Alejandro Robaina, un veguero cubano
Pinar del Río es famoso por la calidad del tabaco que aquí se cosecha, pero a ello contribuyeron sus vegueros. Entre ellos sobresale uno que en vida aportó mucho a la fama del tabaco cubano nos referimos al sanluiseño Alejandro Robaina
CUBA: BRAND OF CIGAR NAMED AFTER LEAF GROWER ALEJANDRO ROBAINA
Spanish/Nat
A Cuban tobacco grower is to become a household name among cigar aficionados after officials in the country named a brand of cigar after him.
The new Robaina cigar is called after 78-year-old Alejandro Robaina, Cuba's best-known quality tobacco leaf grower.
Land owner and tobacco farmer Alejandro Robaina has been awarded one of Cuba's most highest honours.
A cigar has been named after him.
In a land renowned for its high class tobacco, it's an exclusive tribute.
He's in good company. Queen Victoria, novelist Ernest Hemingway and the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco were all previous recipients.
But Robaina is believed to be the first living person to receive the honour.
Cuba's decision to make his family name a top brand of cigar is the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to tobacco.
For 78-year-old Robaina, it's a dream come true.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
My dream, as a small farmer for so many years, and growing such good tobacco, was that some day, if here (in Cuba) you have the best (tobacco) in the world, and me being the producer of the material which makes it so, why not make a cigar named after this farm, after my family.
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, tobacco grower
He's hailed as Cuba's most famous tobacco plant grower.
And like many small landowners, he chose not to join forces with other farmers in the early days of the Cuban revolution and create larger collective farms.
He has since made a respectable living.
The average monthly salary in Cuba is estimated at ten U-S dollars.
Robaina earns between 18 and 20 thousand U-S dollars a year, and employs up to 60 people.
His skill won admiration, even from the now ex-smoker, President Fidel Castro, who gave him a car.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
Throughout the generations, I have been able to learn everything, if you like, I have the know how, all the experience of farming, from my grandfather who bought this farm in 1845 and worked it, my father who took it over with my mother, and now me.
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, tobacco grower
His home in the province of Pinar del Rio lies in a region famous the world over for the quality of tobacco leaf.
The conditions there are perfectly suited.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
The Cuchillas de Barbacoa has, what nowhere else in the world has, its sandy earth, which is not red and is not black, which has, I suppose, the rainfall, the filtered water, there is no tobacco which gets over watered. And therefore you get the best quality of tobacco that there is in the world.
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, tobacco grower
Robaina cigars are scheduled to be launched in Spain this month.
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The Visits to the best tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo, San Luis Pinar del Río
Big Smoke Cigar Kuwait @ The one of best tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo, San Luis Pinar del Río .
The finest cigar tobacco-growing land in the world. Vuelta Abajo is the main source of tobacco for Habanos, and the only region that grows all types of leaf.
But even here less than a quarter of the tobacco-growing land enjoys the Vegas Finas de Primera status that is required for the growing of tobacco for Habanos.
San Luis: Small town at the epicentre of Cuban tobacco culture, known above all for the cultivation of wrapper leaves.
Here you find the world-famous El Corojo Vega; also Cuchillas de Barbacoa, location of the celebrated Robaina family farm.
San Juan y Martínez: The other famous small town, this one with a particular reputation for the cultivation of fillers and binders. The famous Hoyo de Monterrey plantation is located here.
Pinar del Rio: Name of the province that embraces all of the important growing areas in the west of Cuba, and the name of the city at the centre of the province. To the south of the city is some of the finest land for growing Habano tobacco -- the Vizcaino plantation, for instance, which is famous for its wrappers.
MAKING OF A CUBAN CIGAR (UN PURO) AT THE DON ALEJANDRO ROBAINA PLANTATION
This video which shows the production of a cuban cigar was taken in November 2013 at the world famous tabacco plantation of Don Alejandro Robaina in Pinar del Rio.
Cuban Tobacco Farm: Finca De La Rosa, Pinar Del Rio Cuba
Private tour of Finca De La Rosa Tobacco Farm in Cuba.
