CIGARS

History of Cigars
• Introduced into the society by Christopher
Columbus and his contemporaries
• Indians smoking bundles of tobacco wrapped in
dried palm leaves or corn leaves
• An excavation carried out in Mexico discovered
pots with figures of people smoking bundles of
rolled leaves presumed to be cigars
• It was believed to have been used by the
Indians for religious ceremonies
 Regions of Cuba
• Bueleta Abajo [most superior cigar ]
• Partidos
• Remedios
• Oriente
 The tobacco plant, leaf and
processing
o The tobacco plant grows to a height of 6 feet in 8 - 10
months. Leaves at the tip of the plant are succulent and
those towards the base are tougher.

o The harvest of tobacco leaves begin in mid to late

February and carries onto March. Each leaf is plucked
segregated as per size and type.

o The harvested and sorted leaves are the taken to

warehouses where they are allowed to hang from poles
and dry out in the warm air that is circulated.
 The tobacco plant, leaf and
processing
o This process takes 4-5 days. After this the leaves are
allowed to dry in heaps.

o Due to uneven drying the leaves rot and eventually

fermentation takes place and the leaves change color to a
silky brown.

o The leaves are collected in bundles of 5 and these are

matured in dark warehouses for about 5 months.
 Structure of a Cigar

• Filler-which is the substance of a cigar is in the center

and may also be referred to as the first .

• Binder -holds the filler in place and is also called

second .

• Wrapper -is the last of all which gives the cigar its
shape and is referred to as the third .
 Production of a cigar

• FILER-Good quality leaves are used. 2-3 leaves

with their veins removed are rolled tightly to form
the center core of the cigar called filler. The
leaves used must be well matured.

• BINDER-The filler is now rolled in a leaf called

the binder. The leaf used to bind must be of
good tensile strength and elasticity. Usually the
lower leaves, tougher in nature are used for this
purpose. This gives the cigar its shape and
holds the filler in place.
 Structure of a Cigar
WRAPPER

• Only the very best leaves are used for this purpose . Good
flavor and an even color is a must for the wrapper as it
contributes maximum to the flavor of the cigar
• The leaf used is broken at the tip and rolled on the finger, in the
process peeling off the veins. This leaf is split and used to wrap
two cigars
• The filler wrapped in the binder is rolled in one half of the
wrapper leaf . This is done at an angle so that the leaf overlaps.
• 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 odorless and
tasteless. In a good box of cigars all should be rolled either left
to right or right to left.
• To check on size and in length and diameter, the same is
ensured during rolling.
 Classification of Cigars

Cigars as per colour:

• Blonde / Claro/ CCC - Pale/ Light golden brown

• Colorado Claro/ CC - Medium Brown
• Colorado - Reddish brown
• Maduro - Rich dark brown
• Oscuro - Black
• Candella - Greenish Yellow
 Classification of Cigars

Cigars as per process

• Pressed cigars - are loosely bound filler wrapped and

packed tightly therefore taking shape from the box and
these are generally squarish in shape

• Unpressed cigars - have the filler wrapped firmly and it

has a definite torpedo shape.
 Classification of Cigars

Cigars according to size

• Robustos 4.5 – 6.0

• Corona 5.0- 6.75
• Panatelas 4.5 – 7.5
• Lonsdale 6.0 – 6.75
• Corona Carona 6.75 – 8.50
• Churchill 6.25 – 8.0
• Presidentes 7.0 - 8.5
• Gigantes 7.5 – 10
 Packaging of a Cigar
• When bought commercially cigars are in cedar wood boxes.

• Cuban companies sell in cedar wood boxes normally 10 - 50

nos.

• The boxes sport very colourful labels. They may be wrapped

in cellophane paper or in individual Aluminum tubes. The
advantages of an aluminum tube are that they are easy to
carry and less damage to the cigars.

• They come in bundles of 50 in a box and without any

cellophane wrapping and is called the Cabinet selection.
 Storage of Cigars
• Ideally at 15 -18º C and 60-65% humidity the cigars keep well.If stored in
bulk it should be stored in exclusive cupboards meant for cigars only.

• Should be stored always away from food aromas since smells are
absorbed soon and the cigars spoil.

• In restaurants cigars are stored in special boxes called

‘Humidors’.Humidors are generally very intricately carved boxes of
expensive wood e.g. Rosewood, Cedar wood

• The Humidor contains mainly a moisture pad, which keeps the cigars dry
though during the dry season the pad may be moistened to prevent
excess drying of cigars. The pad absorbs moisture during the humid
season.

• Once dried or fungus infected it cannot be rectified.

 Service of Cigars
• The cigar is presented to the guest in the Humidor in its original
wrapping.

• Guest selects and removes the cellophane paper.

• The edge may be clipped using a cigar cutter

• Cigar cutters are of two types, namely -

– Guillotine - which makes a vertical cut by removing a wedge.
– Scissors - Which would cut off the tip.

• The guest himself may cut the edge or in rare cases the steward may
be asked for help.

• After the edge is cut, loose tobacco is tapped off by knocking against
the fingers.

• This is lit either by a wooden match stick, a butane lighter or a wooden

spill

• Petrol lighters, wax matches should never be used.

 Brand names

• Monte Cristo
• Romeo y Julieta
• Davidoff
• Hoyo De Monterrey
• Cohiba
• H. Upmann
• Punch
• Partagas