(Newswire.net — May 3, 2022) –Cigars are among the most popular and oldest types of cigar-related smoking material. They come in countless shapes, sizes, and blends from all over the world from different cultures. It is said that cigars have been smoked since 1560, when a Spanish gentleman named Don Francisco de Garay first sowed tobacco seeds into his cigars in Havana, Cuba.
The foil wrapper is the packaging used to protect these precious little bundles of leaf goodness. The foil wrapper allows manufacturers to display the brands, origins, or individual strains on a cigar. Scrutinizing these foils can reveal a lot about what you are smoking.
What Makes a Great Wrapper Leaf?
Cigar tobacco leaf is typically grown in various parts of Asia, South America, and Central America. However, the leaves used for cigar wrappers (known as binder or filler leaves) can be found in a variety of other countries too. With that said, some countries hold a great deal of prestige for their wrapper tobacco leaf. Some of these coveted countries are:
-Honduras
There is no doubt that the most sought-after cigars all have Honduran wrapper tobaccos.
-Peru
Peru produces excellent wrappers, which are considered quite expensive. Some of the best Peruvian wrapper tobaccos are grown in the provinces of Cusco, Puno, and Tacna.
-Nicaragua
Nicaraguan wrapper tobacco is grown exclusively in Estelí, Nueva Segovia, and Jinotega. This unique blend gives the cigar a slightly sweetened flavor with a touch of natural sweetness.
-Ecuador
Ecuador is home to a wide variety of different wrapper cigar tobaccos. Many Ecuadorian leaves are grown in the northwestern region, where conditions are ideal for wrapper tobacco production.
1. The Color of a Cigar Wrapper Can Identify the Cigar Plant
The different shades and tones of cigar wrapper leaves are derived from the soil, climate, and sunlight that a plant receives. Other cigar wrapper leaves can be harvested from the same plant, which allows for multiple shade variations of the same leaf type. This also means that a cigar wrapper can be identified by its color. The two most common types of wrapper leaf are:
-Dominican (green)
Other names: Bahia, Selecto, Olor. These unique leaves are only grown in the Dominican Republic, typically kept under humid conditions for proper maturation.
-Havana (brown)
Other names: Seco Cubano, San Andrés.
2. Some Cigar Wrappers Are Re-Wrapped
Many premium cigar manufacturers focus on producing their wrapper tobacco for their cigars. That being said, some factories re-wrap cigars with a different blend of tobacco harvested simultaneously. This can be done by leaving the original cigar wrapper on but adding a secondary (or third) leaf over it to adjust and enhance flavor.
3. A Cigar Wrapper Can Be a Part of a Recipe
Some premium cigar manufacturers use specially selected wrapper leaves for their household recipes. For instance, America’s most expensive cigar (Estate Reserve Cohiba) has the same wrapper as their other cigars. These recipes are often made in small batches and are kept secret by the manufacturers. Even though these recipes may not change, you can be sure that if you smoke an Esteli-Wrapped Cohiba, it was harvested using the same recipe as your other cigars.