Interested in learning how to roll a cigar?

Then head on down to the historic Ybor City district of Tampa, Florida.

You’ll have a chance to learn everything you need to know in a Cigar Aficionado certification course that is used to train people to hand roll cigars for the tourist trade there. According to the Chamber of Commerce, three cigar shops and six cigar factories have opened for business in Ybor City in the last six months. Business is booming.

“Our cigar school is not just to create cigar rollers, but to create cigar rollers that know the rich history of Ybor City,” said Jacqueline Conley of International Bazaar, where classes are held.

To accomplish that goal, students get a textbook written just for the course that explains the rich history of cigars in Ybor City, once the center of cigar production in America. They also hear presentations from museum and tourist personnel. That way, upon graduation, new rollers can keep tourists informed and answer questions while also rolling cigars to order.

The class is taught by Master cigar rollers, and is the most extensive course of its kind anywhere. In addition to the history of cigars and cigar rolling, many other subjects are covered.

Students learn about the different types of tobacco grown in different countries, their individual flavor characteristics, and how to develop unique cigar blends. The class concludes with three weeks devoted to specific work on perfecting the rolling technique. At the end of the course, graduates take home a box of cigars that they made in class.

They also take home all of the skills necessary to blend and roll cigars professionally.

Class meets for twelve weeks on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, or on Saturdays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. If one session is missed, the following session can be attended instead. Topics covered include:

• The history of cigar rolling - locally in Ybor City and globally
• Understanding the tobacco growing industry
• Defining the different vitilas (blends)
• Preparing the binders
• Formatting the cigar
• Understanding tobacco and wrappers
• Creating the body of the cigar
• Learning to cut the leaves
• Understanding the molding process
• The final wrapping stage
• Quality control
• Perfecting the rolling technique

Cost of the class is only U.S. $300.00 and includes all materials.

Because students work directly with a Master cigar roller, space is limited. Call the International Bazaar at 1-813-241-8292 for more information and to see about reserving a place. The Bazaar is located at 1600 E 8th Avenue in Tampa.