Currently serving as financial controller at Internacional Cubana de Tabacos S.A. (ICT), Jatian Burmester first became professionally involved with the Cuban tobacco industry in Madrid. After starting out in the sales department, he now manages ICT’s finances in Havana. Today, he shares his firsthand account of the process behind the production of Cuban mini cigars.
Jatian was born in Peru, studied in Spain, and now resides in Cuba. From a young age, he knew that his destiny was to see the world, and the opportunity soon presented itself. With the goal of furthering his studies in international business, he moved to Madrid to study for a master’s in management. That is where his professional career began at the Tabacalera company, a “magical company,” in his own words, which would eventually lead him to settle in Havana.
It is in Madrid where he meets with us to talk about his experience in the ICT sector. “The first thing that impressed me was the sheer size of the factory and the process involved in making each cigarillo,” he tells us. “Even though a Cuban mini cigars is enjoyed in just a few minutes, it’s still a luxury product,” so witnessing the different stages of its production is “striking, because it’s a very meticulous process.”
When we asked him what attracts him to the Cuban tobacco industry, he confessed: “To be honest, I didn’t have any background in tobacco; it wasn’t until I started working in Madrid that I discovered this whole world.” However, his time at Tabacalera introduced him to the Cuban Mini Cigars industry; it was their global and premium nature that caught his attention. “They’re sold in many parts of the world, if not everywhere.”
This global perspective is both a source of motivation and a challenge, something Jatian realized when he moved from the sales department to the finance department. The change gave him a comprehensive view of the market for Cuban mini cigars and a deep understanding of the reasoning behind the decisions made.
After more than a year at ICT, he says that what he likes most about the production process is packaging. “Manual packaging,” he explains, “where workers select the product as they place it in the boxes.” This, he says, adds a special touch to a product that is already top-quality and has great international potential, as Jatian predicts that the sector will “maintain its position and continue to expand.”
His professional experience is also influenced by his daily life in Havana. He tells us that he “had a very different lifestyle,” so moving to Cuba was “a radical change.” In his words: “Experiencing Caribbean life, especially in Havana—which is a magical city, full of joy, music, and fun—makes you live each day to the fullest.”
To close, we asked him if he remembered his first mini. “It was a Partagás Serie Mini,” he says, and then adds, “but my favorite is the Cohiba Wide Short; when I have just five or ten minutes, I enjoy one, preferably with a coffee.” Before we say goodbye, he tells us that “the ideal time to enjoy any kind of Cuban cigar is when you’re at peace” and points out that his recommendation is to pair it with a good espresso.
