Cigar is a cylindrical roll of tobacco. It is used in smoking with a wrapper leaf. Always, most expansive leaves are used in cigars. In terms of characteristics, it is stronger in odor and smoke. It bears pleasant flavor and good burning properties. As per historical evidences, cigar was introduced by Maya Indians in 10th century. Christopher Columbus and other explorers have revealed this fact in their notes.
?Gustave Bock was a Dutch immigrant. He owned a cigar factory in Cuba in the 1830s. It is believed that it was the first to place a paper band around his cigars. It was just a paper ring with his signature.
?Very soon, it prominently flourished and became very profitable business. However, now cigar rolling has become mechanized but still few prestigious companies adhere with traditional stuffs. They do mention phrase on the boxes such as ?totalmente a mano (totally by hand) or hecho a mano (made by hand)?.
A glimpse upon manufacturing of premium Cigars
?At first tobacco leaves pass through curing process and it takes approximately 25 to 45 days which depends upon climatic condition and construction of sheds or barns used to store harvested tobacco as well.
?After curing, second process is fermentation. Under this process, major characteristics like flavor, burning, and aroma are primarily brought out in the leaf.
?Once after properly being aged, leaves are used as filler. Under this process, these are continuously moistened and ensured proper utilization each leaf as per the quality.
?Few premium brands cigars (viz. Acid Cigars, Padron Cigars, Ashton Cigars, Dominican Cigars) use special varieties of tobacco. For instance, long leaves are thoroughly used in long filler cigars which are supposed as higher quality of cigar.
?For long term storage of cigar, lower storage temperature viz. 40C/400F is recommended. There are special storage boxes available in the market like wooden box or humidor. Such containers carefully control ideal conditions for longer period.
Packaging of cigars
?The outermost portion or wrapper comes from the widest part of the plant and its color in itself speaks a lot about character and flavor of cigar. There is also a myth prevailing in the cigar market that the darker the wrapper, the fuller the flavor. One must keep in the mind that darkness refers to sweetness on the other hand light one means dryness to the taste.
?Fillers are available in two forms either short or long. Recently an addition has been made of medium filler cigars. There is a special category of filler known as ?sandwich or Cuban sandwich?. It is made by rolling short leaf inside long outer leaf.
?Cigars are prominently categorized on the basis of shape and size and all together known as ?vitola?. Few names under this category are Parejo, Figurado and little cigars.
After the development of printing industry, cigar got more vibrant looks and cigar companies prominently focused on branding of their products. During World War I, there was fall down in its popularity. But, it was remained for the very short span.
