The Enemies of Capitalism Enjoy Themselves at the Cigar Festival

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 4 March 2023 — Don’t let the party stop! We’ll see later how everything is paid for.  It seems like a lie. Those who have cemented a political and ideological system against free enterprise, the market, profitability and obtaining profits, do not skimp on expenses as soon as they have … Continue reading “The Enemies of Capitalism Enjoy Themselves at the Cigar Festival”

The Embargo/Blockade and Cuba’s Cigar Festival

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, 28 February 2023 — For all those who do not believe the story of the embargo/blockade and who are bored with all the pitiful complaints by the Cuban communist leaders, I recommend a visit to the 23rd edition of the Cigar Festival that is being held in Havana. It has … Continue reading “The Embargo/Blockade and Cuba’s Cigar Festival”

The Cuban Cigar Monopoly Wins a Judgment in Spain Against a Nicaraguan Manufacturer

14ymedio, Havana, 10 February 2024 — The Supreme Court of Spain condemned two companies in the city of Valencia – Gesinta Invest Company and La Casa del Tabaco – for marketing the F series of the Nicaraguan brand of cigars from Condega, which imitates the design of the Cuban Partagás. The cigar monopoly on the … Continue reading “The Cuban Cigar Monopoly Wins a Judgment in Spain Against a Nicaraguan Manufacturer”

Luxury Cigars for the World’s Princes, ‘Peso’ Tobacco for Cuban Beggars

14ymedio, Havana, 6 December 2023 — The most recent cigar presented by the monopoly Habanos SA to its international clientele is the El Rey del Mundo Royal Series, a formidable medium-strength tobacco that is recommended to be paired with rum. Along with its impeccable presentation – cedar box, quality certificate and ring with gold details … Continue reading “Luxury Cigars for the World’s Princes, ‘Peso’ Tobacco for Cuban Beggars”

In Spite of the Economic Crisis, Cuba Stages an Expensive International Wine Festival

14ymedio, Havana, October 5, 2023 — International businessmen from the wine world gathered this week at the Hotel Nacional in Havana for the government-sponsored XXII Wine Fair. The presentation of the most recent products and most expensive wines from the Spanish brands Torres and Juvé & Camps – the stars of the event – will … Continue reading “In Spite of the Economic Crisis, Cuba Stages an Expensive International Wine Festival”

Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each

14ymedio, Havana, 2 March 2023 — Cohiba Behike cigars, flagship product of the Habanos SA company and self-proclaimed “most expensive cigars in the world”, are priced at 400 dollars a piece. The Island’s authorities are boasting about this fact in a frenetic campaign, launched this week in the official press to attract foreign clients to … Continue reading “Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each”

The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined

14ymedio, Madrid, February 28, 2023 — The Festival  of the Cigar was inaugurated this Monday in the Cuban capital with the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel, who had the peace of mind of  being present at one of the few sectors that can boast good figures in Cuba. The company, Habanos S.A., took the opportunity to … Continue reading “The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined”

Cohiba’s goal of 2 Million Cigars in 2022 Recalls the Failure of Cuba’s ’10 Million Ton Harvest’*

14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 9 September 2022 — While the quality and distribution of cigars in Cuban shops are at their lowest point, the directors of the famous El Laguito factory, in Havana, promise to make and export two million cigars of the Cohiba brand before the end of this year. The goal will be … Continue reading “Cohiba’s goal of 2 Million Cigars in 2022 Recalls the Failure of Cuba’s ’10 Million Ton Harvest’*”

A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds

14ymedio, Havana, 16 March 2023 — More than 11,300 drying sheds of recently harvested tobacco burned in a fire on Wednesday night in Jovellanos, Matanzas. The official press confirmed the news, advanced by a user on social networks, which shattered the calm of the neighbors of District 5 of the San Carlos People’s Council. According … Continue reading “A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds”

In Cuba, Rising Prices and a Falling Peso Lead to Growing Popularity of Bill Counting Machines

14ymedio, Havana, March 10, 2023 — Pablo, a Mexican businessman with an invitation to the Cuban Habano Cigar Festival, got more than he bargained for during his first trip to the island. Ready to enjoy a luxurious, weeklong vacation, Creole cuisine and the world’s best cigars, he boarded the plane with more than 2,000 dollars … Continue reading “In Cuba, Rising Prices and a Falling Peso Lead to Growing Popularity of Bill Counting Machines”

For Cuba’s ‘Vegueros’ (Farmers) in Sancti Spiritus, Tobacco Is No Longer a Profitable Business

14ymedio, Havana, 21 March 2024 — The current tobacco planting campaign in Sancti Spíritus, the territory with the second highest production in the country, is barely at 49%. According to the official press, which could not disguise its disappointment with the figure, the main causes of the debacle are the lack of fuel to carry … Continue reading “For Cuba’s ‘Vegueros’ (Farmers) in Sancti Spiritus, Tobacco Is No Longer a Profitable Business”

‘Bosses at State-Owned Businesses Are Living on Another Planet’, Cubans Complain

14ymedio, Juan Matos, Manzanillo (Granma province), 23 January 2024 — “No private companies were invited? We’re wasting our time,” one young man was heard saying as he left the “job fair” held on Monday at the local headquarters of the Ministry of Labor in this provincial port city in Granma province. Given a choice between … Continue reading “‘Bosses at State-Owned Businesses Are Living on Another Planet’, Cubans Complain”

The Virulent Protests of the Radical Sector of the Cuban Regime Force Havanatur To ‘Kill’ Santa Claus

14ymedio, Havana, December 30, 2023 — With a cigar in his mouth, playing baseball and distributing gifts to the children in front of the Havana Capitolio, a chubby Santa Claus promotes Cuba as a destination for Havanatur this December. The images, created with Artificial Intelligence, have unleashed a swell of criticism from the most extremist … Continue reading “The Virulent Protests of the Radical Sector of the Cuban Regime Force Havanatur To ‘Kill’ Santa Claus”

The Habanos Company is Doing Well, While Cuban Tobacco Producers are Broke

The Spanish-Cuban company Habanos made $507 million in profits last year, 4% less than in 2019. The figure was provided by the company this Tuesday, at the inauguration of the virtual event Habanos World Days, which replaces the Festival del Habano, whose twenty-third edition was canceled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.  The official press … Continue reading “The Habanos Company is Doing Well, While Cuban Tobacco Producers are Broke”

Ángel Santiesteban: "Europe has left us alone to confront the dictators" / Amir Valle, Ángel Santiesteban

Deutsche Welle, Amir Valle with Angel Santiesteban, 18 September 2018 — Invited to the International Festival of Literature in Berlin, the Cuban writer Ángel Santiesteban speaks with Deutsche Welle (“DW”) and criticizes the passivity of the European Union and international public opinion in the face of the tragic situations in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Considered one of the … Continue reading “Ángel Santiesteban: "Europe has left us alone to confront the dictators" / Amir Valle, Ángel Santiesteban”