A Guide to Cigar Types: Wrapper, Origin & Shape
A guide to cigar types: wrapper, origin & shape
Premium cigars come in a variety of types, and when people normally refer to cigar types they’re generally talking about the wrapper color, what region it’s from, and the physical shape. Each and every one of those characteristics tell us a lot about the cigar. That’s why Cigar World put together a helpful guide so you can always be in the know around how a cigar’s wrapper, country of origin, and shape will determine the cigar type.
The wrapper type
Almost always, a great way to indicate the strength of a cigar is to first look at the color of the cigar’s wrapper. A solid rule of thumb to live by, the darker the wrapper, the longer it has been fermented, and therefore should have a stronger taste.
Double Claro aka Candela
The light green hue is achieved by a heat-curing process that fixes the chlorophyll content of the wrapper while it’s still in the barn. Double claro’s or candela’s are light cigars that have had limited aging.
Claro
Claro’s are light tan, and are also consistent with shade-grown tobacco. They’re smooth, neutral and normally quite mild. Connecticut shade-grown wrappers are some of the most sought after Claros.
Colorado Claro
Colorado Claro’s are darker brown in color. Quite similar to a Cameroon wrapper from West Africa, however, this cigar is slightly stronger than the Claro but still considered mild.
Colorado
Colorado wrappers are reddish brown wrapper and are most often seen in well aged and mature cigars which provide a medium to strong flavor.
Natural
Neutral wrappers normally range from dark tan to brown leaves, and are sometimes sun-grown for a smooth, rich and full flavor.
Colorado Maduro
Colorado Maduro’s are a dark brown wrapper, usually seen on cigars produced in Honduras, Nicaragua and sometimes in Cuba. They’re normally considered medium to strong in flavor.
Maduro
Maduro wrappers are dark, almost coffee-like colors, and are associated with full flavored and slightly sweet tasting cigars. Maduro wrappers also give off an excellent aroma.
Oscuro
Oscuro wrappers are dark black, normally produced in Mexico, Brazil and Nicaragua, and they’re very strong in flavor.
If you’re looking to explore more information around cigar wrapper types, you can learn more in our Types Of Cigar Wrappers blog here.
The country of origin
A cigar’s country of origin refers to not only the country where the cigar is made, but also the country where the tobacco is grown. Sometimes they are the same but not always. Knowing the country of origin can give you a general guide to the particular style of cigar:
Cuba
Normally very rich, smooth & creamy.
Generally mild to medium-bodied.
Almost always stronger and full-bodied.
Jamaica
Routinely light-bodied and mild.
Conventionally spicy and full-bodied.
Additionally, there are countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador that also have a long history with growing and producing a myriad of tobacco blends. If you want to explore more about these regions and the types of tobacco they produce, click on the links.
The shape type
When thinking about the shape of a cigar and how that correlates to the cigar’s type, there are two basic categories to look at: Parejos and Figurados.
Parejo
A straight cylinder with even sides and an open foot. The cigar needs to be cut at the head. Parejos can be round or box-pressed. Box-pressed indicates the length of the cigar has been compressed into a square.
Figurado
A cigar that’s not a straight cylindrical form; usually the head is tapered and, sometimes, both ends are finished in a sharp point.
Want to take a deeper dive into cigar sizes and shape types? Read more in our blog here.
What are your favorite cigar types? Let us know in the comments!
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Comments
4 Ohio Cigar Mafia
(16 months ago)I like to explore a bit so to me my favorite is the one I’m smoking at that time.
2 Icky
(2 years ago)The perfecto is really cool... the Undercrown Shade Flying Pig 🐖 is an awesome smoke.
I also enjoy a Toro or a Churchill.
In reference to wrapper type... well, that depends upon my mood at the moment I reach out for a cigar.
92 duskinwade
(2 years ago)I enjoy a nice Sun grown or maduro cigar in a Robusto size. Perfect for a 45 min - 1 hr smoke.
9 Spring42
(2 years ago)As the saying goes, "My favorite cigar is the one I am smoking." I do lean more towards a Figurado vitola when given the option and I love a sweet and spicy Habano wrapper.
2 Nina
(2 years ago)I prefer a nicely rolled torpedo puro from Nicaragua wrapped in a dark mouth watering maduro!!
5 VFIG62
(2 years ago)Cameroon wrapper with Dominican fillers in a torpedo shape!
1 Leroy
(2 years ago)Robusto
Habana
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