Ybor City has long been characterized by its cobblestone streets, its old-world charm, and the ever-present, enduring scent of tobacco. It is a legacy of craftsmanship established in this area back in 1886 — one that endures today with greater vigor than ever before.

And that is precisely the legacy that Odelma Matos — known as “La Faraona” (The Pharaoh) — wishes to continue building, which is why she decided to embark on the ambitious adventure of creating the world’s longest hand-rolled cigar March 21. The massive cigar was crafted using approximately 100 pounds of tobacco leaf.

“The idea occurred to me because I felt it would be a great way to position both the United States and Ybor City on the global stage,” the master cigar roller and owner of La Faraona Cigars told CENTRO Tampa. “The previous record was held in Havana, Cuba; set in 2016 by Mr. José Castelar Cairo — known as ‘Cueto’ — who rolled a 295-foot cigar in celebration of Fidel Castro’s birthday. I simply felt it was high time for the United States to claim that title.”

She said her motivation for undertaking the project was its potential to significantly boost Ybor City’s profile.

“So many people come here specifically to learn about cigars,” Matos said. “This district is steeped in Cuban and tobacco-making traditions — years of tobacco history run through these very streets — so what better way to honor that heritage than by establishing a world record right here?”

However, Guinness World Records does not officially certify records related to tobacco, cannabis, or products containing nicotine.

“I exchanged a great deal of information with them — spending nearly two months on this process — but they did not accept it. Now, what I am trying to arrange with my team is to have it certified as a world record elsewhere; that is the work we are currently engaged in,” Matos said.

Support, however, did come from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who Matos had asked for authorization to hold the event, as it required closing off the historic and iconic Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.

“Here in ‘Champa Bay,’ we are always in favor of breaking records,” Castor wrote to Matos in an email.

Charity

Ultimately, the support she received from the city, along with that of everyone involved in the process, was all she needed to decide that the world’s largest cigar, which officially measured 469 feet, would be donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.

“Because the cigar is going to be auctioned off — it will be sold in sections — and the money raised will go to the children supported by this foundation. The foundation was established by some of the cigar industry’s longest-standing partners — the Fuente and Newman families — specifically for the children they assist, and ‘La Faraona Cigars’ is also a proud supporter of their work,” said Matos.

The Process

Ulver Domínguez is one of the managers of the La Faraona Cigars retail locations. He said they had been working on the cigar for over a week, “doing it in stages so we could complete it on Saturday, March 21. We had to be extremely careful during transport — in fact, we had it wrapped in special blankets.”

He also stated that, combining production costs, labor hours, and overtime pay, the business invested nearly $20,000 in the production of this hand-rolled cigar.

For René Ortega, another participant in this process, it was “a truly beautiful and enjoyable experience. You do this kind of work because you love it, and if you have the satisfaction of undertaking a project like this — well, why not? I am very proud to have participated in setting this world record.”

Ortega says that the aspect that excited him most was the fact that something like this had never been attempted in Ybor City — an area so steeped in cigar culture. “We had never seen anything of this magnitude before. People came out to show their support; they loved it, and everyone truly enjoyed the moment — which was the most important thing,” René noted.

A woman in the cigar industry

For now, Odelma continues working to officially certify this record — one that far surpassed the 295-foot length of the cigar rolled in Cuba back in 2016 — marking a new chapter written 10 years later.

“I never expected to see so many people,” she said. “I never imagined that such a large crowd would turn out. While I was rolling the cigar, people appeared everywhere — even watching from the balconies! This is dedicated to the city of Ybor, as it serves as a legacy for this ‘Cigar City’, a truly symbolic gesture during Women’s History Month. I am the only woman in the world to have ever accomplished this, so for me, it’s about planting a seed and firmly cementing the name ‘La Faraona Cigars’ in the history of the cigar industry.”