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No photos were allowed past this point. We fol- famed export with her identity number for quality
lowed him up narrow stairs reeking of stale smoke, control.
to a large workroom where men separated and “These women are the best paid workers on the
smoothed out the dried tobacco leaves spread on island,” explained Luis. “Each one can make 80 to
wooden tables. They barely looked up as we 150 cigars a day and is allowed to take home 5
trooped past on the way to the top floor, reserved cigars to sell on the open market.” Needless to say,
for women seated at individual work stations. a job as a cigar wrapper is as much sought after as
Each one expertly wrapped and labeled Cuba’s
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