Charuto Alejandro Robaina - Cuba, Piñar del Rio
A visit at Alejandro Robaina's tobacco plantation FEB_2010.MOV
A visit at Alejandro Robaina's tobacco plantation 2 of 2
I went over there this fall and this is most of it.
Alejandro Robaina - tabáková plantáž, Kuba 2014
Návštěva tabákové plantáže Alejandro Robaina, Kuba, provincie Pinar del Rio, 2014, sušení tabáku a výroba doutníku
Spirit & Cigar : Alejandro Robaina (www.spiritandcigar.com)
A visit with Robaina
On February 26th, 2008 I was given a cigar by Don Alejandro Robaina while visiting him at his plantation home in Vuelta Abajo. He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his own Don Alejandro cigars. Watch as he lights it for me and we chat (via an interprter) about his tobacco.
EPISODE 002 THE LEGACY OF TOBACCO
Hirochi Robaina is a fifth-generation tobacco farmer in Vuelta Abajo, Cuba’s illustrious, tobacco-growing region situated in San Luis, Pinar del Río.
Following the traditions of his ancestors, and most notably of his grandfather Don Alejandro Robaina, Hirochi is at the helm of La Finca El Pinar Robaina, perhaps the most famous tobacco farm in the region, if not the world. Initially known for the high yield of quality tobacco for the wrapper, which is the most difficult to produce, the plantation now focuses its tobacco production on the Vegas Robaina premium cigar brand, exclusively distributed by Habanos SA, the Cuban state-owned tobacco company.
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Robaina Plantation (Pinar del Rio) Cuba
A Cigar rolling demonstration and explanation in one of the curing barns on the Robaina Farm.
Cuba Osvaldo Tobacco Farm
Osvaldo, an expert guide at Cuba's top tobacco farm, explains in great detail, the lengthy process of producing the world's finest tobacco. The farm is located in a 'micro-climate' in the Vuelta Abajo region of Pinar del Rio and is operated by Hector Luis Prieto. When master farmer Alejandro Robaina died a few years ago, Prieto became the most prominent producer of Cuba's finest tobacco. If you're into cigars, you will freak out at this place...
Vegas Robaina Estate
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Don Alejandro who
passed away this past Saturday, April 17th 2010 at the age of 91, in
his homeland of Pinar del Rio, located in San Luis, Cuba. A legend
and master farmer behind the Vegas Robaina brand, he was not only a
legacy in Cuba, but a warm and welcoming man who shared his life and
passion for tobacco and Cuban cigars, with admirers from all spectrums
of the world.
It was an honor for our team to be part of an afternoon spent in good
company with this welcoming man, who not only allowed us to be part
of his home that day, but made us feel as if we were part of his
family. We enjoyed his spirit, and the strength he displayed to sit
and converse with us, although he was week and ill, and above all, his
hospitality. Although he had been having a difficult day, that he had
spent in bed for the most part of the morning and afternoon, his
spirits were lifted when his grandson, Hiroshi Robaina, serenaded him
with his voice while singing Karaoke to some wonderful traditional
Cuban songs.
We invite you to participate in our afternoon of sharing some of his last
joys with family and welcomed guests. Amongst the photos you will see
his home, his farm land, his living quarters, his son Carlos and
grandsons and great grand-daughters (including Hiroshi and his
daughters, Laura and Leora?), and many more joyous images of the great
Don Alejandro.
We also extend our sympathies and condolences to his immediate family
and wish that they remember him fondly and continue in the steps of
his legacy.
CUBA: BUMPER CROP OF HIGH QUALITY TOBACCO (V)
Voice and effects
There's good news for cigar lovers: the Cuban harvest, which is almost complete, has produced a bumper crop of high quality tobacco.
Cuban cigars have become one of the communist island's most important hard currency earners in recent years with trade rapidly on the increase.
0:02 Tobacco - the life blood of this bustling agicultural province in Pinar Del Rio.
0:08 This year the Cuban government pushed hard to further increase the yield.
