April 18
Worldwide aficionados use specialized terminology to describe a cigar. So, in order to have a common basis of understanding, here are some of the most common terms used in cigar making and smoking.
B
Binder : Smoke sheet surrounding the filler.
Bloom or plume : It is the result of the maturation of the cigars. It appears as a white powder and is easily removed with a brush.
Bouquet : The smell of smoke.
Box-pressed : The slightly squared shape of cigars due to pressing and crimping in the box. History has it that the first cigars were pressed and angled to prevent them from falling off the torcedores' table. True or not, the pressing works positively to homogenise the ingredients of the different cigar leaves directly and efficiently.
C
Claro : Light colored sheet used for wrapper. The plant is usually grown in shade.
Colorado : wrapper sheet in light cinnamon-cherry colours.
Corojos : Tobacco grown in an environment protected from the sun. Intended to give selected leaves for wrappers.
Culebra : An impressive presentation of three cigars braided like a braid.
E
EMS : Acronym for English Market Selection. Selected cigars available exclusively on the UK market. UK.
Entubar : Cigar rolling method. Each filler is rolled alone in the form of a tube and then all together are surrounded by the binder and then by the wrapper. This method has now been abandoned in Cuba because it is time consuming. It is widely used in other countries. Cigars twisted by the entubar method have excellent draw and burn.
F
Figurado : These are cigars that have both ends closed, usually conical in shape.
Filler : The tobacco leaves that form the main body of the cigar and are surrounded by a binder and wrapper.
H
Habano : The Cuban cigar.
Hecho a mano : Made by hand. It is worth paying attention to this term because it does not guarantee that the whole cigar is handmade.
L
Lasioderma serricorne : Insect that attacks tobacco. The aficionado's nightmare. In recent years, in order to deal with the problem, cigars have been fumigated with phosphine before being packaged and then frozen.
Ligador : The person in charge of the cigar blend.
Ligero : Smoke leaves from the highest point of the plant. They are the most exposed to the sun. They have the strongest flavour, are darker, burn slowly and are placed in the middle of the cigar.
M
Maduro : Dark tobacco sheet used for wrapper.
P
Parejo : The classic form of the cigar. Straight, with the head stamped with a small tobacco leaf and the foot open. The head may be rounded or pigtail.
Pigtail : The last leaf of tobacco that seals the head of the cigar has been twisted and protrudes in such a way that it resembles a pig's tail.
R
Rosado : Smoke leaves with a slightly reddish tint.
S
Seco : Leaves from the middle of the plant. They offer a medium aroma and taste.
T
Tapado : Greenhouse type installation. The roof is a perforated semi-transparent fabric, which protects the smoke leaves from the intense radiation.
Torcedor : He who rolls tobacco and makes cigars.
Totalmente a mano : Exclusively handmade cigars.
tripa corta : Tobacco leaf residues, for the manufacture of substandard cigars.
tripa larga : Whole tobacco leaves used in the manufacture of prime cigars.
V
Vitola de galera : The factory name of the cigar.
Vitola de salida : The trade name of the cigar.
Volado : Smoke leaves from the lowest part of the plant. They help maintain burn and add strength to the blend.
Vuelta Abajo : Region in Cuba that supposedly produces the best tobacco.
W
Wrapper : The last sheet of tobacco that surrounds the binder and thus the cigar. It is thin, with few nerves and its contribution is decisive for the appearance.
