Health and other associated issues - Tips, Information and Guides
The Secret of Cigars
by: Don Richards Cigars are comprised of surprisingly few component parts. Unlike
cigarettes, which usually have filters, two different kinds and colors of paper,
and filler ingredients other than tobacco, cigars are all tobacco. What makes
one cigar so different from another is the type of tobacco, where it’s
grown, when the leaves are picked, how the picked leaves are cured and
fermented, and how the finished leaves are cut and rolled. Because cigars are
made in so many parts of the world, there is a diverse range of product, as
you’d expect. Wrappers The outermost layer of cigars is called the wrapper. It is made from the
widest part of the tobacco leaves, and it has a big impact on the cigar’s
flavor and aroma. Cigar wrappers vary in color, and because the wrapper color is
what is most visible, cigars are often described by the wrapper color. Here is a
list, from lightest to darkest: * Double Claro: very light color (sometimes with a green tinge); color
comes from leaves that are picked while still immature and cured quickly. * Claro: light-brown or yellowish-brown color, which is the result of
tobacco plants grown predominantly in shade. * Natural: light-brown or brown. * Colorado Claro: medium-brown; most often associated with Cuban or
Dominican Republic tobacco. * Colorado (or Rosado): reddish-brown. * Maduro: dark-brown; very popular color among serious connoisseurs of
cigars. * Oscuro: very dark-brown to oily black; typically exudes a pungent aroma
and deeper flavor. Fillers Cigars are composed mostly of whats known as filler tobacco. Cigars can
have filler comprised of three basic types: Seco, Volado, and Ligero. Cigars
with Seco filler are drier and have a lighter flavor. Volado filler produces a
mid-range of flavor. Ligero is the darkest, oiliest filler, producing cigars
with lots of bold flavors and aromatic smoke. One reason to choose thicker cigars (Churchills or Double Coronas, for
example) is that these cigars obviously have more room for filler tobacco. This
gives the cigar maker the ability to add blends of Seco, Volado, and Ligero
varieties. You will find that these bigger cigars generally produce more varied
and complex flavor combinations. Filler is either whats known as long or short. Long filler in cigars is
comprised of whole tobacco leaves, whereas short filler contains a chopped
mixture of leaves (sometimes just the leaves), stems, and other plant materials.
In most cases, cigars with long filler are of superior quality. Binders Many low-end cigars only use wrappers and fillers. But the better quality
cigars youll find on the market use another component binders. Binders are an
intermediate layer of more elastic tobacco leaves that help cigars hold the
filler material together in a more cohesive manner. The best cigars have binders
that also add another complementary flavor to enhance the overall smoking
experience.
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doc thanks Jonathan Leger txt
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