The unique Cohiba El Laguito story - Juana Ramos Guerra and her life for Cohiba

The Cohiba El Laguito history begins with a woman whose hands and heart still characterise the brand today: Juana „Juanita“ Ramos Guerra. She is one of the founders of the famous Cohiba manufactory El Laguito in Havana. Juanita is a torcedora of the highest - the ninth - category. She started there as an apprentice over fifty years ago. Today she tells us how she found her calling in this historic place. The interview took place at the beginning of May 2023 at 5TH Avenue Products Trading-GmbH in Waldshut-Tiengen.

Juana „Juanita“ Ramos Guerra during the interview at 5TH Avenue Products Trading GmbH in Waldshut-Tiengen - one of the pioneers of the legendary Cohiba El Laguito history.

From the dream of chemistry to the love of Cohiba

„I actually wanted to study chemistry,“ says Juana, who everyone affectionately calls Juanita name. „But my father was a fervent supporter of the revolution. He forbade me to study and ordered me to work in El Laguito. I cried a lot about it. I told myself that I would leave El Laguito when my father died - but then I stayed. And over time, I fell in love with this work.“

A spark of tradition: ignited with a sure hand Juanita her Cohiba - just as she has done for over five decades in Havana.

They were Celia Sanchez, the partner of Fidel Castro, and Fidel himself, who had the idea of employing women in El Laguito. They were convinced that women had finer hands and could therefore roll cigars better. It was a great honour for Juana and her colleagues to work there. They felt like children of Fidel - proud to be part of his organisation. „After the 1990s, men also joined because they needed work. We trained them,“ she says with a smile.

A moment of tranquillity: she savours her Cohiba - a symbol of decades of craftsmanship and part of the Cohiba El Laguito history.

Juanita takes a drag on her Cohiba, looks through the blue haze and her eyes begin to light up. „We had it so good there. The women got married, had children, but we kept working.“ The work was hard, but fulfilling. Care, attention to detail and dedication characterised their daily lives. They knew that they were creating something special - the Cohiba, a cigar that is still regarded as one of the best in the world.

Women's power in the manufactory is a special Cohiba El Laguito story

With a smile that tells stories: Juana „Juanita“ Ramos Guerra, one of the pioneers of the Cohiba El Laguito story, during her visit to Waldshut-Tiengen.

Juanita started working in El Laguito at the age of 16 and was already rolling cigars professionally at 17. „This work was very important for our country and for us Cuban women,“ she says. She takes another drag on her Cohiba, savours the moment and smiles: „Fidel always said that women are more careful and maternal when rolling Cohibas.“ She looks at the cigar in her hand: „The tobacco for the Cohiba was and is a speciality.“

In front of an old photo from Havana: Juana Ramos Guerra - contemporary witness, roller, legend. Her life is a chapter in the history of Cohiba El Laguito.

The teachers of that time were called Caridad Badilla and Elia Dominguez. They taught the young women, who had no schooling, to read and write. When Elia later left El Laguito to look after her grandfather, Juana took over her job. „I trained the young women who had no schooling and worked as a cigar roller in El Laguito myself,“ she says proudly.

With heart and conviction: she talks about the first years in El Laguito - a time full of new beginnings, passion and idealism.

Over time, more and more people wanted to work there - even the wives of Fidel Castro's bodyguards came to learn how to roll cigars.

Prominent visitors and a message to the world

In conversation about the craft: how art is created from simple sheets of paper - and why care means everything.

Kings, heads of state and businessmen were all in attendance at El Laguito. „The first visitor was Fidel Castro, of course. Then came the King of Spain, Zino Davidoff and many others I can't remember,“ she says. She was particularly moved by the visits of Eduardo Rivera, the actual founder of the brand Cohiba. She adored him like a father - and was proud to work for his brand.

A moment of real encounter: two generations of cigar culture in dialogue - knowledge, experience and passion flow silently across the table.

Today, Juana is still a cigar roller. In recent years, she has worked in the La Casa del Habano in the Hotel Meliá Cohiba and later in the cigar shop of the neighbouring Hotel Riviera. She is proud to be part of this success story and wants the Cuban cigar tradition to live on.

„I worked in El Laguito until 1975, got pregnant, then continued until 1984 - and got pregnant again. After that, I went to the Soviet Union with my husband. I came back to Cuba in 1997,“ she says.

With a Cohiba in her hand, she explains why every cigar has a soul - and why the tradition of El Laguito must remain alive.

Finally, she addresses all cigar lovers with a smile: „Dear cigar lovers, keep smoking Cuban cigars! They are the best in the world! There is nothing better than tobacco from Cuba. It is unique and incomparable. When I light a Cuban cigar in another country, people say: Wow, how it smells! And I say: Of course, it's a Cuban cigar - delicious, fine, rich and simply incredible.“

Here you will find the Cohiba El Laguito manufactory

If the live folder does not work, please click here for the Cohiba El Laguito manufactory.

Picture credits

• FOTOWERK132, Christian Schmid

Curated for you

External website: El Laguito Cohiba Manufactory, information on Wikipedia

At Origin Of Cigar: The fascinating history of the Cohiba - the legend and myth of Cuba's most famous cigar

What is in your drawers?

Some chapters in the history of cigars still lie in hidden in drawers, archives or private collections. Do you own Records, documents or references to Cuban cigar brands? Or do you know Sources, that could help with historical research? Then please send us an e-mail. Claudia Puszkar will contact you personally and discuss everything else with you. Together we can Bringing buried stories back to light. 👉 admin@origin-of-cigar.com

New to Cuban cigars? Or deep into it?

FAQ - Read the frequently asked questions

Open the glossary of Cuban cigars

Who is behind Origin Of Cigar?

Who we are and how you can reach us → Please click here

You are here:

If you do not see the photo gallery, please click here for the XXX photo gallery