Reading while rolling Cuba's famous cigars

[cigarros]

Despite a slump in sales due to the recession, Cuba continues to be the world's largest producer of cigars. Could its success be due to cigar factory readers? BBC correspondent in Havana, Michael Voss, finds out.

The air in H Upmann's cigar factory in Havana's Vedado district is thick with the sweet pungent smell of tobacco.

It's hot and humid. There is no air conditioning because that would dry out the precious leaves.

In the long main galley, row upon row of workers sit side by side on long wooden benches - dozens of men and women all rolling cigar after cigar.

Producing Cuba's famous handmade cigars is a highly skilled but monotonous job which demands concentration.

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[samb]

Ive read about the "lectors" before. I think its a pretty good idea and helps pass time doing something that I imagine gets old really quick.

[Ken Gargett]

i think it happens far less these days than it used to. every time i have been in a factory, the table is there but i have never seen anyone reading (may be once). i think they do it for very brief periods at best.