Romeo y Julieta Culebras
The Romeo y Julieta Culebras stands as one of the most distinctive and unusual formats ever produced by the legendary Cuban brand. This machine-made cigar, with its serpentine "Culebras" (Spanish for snakes) shape, represents a fascinating chapter in Cuban cigar history that stretched from the mid-20th century until its eventual discontinuation in 2002.
History and Background

Originally released prior to 1960, the Culebras format has deep roots in Cuban cigar tradition. The name derives from the Spanish word for "snakes," a direct reference to the cigar's twisted, braided appearance. While this unique vitola enjoyed decades of production, it became increasingly scarce by the mid-1980s, making later examples particularly difficult to find. After more than four decades of production, Habanos S.A. officially discontinued the Romeo y Julieta Culebras in 2002.
Construction and Presentation
As a machine-made cigar, the Culebras represented a more accessible entry point into the Romeo y Julieta portfolio while still offering the brand's characteristic flavor profile. Each cigar was wrapped in distinctive silver star paper foil, giving it an eye-catching presentation that set it apart from standard releases.

The cigars were packaged in dress boxes containing 25 units, with each individual cigar protected by aluminium foil wrapping to preserve freshness and flavor integrity.
Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Vitola Name | Culebras |
| Factory Name | Culebras |
| Ring Gauge | 39 |
| Length | 146 mm (5¾″) |
| Official Weight | 6.67 g |
| Construction | Machine-made |
| Wrapping | Silver star paper foil |
| Packaging | Dress box of 25 cigars in aluminium foil |
| Release Date | Pre-1960 |
| Discontinued | 2002 |
| Status | Rare since mid-1980s |
Collectibility
Given its discontinuation in 2002 and its increasing rarity from the mid-1980s onward, the Romeo y Julieta Culebras has become a sought-after item among cigar collectors and enthusiasts interested in unusual Cuban vitolas. The distinctive braided format, combined with the storied Romeo y Julieta brand heritage, makes surviving examples notable pieces of Cuban cigar history.
