Ten things to know about cigar wrappers

The cigar wrapper is not just one more component of a cigar, it carries most of the cigar’s flavor and nearly all of its aesthetic appeal. In fact, posts like The cigar encyclopedia Y Cigar fan Suggest that the wrapper is responsible for 60% or more of the flavor and value of the cigar. With the launch of more diverse packaging than ever, controlling your styles and terminology has never been more important. Fortunately, understanding these subtleties is easy with a little effort. The following ten points will help you understand, identify and analyze the majority of cigar wrappers available today.

1. The concept of veins:

When blind tasting a cigar, fans will see the veins in the wrapper. In the case of shade grown casings, the smaller and smoother these veins are, the higher the quality of the tobacco leaf. The wrap should be thick enough and have an oily feel, suggesting that it is not dry or brittle. As a general rule of thumb, cigar wrappers are aged for at least a year or two, and the older they age, the smoother they will smoke.

2. Understanding Shade Grown vs. Grown in the sun:

Tobacco plants that are specifically grown for wrapping under a shaded tent are called Grown under shade. The reason these leaves are grown in the shade is to keep their surface smoother and prevent the veins from becoming too large. Leaves that grow directly in the sun, after all, are forced to become heat resistant and grow thicker with more veins. In contrast with Grown under shade wrappers, tobacco grown in direct sunlight, called Grown by the sun, produces a thick, dark coating. If grown correctly, Grown by the sun the wrappers will have more sweetness.

3. American Market Standard Packaging (AMS):

Once popular in the United States, these wraps are light green in color and have a tart characteristic. They are sometimes known as Candela, Jade Y Double Clear. Due to coloration and acidity, they are out of favor with today’s tastes.

4. English Market Standard Packaging (EMS):

Tea English market standard It has roots dating back to the 19th century and is the benchmark for most cigar wrappers made today. Includes the term Sure, Colorado Y natural (in ascending order from lightest to darkest). The casings of this group are cultivated in Cuba, Cameroon and Connecticut.

5. Why are two countries sometimes referred to?

As the number of creative cigar makers grows, it is becoming more common to experiment with growing different tobacco seeds in different regions. It is not uncommon to find a labeled wrap Dominican Sumatra, gold Ecuadorian Connecticut. In the case of Dominican Sumatra, means that Sumatran tobacco seeds were transplanted to Ecuador and grown there. The first country is always the place where the coat was grown and the second country is the origin of the seed.

6. Sumatra:

Sumatran wraps are grown in Indonesia and generally have a milder, more neutral flavor. They are dark brown in color with a hint of spice and a sweet aroma.

7. Connecticut shade wrappers:

Perhaps the silkiest wrappers out there, Connecticut Shadow the wrappers are recognizable by their light golden brown color. They are mild and have remarkably inconspicuous veins. For more flavor, look for the seed grown in Honduras or the volcanic soil of Ecuador.

8. Ripe broadleaf:

This sun-grown leaf is grown in Connecticut, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Brazil. As you would expect from the Maduro method, it is very dark with rich, sweet flavors and aromas. Although the wrapper will be thick and veiny, a well-crafted one will have a texture like velvet.

9. Sure:

These are synonyms for Jade wrappers. They are light in color and can even be a little green. Increasingly difficult to find, they are smooth with a hint of acidity.

10. Cameroon:

Africa-bred Cameroonian wraps are becoming increasingly popular with cigar makers, who are developing an appreciation for their spicy taste and sweet aromas. They are dark brown in color and can be found in cigars made by Alec bradley, Arturo Fuente, and The Aurora, among others.

You will no doubt recognize many of the above terms from your experience with cigars to date. They are commonly used as part of a cigar’s name and are frequently mentioned by cigar merchants and magazines. Now that you are equipped with this arsenal, you can more freely explore the wide range of flavors, aromas, and visual aesthetics available in cigars, and perhaps more accurately describe your preferences. For those of you who are interested in exploring cigars for the first time, selecting multiple cigarettes that incorporate one of the above concepts is a fun and educational starting point.