Cuban cigars - Puroexpress

Processing Cuban Tobacco Leaf

Processing Cuban tobacco leaf can take many months, and sometimes years, before the leaf is ready to be used in production for a cigar. The first step is perhaps the most crucial one that is taken. This is the air curing of the recently harvested tobacco leaves. It helps to remove all the moisture from the leaves and gradually gives the leaves a nice golden brown color for which it is known.

Most of the curing is done by very traditional methods. This means the leaves are simply hung in traditional tobacco houses. The leaves are strung together by thread and hung next to each other as they rest on large sweepers. The light allowed into the houses must be adjusted on a constant basis. This allows for a much more natural variation of temperature and humidity allowed into the house, which the leaves need in order for the curing to occur properly.

May 3, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101, History and Production, Latest Posts

Presentation of the Cuban Cigar

Once the cigar has gone through the entire production process all that is left is the final presentation. For a Cuban cigar, this is just as important as any other stage of the process. No other cigar on the planet takes as much care when it comes to proper presentation and packaging.

Cigars, based on the layers used for them, each have different color tones and hues to them. Accordingly, packers take great care to be sure that those packed in a particular box are all of the same color. There is not artificial coloring process used on Habanos, so there are going to be natural differences in the color because leaves from the upper part of the plant will be darker and darken even more throughout the process of fermentation.

May 3, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101, Latest Posts

How a Habano is Made

Once the growing and curing processes have been completed, it is time for the work to begin in making a Habano. There are certain parts that need to be prepared properly before the cigars can begin to be rolled. This preparation is done with great care and by those with vast experience in working with tobacco.

First, the layers must be prepared. All the leaves have already been properly aged, so the first process to be done is a de-stemming of the leaves. Once this has been completed, the sheaves of forty or fifty sheets are finely sprayed with just pure water. The leaves are hung on racks while this is done to be sure that it is all done evenly and absorbed properly.

May 3, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101, History and Production, Lifestyle

Harvesting Cuban Tobacco Leaves

The harvesting of Cuban tobacco leaves can be a very laborious process. The harvesting itself must be done by hand, and it can often take thirty days or more to harvest just one single plant because of the particular care needed. This insures that the harvesting is done correctly and that no damage is done to the plant itself.

The leaves themselves are not all harvested at once. Everything must be done at particular intervals to make sure it is done correctly. Harvesting is generally done from the bottom up where the plant is considered. This helps to create a delay in the collection and gives the leaves the proper amount of time to grow and mature.

May 3, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101, History and Production, Latest Posts

Cigar Making Methods

Every Habanos that is made is constructed with great care. They are made in the traditional methods as they have always been. This means that those made by hand cannot be matched by any that are created through the use of a machine. Very simple tools are used in the creation of these cigars: a wooden board, a guillotine, two cutters, a gum knob made from natural vegetable that is both tasteless and colorless and the stocks. Of course, the most important tool used is the fine hands of the experienced rollers.

Rollers are broken down into four categories. Only the rollers with the most seniority are permitted to make the bigger and more complex Habanos. There are countless years of training and practice needed in order to master this art. Over time, only one thing has really changed in this entire process. As of now, it is mostly women that are involved in the rolling process. Tradition continues today that the rollers have a reader with them to read to them the local newspaper or a book that has been chosen by the group.

May 3, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101, History and Production

Anatomy of the Cuban Cigar

While each cigar may be slightly different from the next in some ways, for the most part the construction and make-up of the cigar itself remains the same. No matter the specific brand or particular cigar from that brand, the general construct of the cigar is made of the same parts. There is a basic construction and anatomy of the Cuban cigar and each contains three distinct areas that make up the cigar as a whole.

The first part of the cigar itself is referred to as the Tripa, or the Gut. Within this area there are three types of tobacco used to make up the Tripa. Volado is the tobacco sheet that is not as strong as the others. This sheet is particularly known for being able to light well. It is also often referred to as Fortress One.

February 5, 2013

brendan

in Cigar 101