Cuba’s annual cigar festival attracts cigar aficionados

Cuba’s annual cigar festival has kicked off and is attracting wealthy dealers, producers and enthusiasts of cigars from across the world.

The country’s main source of export is cigars. Cigar aficionados are gathering at Havana to take tours of plantations and factories.

Cuba saw a surge in its exports after entering the Chinese market and its revenues reached a whopping $500 million.

The Cuban cigar monopoly company Habanos S.A., has been exporting cigars to Spain, France and now China. They are famous for hand-rolled cigars including world renowned brands like Partagas, Cohiba, and Montecristo.

Cigars are known as the signature product of Cuba ever since the time Christopher Columbus stepped on the island in 1492 and was awed by natives rolling up tobacco leaves and smoking it.