MINI CIGARS

Trevor2118 · January 30, 2007

I have just been updating the mini-cigar section of my website and I thought I would share.:-P

Mini cigars are machine-made cigars using short filler tobacco, weighing less than 3 grams. They are only available in some Cuban cigar brands. Currently this includes: Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, La Gloria Cubana, H Upmann, San Luis Rey, and Quintero.

Up to 2001, they were produced outside Cuba using 100% Cuban Tobacco (Tabaco Cubano) but could not legally be called Cuban. The packs had no warranty seal and bear the CITA logo. Altadis SA (who own 50% of Habanos SA) owned 50% of CITA, before selling it off the Gallaher (Tobacco) Group in 2005. The Hoyo de Monterrey Midi & Mini, and the Romeo y Juliette Medium (currently still on sale) fall into this group.

After 2001, mini-cigars were made in Cuba by Internacional Cubana de Tabacos S.A. under licence to Habanos SA. These can now be legally called Cuban cigars. They are packed in cardboard packs and are marked "Habanos S.A." and "HECHO EN CUBA" and have a small Cuban warranty seal (~60 mm x ~21mm) on the pack. This warranty seal does not have a serial number. The packs are bar-coded with an 8-5000001-NNNNNN code. The pack has an embossed code, which does not follow any of the standard cigar box codes.

In 2002, Internacional Cubana de Tabacos S.A. began production and commercialisation of the new Guantanamera brand. This brand included a Puritos, which has been listed as a mini-cigar.

They were initially available in two sizes, a Mini (20 x 87) and a Club (24 x 93). These are generally available in packs of 10's or 20's. The cigars have no bands and are not in cellophane.

In 2005/6 a Puritos (26 x 106) was introduced. The Puritos are normally available in packs of 5 and boxes of 25. These mini-cigars have cigar bands and are packed in cellophane.

This range of cigars are now listed in the Search by Brand Lists under a Mini Cigar sub-heading.

Any comment or corrections would be appreciated.. :yes:

Additional clause added regarding the Guantanamera Puritos

Professor Twain · January 30, 2007

Thanks for your work on this page. I use it as a reference all of the time.

I bought some of the Montecristo Puritos, they are very nice for a 15 to 20 minute smoke.

I saw on your list that the Partagas Chico was discontinued after 2005--too bad, I have never had one but they have been highly recommended by others. Time to stock up on some of these.