Havana, Mar 3 (Prensa Latina) Cohiba Behike, the most exclusive Habano cigar in history, appeared as a world novelty in the El Laguito factory Friday, as part of the 40 year anniversary of Habanos and the 7th Habano Cigar Festival.

   The unveiling of Cohiba Behike, part of the Festival that concludes Friday with a gala dinner, was made to press by Jose Giron, under director of marketing for Habanos SA, in a meeting in El Laguito.

   Only 4,000 Cohiba Behike (Behike is the name given by the Cuban indigenous Tahinos to wizards) have been made, distributed 40 to each of 100 humidors and selling for 1,785 dollars a humidor.

   The cigars were created by tobacco turner Norma Fernandez, a founder of El Laguito, and the tobacco leaves were cultivated and picked by the most outstanding Cuban growers, including Pancho Cuba, Alejandro Robaina and Antonio Mar­a Paz, all from the province of Pinar del Rio, western Cuba.

(Prensa Latina) 03-03-2006

Havana, Mar 22 (Prensa Latina) Executives of Cuba's tobacco sector extolled the Lazaro Pena firm from Havana province as best export cigar outer layer producer in the country.

 Its director Walfrido Hernandez said their production covers fifty percent of the national layer output.

 Its location between San Antonio and Alquizar (18.64 miles SW the capital), two of the most important layer-producing areas, helps it supply 7801.78 kg quality leafs to produce export cigars.

 Habano cigars consist of several layers of selected leafs, plus an outer layer and filling. The capa or outer layer leaf has to be flawless for the habano to have export quality.

 In addition to good soil and producers the company owns state-of-the-art technology that allows to use "drip irrigation" on 80 percent its lands, to boost quality.

 The way to premium tobacco is completed by the hands of a skilfull roller. Specialists rank Cuban premium tobacco at the top of world quality due to its privileged soil, climate and experienced producers.

(Prensa Latina) 22-03-2007

Havana, Dec 4 (Prensa Latina) New Cuban cigars carry the names of three famous streets: Muralla, Mercaderes and Oficios are being lit up around the world in celebration of the 487th anniversary of the Cuban capital.

   Those cigars recently appeared during the 13 Anniversary of Partagas Casa del Habano and spokesmen from Habanos S.A. Corporation assure these new models will be successful.

   Old Havana was declared by the UN Organization of Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) as Cultural Heritage in 1982.

   San Cristobal cigar brand closed a cycle of innovation in late 1999 and recently changed its factory to a very upscale one in Cerro municipality.

   San Cristobal is also the name of Havana s patron saint.

   The brand came out to the market in 1999 with four cigar bands: EL Principe (small), La Punta (Figurative), La Fuerza (robust) and El Morro (Churchill) in honor of the main colonial fortresses in Havana.

(Prensa Latina) 04-12-2006