Cuban TRONQUITOS
Who has never seen a “TRONQUITOS”? An atypical and interesting post-revolution packaging made in Cuba .
Story from the Min Ron Nee 1
Luxury Cabinets – “Branch of a Tree cabinet”
This might be the most interesting looking packaging found for post-revolution production of Havana Cigars. The Humidor like a tree trunk.
The official name was “Tronco de Arbol” and was available in 25’s and 50’s.*
* Source: “Cubatabaco Luxurious Cabinets, Cubatabaco, 1971.
The «Caney2» shape cabinet with thatched roof made by H.Upmann in the 1940’s/50’s was probably the predecessor of this kind of packaging. The “Branch of a tree cabinets” was probably a simplified version of this cabinet. It was also very probably an invention by Cubatobaco, as so far all specimens seen have a “Hecho en Cuba” logo on the bottom [OCI’s note : Already seen without marking on the bottom]. This logo started to appear in September 1960. This very interesting kind of packaging is believed to have been discontinued circa mid-1970’s.**
** Source : Collectors in Cuba.
In a 1972 Cubatabaco official catalogue, the name in Spanish is “Estuche tronco de arbol”, in English it is “Branch of a tree cabinet”, in French it is “Etuis sous la forme de tronc d’arbre”.
In fact it is not a natural tree trunck drilled hollow. The cabinet is made of lacquered natural tree bark wrapped into a tube form.
After searching all old catalogues available, only two cigars can be found wrapped in this kind of packaging, and they were both probably discontinued in the mid-1970’s :
- Roméo & Julietta – Arbolados,
- Sancho Panza – Tronquitos,
According to cigar specialists in Cuba, besides Romeo y Julieta and Sancho Panza, at lesat three other brands in the post-Revolution era offered cigars packaged in these “Branch of a Tree cabinets”, namely Partagas, Ramon Allones and Hoyo de Monterrey. The models names of the cigars are are not known.** [OCI’s note : Note that you will find other models seen in the listing & pictures sections]
** Source : Collectors in Cuba.
List of cuban Tronquitos
In addition to these 2 references there have been other versions under other brands, here is a non-exhaustive listing*.
* : If you have comments or pictures feel free to contact us.
| Marque | Vitole | Contenance |
|---|---|---|
| Bolivar | -/- | 25 |
| Cubatabaco | -/- | 50 |
| El Rey Del Mundo | -/- | 50 |
| H.Upmann | -/- | 25 |
| H.Upmann | -/- | 50 |
| Hoyo de Monterey | -/- | 25 |
| Montecristo | -/- | 25 |
| Partagas | -/- | 25 (petit modèle) |
| Partagas | -/- | 25 |
| Partagas | -/- | 50 |
| Punch | -/- | 25 |
| Ramon Allones | -/- | ? |
| Roméo & Julietta | Arbolados | 25 |
| Roméo & Julietta | -/- | 50 |
| Roméo & Julietta | -/- | 25 |
| Sancho Panza | Tronquitos | 25 |
| Sans marque | -/- | 50 |
| Siboney | Coronas | 25 |
| Siboney | Coronas | 50 |
| XIX CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE BEISBOL AMATEUR - CUBA 1971 | -/- | 25 |
Pictures
If you have comments or pictures feel free to contact us.
1 : An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars by Min Ron Nee.
2 : The “CANEY” is a typical element in the Tainian villages of Pre-Columbian Cuba. That was the dwelling of one or more family, according to its size. It towered over the native huts because of its remarkable construction. It was circular-shaped, made of sticks together vertically with conical palm-thatched roofs.*
* Source / translated from : An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars by Min Ron Nee.
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