Cigar

Introduction-

Cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco. Cigar may be defined as a cylindrical roll of tobacco meant for smoking. This is formed in a binder leaf around which spirally wrapped is a wrapper leaf. The wrapper leaf, which is the most expensive, must be strong,elastic, silky both in colour and texture, possessing pleasant flavour and good burning qualities. Best cigars come from Cuba.

 

History of Cigar-

Christopher Columbus and his contemporaries introduced cigars to the society. The expedition that set out from Spain and reached the American continent found native Indians smoking bundles of tobacco wrapped in dried palm leaves or corn leaves. The word cigar originated from the Mayan and Sik'ar believed to have meant smoke, which led to the Spanish word Cigarro and later translated into English word, cigar.

 

Structure/ Parts of a Cigar -

There are three parts to a cigar as described below:

 

1. Binder : It is the tobacco leaf that holds the filler in place. It is difines space of the cigar and the smoking quality. Binder comes from the Criollo plant, grown in direct sunlight. Leaves are much coarser and darker, matured for 12 months before use.
2. Wrapper : It is the expuistely thin leaf that forms the outer surface of the cigar. Wrapper is wound around the cigar and binds the whole cigar. It stands as the ultimate symbol of the cigar's perfection. The wrapper comes from the Corojo plant grown under tents of cheesecloth. It is matured and used within 18 months. The end of the leaf forms the tip of the cigar and only this tip is stuck by means of a vegetable gum, which is tasteless and odourless.
3. Filler : Filler is the tobacco that makes up the cigar and gives it's bulk. It is the source of rich flavours and aromas. The leaves used to make the filler comes from the Criollo plant taken at different levels of the plant. 

• Ligero : The topmost part of the plant, provides strength.
• Seco : The middle part of the plant, provides Aroma.
• Volado : The bottom part of the plant, provides combustibility.

Good quality leaves are used. 2-3 leaves with their veins removed are rolled tightly to form the centre core of the cigar called filler. The leaves used must be well matured.  

                                 Types of cigars

Classification of Cigars-

(•) By Colour :

• Blonde/claro (CCC): Yellow colour cigar is very light.

•Colorado claro (CC): It is a medium strength cigar and mild-brown.

• Colorado (C): Strong cigar, reddish brown.

• Maduro : Stronger than other cigars, very dark brown.

• Oscuro : Black.

• Candella : Greenish yellow.

(•) By Size :

Size of a cigar is measured by two dimensions, i.e., ring gauge( diameter) and length. The ring gauge is measured in units of 1/64ths of an inch. A 64-ring cigar would be one inch in diameter. Most cigars are between 32 and 52-ring sizes.

(•) By Shape : 

All cigars can be divided into two categories: parejos , or the straight-sided cigars, and figurados , or irregular shapes ( torpedoes or perfectos and the like). 

Storage of Cigars :

• Cigars should be stored at optimum temperature of 16° to 18°C and relative humidity of 75% to 80%.

• They should be always stored away from food aromas since smells are absorbed quickly and the cigar's get spoilt.

                                  cigar humidor

 

Brand Names :

• Monte Cristo

• Romeo y Julieta

• Davidoff

• Cohiba

• Cuaba  

• Punch

• Alcazar

                                 Cigar Cutters

Cutting of cigar :

 There are three ways to cut cigar first one is Straight cut , second way is V-cut and third and last way is Punch cut. 

 

 

                                            

For any suggestions and questions, please give your comments. 

                                                      Thankyou!!