{"id":53448,"date":"2022-04-20T18:26:42","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T16:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/?p=53448"},"modified":"2022-04-20T18:26:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T16:26:45","slug":"tabatiere-kusnacht-love-for-the-cuban-cigar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/tabatiere-kusnacht-liebe-zur-kubanischen-zigarre\/","title":{"rendered":"Tabatiere K\u00fcsnacht and the deep love of the Cuban cigar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tabati\u00e8re K\u00fcsnacht and Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf. Actually, these are not two meanings of two terms, but one meaning. Because Tabati\u00e8re K\u00fcsnacht and Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf are one. I spoke to her and found out some fantastic things about her and her business. K\u00fcsnacht is located on Lake Zurich in Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"habanos
The \u201eHabanos Original 2022\u201c series is supported by the official importer of Cuban cigars, Intertabak AG. You can find the whole series here ><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You don't know the face on the phone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have a telephone appointment for the interview. It rings, she picks up. I hear a friendly voice. You know how it is: you hear a voice on the phone, but you don't know the face, and inevitably you have an image in your head of what the person you're talking to looks like. I have an advantage. I know what Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf looks like. The photographer Christian Schmid has already been to see her:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Tabatiere
Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf is the cigar lady in K\u00fcsnacht.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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But she probably doesn't know what I look like. Let's make up for that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"New
Hello, Mrs Vollenweider Schlumpf. I am Vasilij Ratej \ud83d\ude42<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201eHow are you currently experiencing the availability of Cuban cigars?\u201c I ask her first. Her answer surprises me. \u201eYou know,\u201c begins Mrs Vollenweider Schlumpf, \u201eas they say: Formerly<\/em>, Cuba cigars were simply sold. Customers came into the shop, said which Cuba cigars they wanted and bought them.\u201c She remains silent for a moment and continues: \u201eBut today I see this shortage as an opportunity. Because now we can advise customers again and show them alternatives when it comes to cigars.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eDo you mean alternatives to non-Cuba cigars?\u201c I ask her. \u201eYes, too,\u201c she explains, \u201ebut you know, my love belongs to Cuba cigars. We have Habanos Specialist status,\u201c she continues, \u201eand are therefore privileged. We get a better allocation from the official importer (Intertabak AG) than a tobacco shop without Habanos status.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realise that Cuba and the cigars from there are obviously very close to her heart. \u201eWhat do Cuban cigars mean to you?\u201c I ask. \u201eI live for these cigars,\u201c she replies as if shot from a pistol. There's passion behind it, I think. She continues: \u201eMy late husband also loved Cuban cigars - he only smoked Cuban cigars.\u201c From her story and her voice, I realise that Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf has a great story behind her. Can I coax it out of her? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Tabatiere
The one shop window (of two) inevitably invites you to take a look. Entering her specialist tobacco shop is imminent. The tobacco shop celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2021.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Tabatiere
The second shop window: everything selected and presented with a love of detail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She fell in love with her future husband during her apprenticeship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

She completed her apprenticeship at the N\u00e4geli tobacco shop in one of the branches in the Zurich region. It was here that she realised her love of Cuban cigars - especially Davidoff cigars. \u201eThey were the best cigars I knew at the time. I still rave about them today.\u201c She met her future husband during her apprenticeship. He was a friendly customer with exquisite taste. Over time, the two fell in love. Marriage followed as the next step sometime after her apprenticeship. Verena's professional career took her into various sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tabatiere
Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf is proud of her specialist shop and its status as a Habanos Specialist. She loves Cuban cigars.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In 1986, the opportunity arose to take over the Tabati\u00e8re K\u00fcsnacht because the owner was retiring and had no successor. \u201eVerena,\u201c said Kurt, her husband, \u201ehow about it: would you be happy and keen to take over this shop? It would be a win-win situation for all of us: if I buy you the shop, you get your dream job and I always get the best cigars - what more could we want?\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second later she replied: \u201eYes, of course!\u201c What a joy! She could finally indulge her passion. Because she and her husband had enjoyed many Cuban cigars over the years before (and after, of course).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A love of Cuban cigars and a quiet moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Her voice brightens as she explains: \u201eIn 1994, my husband and I travelled to Cuba for the first time. We were travelling around the world at the time. We explored the island in a rented car. It was an adventure! I could tell you stories...\u201c, I hope so, I thought, and I was all ears to what she was telling me. She explains how they experienced the road conditions, how warm, hospitable and uncomplicated the Cubans were, how they were allowed to watch the tobacco harvest - and, yes, it was simply fantastic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eThen one day we came to Trinidad. Someone there wanted to sell us a box of counterfeit Montecristos. We pretended to be interested because, as tobacco lovers of Cuban cigars, we wanted to know what was going to happen. But, you know, my husband was more interested in the Cuban woman's d\u00e9collet\u00e9 than the counterfeit cigars.\u201c Verena laughs out loud and so do I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Tabatiere
Colourful shop window: you will inevitably want to enter this specialist tobacco shop and ask for advice. Or simply shop, if you don't need advice.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Tabatiere
Welcome - come in, browse and shop!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Then she goes quiet for a few seconds. I give her time to think. Her voice drops a little as she continues. \u201eOn my last trip to Cuba, I was alone. I took a rented car to Pinar del Rio to Robaina Farm. I planned to stay in a hotel or in a casa particular (private accommodation). Unfortunately, I forgot my passport at the hotel in Havana. Nobody let me stay overnight because of this. In the end, I found a hotel in Pinar del Rio and was able to stay in a room overnight. It was a bit scary there. There was a big party going on and people were shouting and banging in the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day I arrived at Robaina's, but Hirochi Robaina (the nephew of the legendary Alejandro Robaina) was travelling and not there. I sat down in the famous rocking chair, got something to drink and lit a Cuban cigar. I sat here, absorbed and peaceful, and recognised a wonderful, quiet and happy moment.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then she says: \u201eThis moment gave me the confirmation that I am in the right business. Cuba cigars are my life.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you hurry to light a cigar (jet flame) if you spend an hour with the cigar afterwards? <\/p>- Verena Vollenweider Schlumpf<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Visit Tabati\u00e8re K\u00fcsnacht, get advice and shop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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