of the oldest traditions in the island, the art of cigar making, the International “Habanos Festival” is celebrated every year in Havana gathering specialists and cigar enthusiasts from all over the world. This is a unique occasion to debate and learn on topics related to tobacco harvesting, distribution and consumption. Kicking off next 26th February until 2nd March, its 20th edition is dedicated to the brands Cohiba and Partagas including a series of visits to cigar factories, plantations and the international contests Habanosommelier, a competition testing the abilities of chefs and barmen to combine cigars with food and beverages.
Aficionados all over the world will also compete in the World Challenge organized by Habanos, S.A. under the name of Habanos World Challenge, an international contest to be held for the first time in the 20th Habanos Festival. The attendees will compete through stage rounds in their different countries around the world to represent their nations in the final rounds in Havana, during the event. All participants will be widely tested on their overall knowledge involving agricultural, industrial phases, practical and demonstrative issues of Habanos, over a series of challenges throughout all HWC stages.
As it is a tradition, Meliá Cuba hotels in Havana will be actively involved in the celebrations. There’ll be no better occasions than the days of the festival to enjoy of a good “Habano” at “Casas del Habano” of Meliá Cohiba, Tryp Habana Libre and Meliá Habana.
From Monday to Thursday (3.00 to 7.00 pm) on the event’s week, Habanos’ lovers will have a space to discuss cigars and even taste them along with Havana Club premium drinks and the best of national traditional music at Melia Cohiba. On Friday, in the same place, Ron Santiago will be the one to toast with.
Music, tobacco and rum will take over our “Casas del Habano” during the 20th edition of the festival. Don’t miss the fun and the opportunity of taking back home “great pieces of smoke” in one of our Havana hotels’ certified Habanos stores.
With large foreign attendance, activities of 2018’s Cigar Festival in Havana will be a must for those planning to visit the wonder city on the last week of February.
