How to make magic

You may know how to smoke them, but do you have any idea of the work that goes in to producing a fine cigar? We go behind the scenes in Cuba

Every leaf in a Habano is Tabaco Negro Cubano – native Cuban Black Tobacco – directly descended from the plants that Columbus first discovered more than 500 years ago.

Two distinct forms of cultivation produce the different types of leaf required. Wrapper leaves are grown in tapado (covered) fields shaded from end to end by muslin cloth. Filler and binder leaves are grown in the open, enjoying the full benefit of the Cuban sun. In each case the leaves have different characteristics at different levels of the plant, and each leaf is classified accordingly. Each leaf has its own destiny and the process to finished cigar is a complex and unpredictable one.

In this feature we will look at the first stage in the creation of a fine cigar: the growing of the tobacco plant itself. In future issues we will look at curing, fermentation and ageing, preparing the leaves, and then making the cigar – the art of the torcedor. At every stage of the process a high level of labour is required. It is sometimes back breaking work, and sometimes highly detailed and skilled.

From the 16th century onwards the tobacco that grew naturally in Cuba proved good enough to establish an unrivalled reputation throughout the world.

Then, at the start of the 20th century as a new age of botanical research dawned, science was brought to bear on the many different seed varieties in use at the time for the growing of Tabaco Negro Cubano.

The botanists had two goals; to identify the original seed’s characte.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Cigar Production

Page number : 26

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 1 on 01/06/2004.

This article is 60 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	How to make magic You may know how to smoke them, but do you have any idea of the work that goes in to producing a fine cigar? We go behind the scenes in Cuba Every leaf in a Habano is Tabaco Negro Cubano – native Cuban Black Tobacco – directly descended from the plants that Columbus first discovered more than 500 years ago. Two distinct forms of cultivation produce the different types of leaf required. Wrapper leaves are grown in tapado (covered) fields shaded from end to end by muslin cloth. Filler and binder leaves are grown in the open, enjoying the full benefit of the Cuban sun. In each case the leaves have different characteristics at different levels of the plant, and each leaf is classified accordingly. Each leaf has its own destiny and the process to finished cigar is a complex and unpredictable one. In this feature we will look at the first stage in the creation of a fine cigar: the growing of the tobacco plant itself. In future issues we will look at curing, fermentation and ageing, preparing the leaves, and then making the cigar – the art of the torcedor. At every stage of the process a high level of labour is required. It is sometimes back breaking work, and sometimes highly detailed and skilled. From the 16th century onwards the tobacco that grew naturally in Cuba proved good enough to establish an unrivalled reputation throughout the world. Then, at the start of the 20th century as a new age of botanical research dawned, science was brought to bear on the many different seed varieties in use at the time for the growing of Tabaco Negro Cubano. The botanists had two goals; to identify the original seed’s characte..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By Dominic Roskrow Section : Cigar Production Page number : 26 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 1 on 01/06/2004. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 60 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2009. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.