Production In the factory, the leaves that will be used as wrappers are separated and sprinkled with water to restore the humidity they lost during processing and reduce their fragility. Later, sorters classify them by size and color. With damp fingers, they rub, pull, smooth out and examine each leaf. Then they select between 18 and 20 kinds of tobacco leaves, which will become the Habanos’ wrappers. The most demanding job is that of the cigar maker. He places half a leaf of binder on his table, then picks up an assortment of different kinds of leaves and shapes them into a bundle. To cover the cigar, he smoothes the wrapper, trims the edges with his knife and wraps it around the bundle. The nearly completed Habano is caressed by delicate hands. The flat of the knife is pressed along it to attain perfect finishing, and the end of the cigar that will go in the smoker’s mouth is shaped. Then the cigar is placed in a tiny horizontal guillotine, and the tip is clipped to make the cigar the desired length. Once their shape and size have been checked and approved, the Habanos are gently tied with a ribbon in groups of 50. Then they are sent to a vacuum fumigating chamber, where they are immunized against plagues. After this, they are placed in special closets, where they remain for three weeks, to remove excess humidity. Then they go to the classification and packing department, also known as the selection department. Lastly, a cigar band is placed around each one. al anillado. The quality control group takes samples of each cigar maker’s work, to check the cigars’ size, shape, appearance, texture and thickness. If they fail to meet the exacting standards, they are rejected a serious matter for the cigar maker, who is paid by piecework.