New Tobacco Brand in Cuba

[Corylax18]

I initially saw this article on the Granma website (Cuban state media) and did some more research. The "New" brand appears to be Handmade, Long Filler, but they will be made in a factory in Las Tunas (Central/Eastern Cuba) that has previously been making domestic cigars, which are partially handmade with short filler. (as the video in the second link shows)

The really interesting part is that I see no mention of either Tabacuba or Habanos S.A. The box shown in the article doesn't have any of the typical stickers or seals we see on "official" Habanos. I don't have high hopes, but its interesting. I couldn't find any details on where the Tobacco is sourced from so I highly doubt its Vuelta Abajo. It appears they will only be available in the Oriente Province for the time being. I put some feelers out with Friends in Havana and none of them had seen these yet. I'll update this thread if I learn any more or if I can actually get my hands on a box.

https://www.granma.cu/cuba/2023-12-04/casals-la-nueva-marca-del-tabaco-en-las-tunas

Casals, the new tobacco brand in Las Tunas

The seal alludes to the centenary Enrique Casals factory, a distinctive symbol of this eastern city.

Author: ACN | [email protected]

December 4, 2023 11:12:10

Photo: ACN

Las Tunas.-The Tobacco Collection, Processing and Twisting Company in this city launched its new brand of cigars under the Casals seal, in reference to the century-old Enrique Casals factory, a distinctive symbol of this eastern city.    

Carlos Ramón Betancourt Almaguer, general director of the entity, explained to the Cuban News Agency that the launch responds to commercial strategies to increase its portfolio of productions and services with the incorporation of heritage brands.  

We intend to promote names that already have a place in the domestic and foreign market, but at the same time rescue others that are unique in the province, such as Casals, a surname that is entirely linked to the identity of Las Tunas, said Betancourt Almaguer.

After a long journey, the manager added, we registered the brand in the property registry and incorporated it into our commercial range, which is why it has been recognized as the company's assets since this year.

The Enrique Casals Base Business Unit, made up of two specialized workshops, is immersed in a transformation process to create its corporate purpose with the intention of increasing the yield and quality of its productions, now also with the new brand.

Photo: ACN

At first, Casals' volumes will not be considerable, since we will only dedicate them to the retail market while we train roller rollers so that they specialize in these practices, to later increase production levels and reach international clients, the general director pointed out. .

The forecasts of the socialist state company are aimed at the insertion of this and other products in bars, stores, in tourist and commercial spaces of the Balcón del Oriente Cubano, with the creation of a house for tobacco as a medium-term project in conjunction with the Sugar Engineering and Technical Services Company (Tecnoazúcar) and the Extrahotelera Palmares SA

[westg]

Thanks Cory !👍

[El Presidente]

Great stuff Cory 

[Fugu]

On 12/9/2023 at 11:06 PM, Corylax18 said:

The really interesting part is that I see no mention of either Tabacuba or Habanos S.A.

Got lost in translation: La Empresa de Acopio, Beneficio y Torcido de Tabaco is in fact Tabacuba. (and it’s not a new brand of ‘tobacco’, it’s a new cigar brand, for that matter).

Looks like they are reviving a similar idea they were originally aiming for with Vegueros. Apparently, they are mainly targeting the local market for the time being, not for exporting.

Edit: Could be a move to keep HSA out of that business, keeping all revenue for Cuba. While at the same time have something of quality, above the domestic level, to cater to hotels and restaurants as they mention. Just a thought.

 

[MrBirdman]

1 hour ago, Fugu said:

Edit: Could be a move to keep HSA out of that business, keeping all revenue for Cuba. While at the same time have something of quality, above the domestic level, to cater to hotels and restaurants as they mention. Just a thought.

Interesting theory. 

[ha_banos]

9 hours ago, Fugu said:

Got lost in translation: La Empresa de Acopio, Beneficio y Torcido de Tabaco is in fact Tabacuba. (and it’s not a new brand of tobacco, it’s a new cigar brand, for that matter).

Looks like they are reviving a similar idea they were originally aiming for with Vegueros. Apparently, they are mainly targeting the local market for the time being, not for exporting.

Edit: Could be a move to keep HSA out of that business, keeping all revenue for Cuba. While at the same time have something of quality, above the domestic level, to cater to hotels and restaurants as they mention. Just a thought.

 

This would suggest a rift between the government and HSA?

[Fugu]

Not necessarily. Half of HSA is the Cuban gov. Could very well be a beneficial mutual agreement (likely to be). Just speculating here: Initially, HSA didn’t have any cards in product that had been sold on the island. Today, they are the exporting and the international marketing entity, including Cuba, sans domestic (still more than enough to be had in it for them). With the new global pricing scheme, perhaps Cuba wanted to get back a bit more to that direct local marketing for itself, wanted a bit more freedom for their home market? But then they are forced to find new product / new branding for that, whereby strictly avoiding to cannibalise on current premium export product and its (limited) production capacities (if you read between the lines...). That’s likely why using a domestic-cigar factory and introducing the new tripa larga production there. Which would then go only at the expense of domestic cigars’ production (but very likely they don’t need the full former capacity there anymore anyway...). That’s raising added value with existing resources!

Otherwise, all that wouldn’t make much sense to me. It’s not as if Cubatabaco hadn’t got enough brands. They are having a hard time already defending all their current, existing trademarks (read LGC, Diplo, ERDM, SLR etc) with their limited production.

[Corylax18]

14 hours ago, Fugu said:

Got lost in translation: La Empresa de Acopio, Beneficio y Torcido de Tabaco is in fact Tabacuba. (and it’s not a new brand of tobacco, it’s a new cigar brand, for that matter).

Looks like they are reviving a similar idea they were originally aiming for with Vegueros. Apparently, they are mainly targeting the local market for the time being, not for exporting.

Edit: Could be a move to keep HSA out of that business, keeping all revenue for Cuba. While at the same time have something of quality, above the domestic level, to cater to hotels and restaurants as they mention. Just a thought.

 

Ah. Yeah, I stopped after that second word in that word salad. Haha

I was thinking along a similar line in terms of cutting HSA out of the pie, it makes even more sense now that I know Tabacuba is involved. These do seem to fall into a middle ground between export grade and domestic cigars. It will be very interesting to see where they're priced. Like I said above, if I get any more info from the ground I'll make sure to share it here. 

[Fugu]

5 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

Like I said above, if I get any more info from the ground I'll make sure to share it here. 

Would indeed be great to learn more about details! Could mean a basically new product category and policy. May be you’ll even have a chance to track them down on one of your next visits. 👍

[LordAnubis]

Just a new Belinda or Troya isn’t it? Apart from the tuna, I like the simplicity of the bands   

[Corylax18]

1 hour ago, LordAnubis said:

Just a new Belinda or Troya isn’t it? Apart from the tuna, I like the simplicity of the bands   

These should be a step (or two) above Belinda and Troya. Both are machine made, short filler cigars, this new brand is reportedly Hand made and long filler. In my experience, I would pick a domestic cigar over either of them, regardless of the price. I've found the Belinda's especially to be metallic and acrid. The Domestic/Peso cigars I've tried have all been pretty agreeable, not spectacular, but also not off putting in any way. 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 12/10/2023 at 8:20 AM, Corylax18 said:

Like I said above, if I get any more info from the ground I'll make sure to share it here.

Will be interested to know where to find these.