Cuban cigar brands: Welcome to the historical brand archive of Origin Of Cigar

Origin Of Cigar / Anyone who loves Habanos will eventually want to be able to say more than just „it tastes good.“ Origin Of Cigar provides you with the context you need: brand biographies, historical sources, images from manufacturers—and a clear overview of the most important developments since the 19th century.

Claudia Puszkar and Vasilij Ratej, The editorial duo behind Origin Of Cigar combine passion, knowledge, and a subtle sense of humor. Together, they have created an online magazine that offers real added value to connoisseurs and curious readers alike—insightful articles, rare background stories, and the fascination of Cuban cigars in all their facets.

Why I make Origin Of Cigar

I make Origin Of Cigar because Cuban cigar brands are more than just names on a band. Behind every brand are people, factories, eras, upheavals—and often stories that you can only understand once you've properly contextualized them.

But most importantly, it is a project close to Claudia Puszkar's heart. For years, she traveled the streets of Havana, working tirelessly. She collected and evaluated every source she could find. She spoke with people who knew something or had experienced it themselves. Her goal was to find out as much as possible about Habanos manufacturers and brands, to preserve as much knowledge as possible. Collecting knowledge is her passion! „Origin of Cigar“ is therefore a kind of archive in which this knowledge is compiled. But the search continues, with one piece of the puzzle after another being added to the overall picture.

That is precisely our goal: not only to show you the history of a brand, but also to explain its significance within the overall structure of the Cuban tobacco industry. From the great pioneers such as Partagás up to and including rare, extinct brands of the early 20th century.

And yes: we take the issue seriously—but never in a heavy-handed way. Claudia Puszkar and I make up the editorial duo. We combine passion, knowledge, and subtle humor to ensure that „history“ does not become „dust,“ but rather a source of genuine fascination.

What you can expect from Origin Of Cigar

Origin Of Cigar is known as historical brand archive Designed as a comprehensive resource for in-depth knowledge about Cuban cigar brands. Here's what you can expect:

• Carefully researched brand biographies
• Verified data, primary sources and the combined expertise of our publishing duo
• Images from manufacturing facilities and visual classification via historical archives
• Clear orientation: most important developments since the 19th century, clearly organized
• An archive that lively remains: We continuously expand, correct, and supplement

The complete directory of Cuban cigar brands

• The complete directory of Cuban cigar brands
• You can find the history of Cuban cigar brands here.
• You can find the history from Columbus to the present day here.

Cuban cigar brands of the 19th century – the birth of Habanos

The 19th century saw the emergence of the cigar brands that are now considered the cornerstones of Habanos culture. They shaped Cuba's image as a premium source and established production standards that are still valid today.

These historic brands include

Partagás – History

Founded in 1845, aromatically strong, with a factory on Calle Industria that became the center of the cigar world. About Partagas History

Hoyo de Monterrey – History

Since 1865: mild to medium-bodied flavors from one of the most famous plantations in Vuelta Abajo. About the history of Hoyo de Monterrey

Romeo and Juliet – Story

Founded in 1875. Famous for its elegant blends and the widest variety of formats in the Habanos portfolio. About the Romeo y Julieta story

H. Upmann – History

Founded in 1844: a track record of success, foresight, discipline—and then world politics shows how relentless it can be. About the H. Upmann history

La Corona – History

A brand with British roots, once one of the most popular export products—today valued for its balanced strength. About La Corona History

Montecristo – History

Younger than many classics – yet the epitome of elegance, knowledge, and craftsmanship perfection. About Montecristo History

Fonseca – History

A fusion of style, luxury, and tradition: Francisco E. Fonseca arrived in Cuba at the end of the 19th century and created a legend. About the Fonseca story

Brands of the 20th century – cigars of the modern era

The 20th century gave rise to brands that heralded a new era in terms of taste, politics, and culture: some as diplomatic gifts, others as modern additions to the portfolio.

Cohiba – History

Cuba's national brand since 1966: triple fermentation, carefully selected tobaccos, iconic Behike line. About the history of Cohiba

Trinidad – History

Originally manufactured exclusively for diplomatic purposes, it has only been available to the public since the 1990s.

Vegas Robaina – History

Founded in honor of legendary tobacco farmer Alejandro Robaina—as a tribute to Vuelta Abajo.

Quai d'Orsay – History

French-inspired, created in collaboration with SEITA, known for its softer, elegant blend. About the history of Quai d'Orsay

Diplomáticos – History

A brand from the 1970s, closely related to Montecristo, but milder and with a smaller portfolio.

Vegueros – History

A tribute to Cuban tobacco farmers: modern, accessible, authentic.

These stamps reflect developments in Cuba during the 20th century: state control, export modernization, and international cooperation.

Historical pioneers and brands of the past

Not every brand survives the decades—but many leave their mark: in methods, designs, or early quality standards.

Cabañas – History

One of the oldest known brands, pioneer of the industrial cigar trade.

Henry Clay – History

Strongly export-oriented, exceptionally popular in the United States in the 19th century.

Factories, regions, and terroir – the foundation of every Habano

Brand identity is inextricably linked to origin: soil, climate, and place of production shape its character.

Important regions and places:

• Vuelta Abajo – the heart of the world's finest tobacco
• Pinar del Río – Center of tobacco cultivation and processing
• Partagás Factory / Calle Industria – historic cathedral of the cigar world
• El Laguito – the legendary Cohiba factory
• San Juan and Martínez – Home to many famous plantations

Glossary of Cuban cigars – everything you need to know

For a deeper understanding, we offer our comprehensive glossary with over 150 technical terms – from factory band until half-time – precise, historically accurate, and easy to understand.

To the glossary: Glossary Opening Cuban cigars

Picture galleries and historical archives

Our image archives document the histories of cigar brands. They visually complement the brand reports and show the development of Cuban cigar art in detail.

View photo galleries and read articles

Your journey through Cuban cigar history begins here

This brand archive is a living document: we are constantly expanding, correcting, and adding to it. If you are missing a brand history or have a question about a specific era, we would love to hear from you.

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