A visit to Casa del Habano in Varadero

Today I have lived one of the most enriching experiences so far this year because I was able to visit one of the most popular and beloved places in Cuba: Varadero beach resort.

Varadero is the main sun and beach tourist destination in Cuba and one of the most important in the world. But, contrary to what you may think, Varadero is much more than sun, beach and hotels and when you visit it you will find a group of facilities that offer you the great variety of offers that there are in Cuba and that you will find in this place.

There are several sites that exist in the place that have a great cultural and economic importance. Among them is the "Casa del Habano", one of the busiest spots, where many tourists arrive in search of the best tobacco in the world.

I admit that I did not know many of the things I learned in this place that have made me think about the need to read more about one of the main export lines of my country.

It is a charming place and its initial design caught my attention because I expected to see a Havana cigar, but no, what is at the entrance is a tobacco leaf.

When you enter there is a map that describes the main tobacco regions of the country and, when you ask the workers, they give you a vast explanation about the process of emergence, expansion, production and marketing.

In this place you will find much more than cigars and you can taste a tasty coffee or enjoy an exquisite rum drink or a refreshing beer that is also sold in the center and that accompanies the tobacco in its tasting process.

In this place you will find some of Cuba's most important tobacco brands that are very much appreciated by the main consumers of this aromatic leaf that is twisted and turned into the famous Cuban cigars or Havana cigars.

In the premises are exhibited some of the most relevant achievements of the institution in the various trade fairs in which they have participated and other gifts received by tourists and national and international institutions that are dedicated to assess the quality of such institutions.

When I left the place my wife asked me why I was interested in this place because I do not smoke and, when I did, I did not use tobacco. The reality of this interest is because of my maternal grandfather, who was passionate about this type of pleasures and my grandmother who, despite being an active cigarette smoker, on several occasions took a cigar to her mouth, to enjoy her pleasures.

Note: I have used the translator DeepL Translate.
All photos are my own taken with my Samsung J2 phone.