Brief History of Tubos

[El Presidente]

“Tubo” simply means tube in Spanish. In cigar terms, it refers to an individual cigar packaged inside a protective tube, most commonly aluminum, sometimes glass.

Late 1800s The Glass Era.  Before aluminum, there was glass.

In the late 19th century, particularly in the UK and parts of Europe, premium cigars were sometimes sold in glass tubes sealed with cork. These were practical, offering protection, but also theatrical. They signaled quality, hygiene, and luxury at a time when presentation mattered enormously.You could argue this was the first premium individual packaging in cigars.

1933 The Aluminum Revolution

The modern tubo as we know it emerged in 1933 at the historic Havana factory of H. Upmann. Waldo Bradden, then president of the company, introduced the aluminum cigar tube. The objective was simple: protect the cigar during shipping, reduce wrapper damage, help retain moisture slightly longer than a naked stick, add retail appeal.This was particularly important as Cuban cigars were traveling further afield into Europe and the Americas. Rough transit, changing climates, and retail handling all posed risks. By the mid 20th century, tubos were mainstream.