Ybor City Cigar Roller Breaks World Record With 465-Foot Hand-Rolled Cigar

Odelma Matos rolled a 465-foot cigar Saturday in Ybor City. She shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest hand-rolled cigar. The fourth-generation Cuban roller surpassed the previous mark of 295 feet, which Jose Castelar Cairo set back in 2016 in Havana.

The massive cigar snaked down several blocks of 7th Avenue as part of Tampa Cigar Week. Anyone could come watch.

Matos runs La Faraona Cigar Factory and Lounge at 1315 E. 7th Ave. and 1515 E. 7th Ave. She and her crew roll all their cigars from Cuban seed tobacco that grows in Nicaragua. Since age 16, she's been rolling about 150 cigars each day.

"This is important to me, my heritage," said Matos, according to That's So Tampa. "This is good for Ybor City, too."

The old record holder, known as "Cueto," had gripped the title for a decade. His 295-foot creation came to life in the Cuban capital.

Tampa once earned the nickname Cigar Capital of the World. The city has spent decades trying to remind people about this past.

The 465-foot creation stands taller than a 40-story building. It marks a big win for the old neighborhood and its storied tobacco industry.

Matos' image hangs on walls throughout La Faraona Cigar Factory and Lounge. The business works as both a production facility and gathering spot for enthusiasts.

The record attempt unfolded on historic 7th Avenue, where Tampa's cigar-making tradition has thrived for generations. Matos is the fourth generation in her family to work in the trade.

Tampa Cigar Week gave the stage for the historic roll. The annual event celebrates the area's connection to tobacco production and craftsmanship.