H. Upmann Cigar Factory in Cuba

Ancient smokes seem to be renewed for arepresent both the trademark and the production
trademark and factory plenty of history: H. Upmann,plant.
the oldest of the capital of Cuba and mostSince that time, it has had some variations. It began
recognized trademarks.producing with eighty employees and had times of
Since November 2003, it began its operations in ahaving one thousand workers. In 1944, year of its
four-floor building (one of them that is huge was100th anniversary, it moved into the two rooms of
taken for the galera room) located on the corner ofAmistad Street; and in November 3rd, 2003, moved
23rd and 14 streets in the neighborhood of Elinto a new building once more.
Vedado in Havana.One of the first commercializing companies of these
This way, it has become Cuba's most modern andtrademark products was the British firm Hunter and
better exploited tobacco factory. It is located whereFrakau that still sells Cuban tobacco in the United
Partaga's cigarettes plant used to be in the past, nowKingdom.
it is a completely repaired building that occupiesH. Upmann is closely related to cigar makers who left
almost the entire block.to work in Tampa, Key West (The United States)
Although this plant has not been included in any cityduring Cuban colonial times. Precisely from there, they
tour, it is worthy to know some details about thishelped financially to make Cuban war against Spain.
factory since many travelers once in Cuba try to findThe late famous Cuban musician Francisco Repilado
out information about this factory and its cigars.(Compay Segundo) worked as torcedor (twister) in
H. Upmann, -also named José Martí,H. Upmann galeras for nineteen years.
National Hero of Cuba (1854/1895), got its secondIn this place still work seven torcedores (cigar
mane in 1961 when the young revolutionarytwisters) with more than 44 years of experience. In
government nationalized many private companies,addition, it exists within the building a school where
and tobacco firms among them.people can learn this job.
Since 1844, H. Upmann was located at 407 an 409,In the plant there have been installed modern
Amistad Street, Centro Habana, few blocks awaymachines for the moja process that control all steps
from the Capitol of Havana. It has more than 100of it. This fact, together with other conditions of
years of existence.illumination, work organization as well as some others,
Moreover, this factory has been given the categoryhas made this factory very productive.
of Vanguardia Nacional by the Cuban governmentGenerally speaking, H. Upmann is a modern, beautiful
due to its efficiency and quality records, among sometobacco factory not to compare to any other of its
other awards.type because it is very traditional and it has been
H. Upmann was created in the XIX century by twohonored with carrying the name of José
German whose surname was Upmann. TheyMartí, journalist, writer, poet and symbol
combined the H the best they could in order to giveleader of Cuba.
this business the name Hermanos Upmann, that