PCA 2023: La Faraona

Two years ago, Tabanero Cigars, which is based in Tampa, Fla. and had largely focused on its home market with some online sales, made its debut as it looked to grow its reach by offering its products to retailers around the country.

This year, another Tampa-based manufacturer did the same thing, as La Faraona made its trade show debut. If you have walked up and down 7th Avenue in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood, or if you have been to the Ybor Heritage Festival, you have undoubtedly seen La Faraona, and in particular, Odelma Matos, the face of the company. La Faraona Cigars, was created in 1987 in Havana, Cuba within the manufacturing tobacco company of Jose Manuel Guira, with Matos beginning to learn to roll cigars when she was just 16-years-old. Matos and her family came to the United States in 2010, and after getting established, she launched the cigar-making operation, which also includes a cigar lounge a few blocks up the street from the factory.

As for the booth, the company brought a pair of pop-up tents that you might have seen around the Tampa area before, but more importantly was a rolling table that Matos was behind for much of the trade show as she showed off her rolling skills and the unique creations she can make.

While the company did not have any new releases for PCA 2023, it did have a number of its cigars on display, from its more traditional offerings to its more elaborate ones, which combine unique shapes and wrapper designs intended to show off Matos’ skills as a roller while providing a unique cigar that you’re not likely to find anywhere else.