Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagás, Royal tobacco factory in Centro Habana, Cuba
The Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás is a royal tobacco factory in Havana housed in a maroon and cream building with three floors. Production spans tobacco leaf processing on the ground level and rolling and pressing operations on the upper floors for several well-known cigar brands.
A Spanish entrepreneur founded this factory in 1845, establishing it as one of Cuba's oldest tobacco operations. Following nationalization in 1960, the facility received a new official name and became part of the island's state-controlled economy.
The factory maintains a tradition where a lector reads newspapers and literature to workers during their shifts at production tables. This practice creates a shared experience that blends daily work with cultural engagement.
The facility is organized across three floors with work areas arranged sequentially from ground level upward, making it useful to follow the production flow during a visit. Understanding this layout helps you track how raw materials move through the different stages of cigar production.
During the factory's early years, an exclusive cigar line was created specifically for King Farouk of Egypt. This connection to a foreign ruler demonstrates the international reach and prestige the factory commanded at that time.
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