Ybor City loves it's cigar shops and factories. In the 1800s, it was the cigar capital of the world and once had over 70 cigar factories established by Cuban settlers who migrated to Florida . I don't smoke. But, I love these places. I love their scent, I love the warm tones of the leafy wrappers, the artwork on a cigar label, the intriguing names of cigars and the names of their shapes and sizes and the way they sound when said out loud. I love the amatistas, glass jars containing 25-50 cigars. My husband is the occasional cigar smoker and I must admit, I really like the scent of a good cigar. (Note to Self: I should do a post/pics of his cigar box collection)
A visitor today to the small historical "Little Havana" can still walk into various cigar shops/factories and see a group of men in their guayaberas playing cards or dominoes while smoking an Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, or Romeo and Julieta. One can also watch the busy hands of the Torcedores (cigar rollers), as they fill, wrap, and roll cigars using the Entubar method established in Cuba.
As with anything, "Hand-Made", can have a variety of meanings. Here is a little tidbit of helpful info to look for on a cigar box----
Totalamente a Mano - Made totally by hand
Hecho a Mano - made by hand, which can mean it is filled with machine-bunched filler
Envuelto a Mano - packed by hand
Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.
