A real Cuban cigar

[Deano]

As you probably know, Cubans aren't allowed Habanos cigars - they're for export only.

They have there own cigar supply from the government - one of which was handed to me by a Cuban person as a gift.

As you can see, it's pretty ropey, but I'm going to smoke it to see what it's like. It's labelled 'El Credito'.

[habanaman]

I have some of them but with the brown band! Taken in havana some years ago!

Smoked some ,nothing of interesting but funny....Is incredible like the people that do the best cigars in the world must smoke shit!Absurd!

Best

angelo

[bambini]

There are some with brown bands? Maybe that was the first Cuban I smoked, purchased from a guy in Havana (not an official vendor but defo not a fauxhiba salesman)... I've been trying to identify them for a while but I was too drunk/uneducated at the time. These look familiar, but it was definitely a brown band.

[jibjob79]

As you probably know, Cubans aren't allowed Habanos cigars - they're for export only.

You learn something new everyday, i thought they would smoke some cheaper different brands but never knew they aren't allowed Habanos. I would find the comparison very enlightening.

I always imagined Cuban's smoking some very fine cigars, like fantastic wine in a small French village, exporting lower quality versions for the masses to consume.

[bambini]

LOL! I'm afraid the regime doesn't work that way - foreigners are given MASSIVE perks over Cubans, but we also get charged for the priviledge.

[cbob]

You learn something new everyday, i thought they would smoke some cheaper different brands but never knew they aren't allowed Habanos. I would find the comparison very enlightening.

I always imagined Cuban's smoking some very fine cigars, like fantastic wine in a small French village, exporting lower quality versions for the masses to consume.

Actually, you are correct in your first assumption but (sadly) off the mark in the second!
Although it should be said that there are some Cubans who are related to or know working or retired cigar rollers who get to smoke some pretty tasty "custom rolls".

There is no actual LAW against Cubans smoking Habanos but remember, as I've mentioned in the past, MOST Cubans know very little about cigars "
? tabacos son tabacos, no?"
The average Cuban simply cannot afford the prices of even the cheapest Habanos on a salary of $12-$15 / mo

Cubans who smoke cigars normally smoke "peso cigars" -those brands that sell for $1 CUP (moneda nacional). That's about 24 for $1 CUC, the tourist Convertible peso. They will often present a peso cigar as a gift, not realizing that there is a huge difference in quality compared to the premium brands that we like. They mean well. Just as often, locals will want to sell you a peso cigar for $1 CUC (or 24 X cost) so they can acquire some hard currency at your expense. They don't always mean well.

There are several brands of peso cigars, with availability dependent somewhat on the region you are in.
A couple of years ago, some friends bought a bundle (25 cigars for $1) each of all the peso cigars they could find in Havana, so they could "taste-test" and compare.

In general, the ranking seemed to be.

1. Relobas
2. El Creditos (as in the photo above)
3. Mayos
4. Bauza
5. Selectos


I've smoked Relobas and El Creditos and they are quite rough and strong. Not as good as a J.L. Piedra.
They others are pretty bad.

[Robusto]

Approach with caution. I chucked one of these 'gifts' in a drain in front of the Hotel Nacional!

[whisky77]

Unbanded

Never tried that particular brand, but I did get some nice hand rolled Robustos (unbanded) when I was in Vinales.

Not a bad smoke at all TBH.

[Lilyboo]

Are you allowed to buy the local cigars and bring them out the country? I am sure someone once told me you could only bring back the export Habanos ones.

[r0lan6]

I never knew that! Were you allowed to purchase some to smoke when over there?

[stephan]

Never tried that particular brand, but I did get some nice hand rolled Robustos (unbanded) when I was in Vinales.

Not a bad smoke at all TBH.

Me too, I was on a geological walk and a farmer outside Vinales gave me a cigar that he had rolled himself. It wasn't pretty but it smoked just fine!

[EugeneSax]

I've smoked a couple of Cuban "country" cigars as I think they are called & I thoroughly enjoyed both.

The most recent, gifted to me by UKFC'er Simon Bolivar, was I think an El Credito (I don't recall the name, but I di remember it had a blue band as per the one pictured). It was on the second day of a 3 day music festival this summer (Standon Calling) & was my second favourite smoke of the weekend (best being an Augusto Reyes Maduro Torpedo that kept giving out great flavours all afternoon surviving, several re-lights as I wandered in to tents to see various bands).

It's a good while since I've smoked a Jose Piedra, but IIRC, they're of a similar quality of manufacture, but offer a deal more flavour & character. I'd definitely buy a few (depending on price) if given the opportunity.

[cbob]

Relobas also have a blue band.
I'm not sure that they don't just use the same paper (blue or brown) for all the bands and just print different names on them.

J.L. Piedras are machine-bunched and hand wrapped short filler, usually from Vuelta Ariba. They briefly made a range of hand-rolled long filler cigars but those were discontinued about 15 years ago.

Peso cigars are all machine-made of short filler tobacco from domestic growing areas like Santa Clara and Matanzas. No "3rd fermentation" here.
I'd be surprised at any "1st fermentation".
.

[J Cano]

There is a Peso brand called "Villamill" that was actually a pre-revolution cigar named after the company's founder.

[jdawg]

Have you smoked this yet, Deano???