0:12 But seasonal factors have also been favourable.
0:16 A cold winter followed by the driest December since 1941 has produced a bumper crop.
0:23
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
This harvest is a very good one. It has produced a high yield. We're banging away at it, to see what we can do - you've got to keep fighting, because there are a few problems, but they're small ones.
SUPER CAPTION: Bienvenido Martinez, Tobacco Farmer
0:36 At Cuba's most famous tobacco farm, the 'Vega Robaina', the harvest is nearly in.
0:43 Leaves are picked by hand and taken to drying houses before they're sewn, one by one, onto long strings.
0:49 UPSOT: Leaves being threaded
0:53 Looking at the dried leaves, 81 Alejandro Robaino, owner of the farm, says he's produced an exceptional crop.
1:03
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I believe the smokers of the world can expect from this year one of the best cigars, in many years, from Cuba.
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, Head of Robaina Tobacco Farm
1:11 This sign reads Pinar Del Rio, the land of the best tobacco in the world.
1:19 Last year the sale of Cuban cigars brought in 260 million U-S dollars
1:23 There's great hope for even higher profits this year.
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CUBA: BUMPER CROP OF HIGH QUALITY TOBACCO
Spanish/Nat
There's good news for cigar lovers: the Cuban harvest, which is almost complete, has produced a bumper crop of high quality tobacco.
Cuban cigars have become one of the communist island's most important hard currency earners in recent years with trade rapidly on the increase.
The sun rises over the world's most famous tobacco fields.
The Pinar Del Rio province, in the Western tip of Cuba produces the makings for Cuba's best known cigars.
This is the home of the Cohiba, the Montecristo, and the Partagas.
Tobacco is the life blood of this bustling, agricultural province which is responsible for most of the 260 (m) million U-S dollars earned by the industry in foreign sales last year.
The Pinare os, as the people from the region are known, are proud of their crop.
This sign boasts that the region is home to the world's best tobacco.
A major government push to increase the yield of this year's harvest appears to have paid off.
There has been a cold winter, and the driest December since 1941, producing a bumper crop.
While modern technology has intervened in the cultivation of tobacco in the form of irrigation, and the development of more robust plants, the traditional means of bringing in the harvest continues.
The leaves are picked by hand, and loaded onto wooden carts.
These are drawn by a team of oxen to the drying houses.
Here, the leaves are sewn, one by one, onto long strings they are then hung to dry.
It's not an easy method, but for farmer Bienvenido Martinez, this year has been worth the effort.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
This harvest is a very good one. It has produced a high yield. We're banging away at it, to see what we can do - you've got to keep fighting, because there are a few problems, but they're small ones.
SUPER CAPTION: Bienvenido Martinez, Tobacco Farmer
At Cuba's most famous tobacco farm, the 'Vega Robaina', the harvest is already in.
The exclusive product here is the outer leaf, or 'wrap', in which the cigar is rolled.
Alejandro Robaino, four days short of his 81st birthday, is the owner of the farm.
It has been a family business since 1845.
He believes he has produced enough tobacco this year for six (m) million cigars.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I believe the smokers of the world can expect from this year one of the best cigars, in many years, from Cuba.
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, Head of Robaina Tobacco Farm
The Cuban tobacco industry employs over 250 thousand workers.
Many of them are traditional field hands and farmers, whose families' have the worked the land for generations.
Yet, at harvest time, it's not unusual for groups of students to be bussed in from Havana to lend a hand.
With this collective effort, the Cuban government is well on its way to surpass last years' tobacco income.
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alejandro robaina 026
Alejandro Robaina y Jesus Pérez Martin. Entrevista realizada el 09 de agosto del 2008 en su casa de San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Alejandro Robaina
A short video clip of Alejandro Robaina entertaining guests at his home in Pinar del Rio.
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Vegas Robaina Cuchillas de Barbacoa
This video is about trip to Pinar Del Río. Visiting Robaina's tobacco growing field and participating guide tour. Yanelis Delgado Pérez is school teacher. She is leading the tour on Robainas plantation as part time job. San Luis...