Cigar Wrapper Knowledge

By: Jafree Gurner Click author's name for more of his/her articles

There is always something new to learn about cigars, especially when you've only been smoking for a year or two. One of the most important things to know and understand about cigars is the different types of wrappers. A person with this knowledge can analyze the color of a wrapper, along with other subtle variants, and know what to expect from that cigar. Cigar wrapper knowledge is a must for any "stogie" smoker aiming for the ranks of aficionado.

We all know what color to expect when we walk into our favorite tobacco shops -- brown. Tans, light browns to the unmistakable dark brown, almost black, of the Maduro wrappers -- all begging to be bought. What you don't see much of anymore, is the color green. Yes, I said green. The Candela wrapper has a green tint due to the way it is cured. It is a very mild cigar and does not add much to the flavor of the cigar. The Candela wrapper at one time was a favorite among American cigar smokers, but less and less of them are seen on the shelves.

Is it a coincidence that all my favorite morning cigars have a light brown wrapper? Probably not. The Natural wrapper is light brown and light to medium in terms of strength. The Sun's rays hitting the leaves are what turn the tobacco leaves dark -- Natural leaves are grown in the shade. Fine Natural wrappers are notorious for being smooth, and they blend perfectly with the rest of the cigar. Growing perfect Natural wrappers is a combination of precision growing and harvesting techniques.

Light brown wrappers with a reddish tint are called Colorado Claro. One specific Colorado Claro leaf is Cameroon. These leaves are darker than Natural leaves and provide more flavor to the cigar. Tom Cottom, the Tobacco Barn's cigar and pipe aficionado, had this to say about the Cameroon wrapper,

"After the United State couldn't get Cuban cigars due to the embargo, most of the premium cigar wrappers, in the 60s, were coming from the African nation of Cameroon. People liked this wrapper because it gave a lot of flavor (nutty, spicy) and it wasn't too strong. Because Cameroon was a nation plagued by drought and war, the Cameroon wrapper was transported to different countries to be harvested – mainly the Canary Islands. Today most Cameroon wrappers are grown outside of Cameroon." Thanks Tom.

The Maduro wrapper is what separates the "noobies" from the veterans. The darkness of the wrapper sticks out like a soar thumb. But why is the leaf so dark? The darkness of the leaf is an effect of the curing process Maduro leaves endure. It is a rigorous process of applying heat to draw out the leaf's oils and then letting it sit allowing the oils retract back into the leaf. This process is done more than once and only the toughest of leaves can endure this process. The oils turn to sugar which fills the Maduro wrapper with sweetness and a full-bodied flavor that will knock your socks off if smoked on an empty stomach.

Darker than the Maduro wrapper are the double and triple Maduro. The process to make these cigars are the same as the Maduro wrapper. The only difference is that the process if repeated more times. Each cycle of the process leaves the wrapper darker and with a fuller-body.

Of course there are more wrappers to learn about than just these, but the Candela, Natural, Colorado Claro and Maduro are the most popular and a good starting point to learn. Now, if you see a greenish colored wrapper in a humidor you know that it is a Candela wrapper and a very light smoke. One can suggest that a light brown wrapper is a Natural leaf, and probably going to give a smooth flavor that can be smoked anytime of the day. Upon seeing the reddish tint of the Colorado Claro wrapper, nutty, roasted and spicy elements might come to mind. And the Maduro wrapper is sure to be full-bodied with hints of sweetness that would go great after a big meal.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Jaff Gurner loves Zippo Lighter memorabilia, and is a self proclaimed cigar aficionado. If you're looking for a place to order zippo lighter products, feel free to visit www.tobacco-barn.com/s-85-zippo-lighter.aspx