In the
first decades of the 19th century, the city of Havana experienced a boom in the
production of cigars, which were exported in large quantities to the important
markets of England, Germany, France, Denmark, North America and Spain.
Hermann
Dietrich Upmann had arrived in that city at the end of 1839, together with his
brother August, from Bremen, Germany. Once installed, they decided to produce
their own cigars and in 1844 the name H. Upmann appeared for the first time,
which, over the years and with the preference of consumers, became one of the
most famous and appreciated brands in the world.
The Upmann
brothers were pioneers in the cigar industry, recognized as innovative
manufacturers. They were credited with having been pioneers in the use of rings
to identify cigars, and of the lithographed images that decorated the drawers
where the cigars were stored. In addition, they revolutionized transport and
distribution because they were one of the first to use cedar boxes to store and
transport their cigars, a system that allowed them to preserve their quality,
freshness and adequate humidity on the long journeys they traveled to Europe.
Since its
appearance on the market and until the beginning of the 20th century, H. Upmann
obtained important recognitions that boosted its prestige worldwide: between
1862 and 1907, it received a dozen gold medals in different international
exhibitions, which they began to be use in the boxes where the cigars were sold
and, over time, became the identity of the brand.
Like almost
all cigars of Cuban origin, H. Upmann continued to be manufactured outside of
Cuba, despite the fact that the Fidel Castro regime confiscated the company and
the brand since he took power in the middle of the last century. Since then
there have been two versions. The Cuban version is manufactured today in the
Jose Marti factory, formerly known as La Madama, one of the largest cigar
factories of the late 19th century, which was renamed in 1960.
The
non-Cuban version, which is the one that is sold in the US market, is made
under the leadership of Altadis USA, both in the production plants operated by
this large company in the Dominican Republic and Honduras, and in Nicaragua,
where production is made in partner factories.
Almost two
centuries have passed since the H. Upman brand was born, a name that has made
history in the world of tobacco. Today, it is one of the oldest and most
trusted premium cigar brands produced, keeping its excellence and quality
intact. Once known exclusively for their smooth, flavorful smokes, these cigars
have added many extensions to their growing portfolio, offering the smoker many
flavors and strong options.
