We know that there are plenty of people out there who do not know this information. Whether you are completely new to cigars, just trying to understand them or maybe you have been smoking them for a little while and want to know more about them – we have you covered for learning some of the basics to cigars. We will be releasing multiple topics and they will all be listed in a tab together in the main site menu.
The Basics: What Is Cigar Tobacco?
Cigar tobacco comes from a special species of the Nicotiana tabacum plant, cultivated specifically for rich flavor, aroma, and strength — not for cigarettes or pipe tobacco. While those also use tobacco plant leaves, it is a very different process, often grown in completely different regions and is all processed and treated differently. In other words, comparing premium cigar tobacco and all other tobacco would be the equivalent of comparing a chimpanzee to a dolphin. Both are mammals, but are very different from each other.
Cigar tobacco leaves are typically larger, thicker, and oilier than cigarette tobacco. This allows them to age, ferment, and burn slowly, creating that distinctive cigar taste and experience.
2. Where It’s Grown (Tobacco Regions)
Cigar tobacco thrives in warm, humid climates with rich soil. Each region produces tobacco with unique characteristics, much like wine regions do for grapes. This is one of the reasons you will hear people say that no matter what you use, if you grow the same seed variety in two different locations, you will get two completely different tobacco’s in the end.
Here are some key cigar-growing regions:
| Region | Countries | Notable Traits |
| Caribbean | Cuba, Dominican Republic | Classic, rich, smooth flavor – Old World cigar character |
| Central America | Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras | Earthy, spicy, robust cigars |
| North America | U.S. (Connecticut, Pennsylvania) | Connecticut Shade and Broadleaf tobaccos creamy or sweet notes |
| South America | Brazil, Ecuador | Aromatic, slightly sweet, versatile wrapper leaves |
| Africa | Cameroon | Naturally sweet, toothy (textured) wrapper leaf |
Each country often has several micro-climates producing distinct leaf types — for example, Estelí (Nicaragua) produces stronger, spicier leaves than Jalapa, which are smoother and sweeter. The table listed above also only includes the regions most commonly used. However, there are other countries where premium cigar tobacco is grown such as Peru, Indonesia and Costa Rica.
3. The Tobacco Plant Itself
A mature tobacco plant is about six feet tall and produces 20–30 leaves. These leaves differ depending on where they grow on the stalk — this is very important for cigar blending.
The Three Main Parts of the Plant:
| Leaf Group | Location | Traits | Use |
| Volado | Lower part | Mild, good burning qualities | Used in filler for combustion |
| Seco | Middle part | Mild-to-medium strength, aromatic | Adds aroma and balance |
| Ligero | Upper part | Strong, thick, full-flavored | Adds strength and body |
Each cigar blend uses a mix of these leaf types for a desired balance of strength, burn, and flavor. During the blending and rolling processes, it is important to understand that certain leaves need to be used in a certain way, not just for the way the cigar tastes, but also in the way that it burns. For example, Ligero tobaccos are much thicker and will burn much slower. Therefore, during the rolling process, those leaves need to be rolled along with other leaves that burn quicker to help keep them burning. If they are not rolled correctly, you could have an uneven burn due to some tobaccos not burning eagerly with the rest.
4. Seed Varieties
Different seeds produce plants with different characteristics (flavor, strength, disease resistance). Some famous ones include:
| Seed | Origin | Traits |
| Corojo | Cuba | Spicy, peppery, strong |
| Criollo | Cuba | Earthy, full-bodied, traditional flavor |
| Connecticut Shade | U.S. | Grown under shade cloth — smooth, creamy, mild wrapper |
| Habano | Cuban-origin seed grown elsewhere (like Nicaragua or Ecuador) | Rich, spicy, oily |
| Sumatra | Indonesia | Aromatic, slightly sweet wrapper |
| San Andres | Mexico | Dark, earthy, chocolatey flavor, used in Maduro cigars |
Seed selection + region = terroir, the unique fingerprint of a cigar’s flavor.
5. The Curing and Fermentation Process
Once the leaves are harvested, they’re far from ready to smoke. They must go through curing, fermentation, and aging — a process that transforms harsh raw leaf into aromatic, smooth cigar tobacco.
Step 1:
Curing
- Takes place in curing barns (tobacco houses).
- The leaves are hung to dry slowly for several weeks.
- This removes moisture and chlorophyll (green color) and turns leaves golden brown.
- Types: air-curing (most common), sun-curing, or shade-curing.
Step 2:
Fermentation
- The cured leaves are stacked in piles (pilones) to ferment naturally.
- Heat and moisture from the leaf’s own enzymes and microorganisms break down harsh compounds.
- The process reduces nicotine, balances flavor, and develops aroma.
- This can take months or even years, with careful temperature monitoring and turning of the piles.
Step 3:
Aging
- After fermentation, leaves are aged in bales (sometimes for several years).
- This mellows the tobacco even more, creating smoother and more complex flavors.
6. Cigar Construction: The Three Main Parts
A cigar is made of three types of tobacco leaf, each with a specific function:
| Part | Description | Purpose |
| Filler | The inside blend (often a mix of Volado, Seco, and Ligero) | Core flavor and strength |
| Binder | A strong, elastic leaf that wraps the filler | Holds shape and helps with combustion |
| Wrapper | The outermost, most beautiful leaf | Provides much of the cigars flavor and aroma |
Fun fact: although the wrapper makes up only about 10% of the cigar’s weight, it can contribute up to 60% of its flavor due to direct contact with your lips and combustion characteristics.
7. Cigar Types and Styles
Cigars come in many shapes (vitolas) and types. Here are the main distinctions:
By Size/Shape:
| Type | Description |
| Parejo | Straight-sided cigars (most common, e.g., Robusto, Toro, Churchill) |
| Figurado | Tapered or shaped cigars (Torpedo, Belicoso, Perfecto) |
By Color (Wrapper Shade):
| Shade | Description |
| Claro | Light tan and mild flavor |
| Colorado | Medium brown with balanced flavor |
| Maduro | Dark brown, sweet, rich |
| Oscuro | Almost black, bold, earthy, intense |
The darker the wrapper, generally the sweeter and heavier the flavor (because darker wrappers undergo longer fermentation).
8. Blending Philosophy
Master blenders combine tobaccos from different:
- Countries
- Seed varieties
- Plant positions (Volado, Seco, Ligero)
This is to create specific profiles (flavor, strength, aroma, burn). For example, a Nicaraguan Ligero (spicy, strong) might be balanced with Dominican Seco (aromatic, smooth) and finished with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper (oily and rich). It’s like composing a symphony — each leaf has a role.
9. Summary: From Seed to Smoke
- Seed selection → determines flavor potential
- Cultivation → soil, sun, and care shape the leaf
- Harvesting → by stalk position
- Curing → dries and stabilizes
- Fermentation → refines and smooths
- Aging → deepens flavor
- Rolling → combines wrapper, binder, and filler
- Aging (again) → finished cigars often rest for months before sale
Premium cigars are often compared to other luxury consumables such as wine and high end spirits. They are all made from raw earth material, fermented, blended and then aged to perfection. All of these steps are very important but one could argue the aging of these items is what puts life into the body and air into the lungs.
Be sure to check out some of our other How To Series articles on the basics of becoming an educated cigar smoker.
