6. Sumatra:
Sumatra wrappers are grown in Indonesia and typically carry a milder, more neutral flavor. They are dark brown with a hint of spice and a sweet aroma.
7. Connecticut Shade Wrappers:
Perhaps the silkiest wrappers around, Connecticut Shade wrappers are recognizable for their light, golden brown color. They are mild and have remarkably unobtrusive veins. For more flavor, look for the seed grown in Honduras or the volcanic soil of Ecuador.
8. Broadleaf Maduro:
This sun grown leaf is grown in Connecticut, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Brazil. As to be expected from the Maduro method, it is very dark with rich, sweet flavors and aromas. Though the wrapper will be thick and veiny, a well crafted one will have a texture like velvet.
9. Claro:
These are synonymous with Jade wrappers. They are light in color and can even be a bit green. Becoming harder and harder to find, they are mild with a hint of sourness.
10. Cameroon:
African-raised Cameroon wrappers are becoming increasingly popular among cigar makers, who are developing an appreciation for their spicy flavor and sweet aromas. They are dark brown and can be found in cigars made by Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, and La Aurora, among others.
To be sure, you will recognize many of the above terms from your experience with cigars to date. They are commonly used as part of a cigar's name, and frequently referenced by cigar merchants and magazines. Now that you are equipped with this arsenal, you can more freely explore the wide range of tastes, aromas and visual aesthetics available in cigars, and perhaps more accurately describe your preferences. For those of you that are interested in exploring cigars for the first time, selecting several that each embody one of the above concepts is a fun and educational starting point!
Article comments
1 - DrPat
While I am not a smoker, I'm glad Justene picked this post out for the editor's list - it's always interesting to to get an idea of where the jargon comes from!
2 - Temple Stark
Blogcritics' editors liked this one. It's a pick of the week. Congrats. Put the news up proudly on your site.
Here's a link to the rest of this week's picks and the reason why.
3 - Gabriel Nogueira de Matos
100% right, a nice wrapper makes all the difference when buying and smoking a cigar.
4 - Richard
I was recently enjoying a Romeo y Julieta Cigar wit my brother and he mentioned that they use cannibus as one of the ingredients in their cigars. I don't believe this and there is noting on any website that indicates this. Can you close the book on this
5 - Tony
How can you (or any person) claim that the wrapper lends more flavor than the filler (or binder for that matter). You'd have to at least qualify that statement by saying which wrapper. You can't possibly state a candela wrapper would impart 60% of the cigar's total flavor. After reading that statement I quit reading this. It's quacks like you / them that turn people off from trying certain luxury items (like cigars and wine).
6 - high level summary
There are many more reasons why people shade grow wrapper tobacco, you've only listed a few and not the more interesting (like sun spots and diffused versus direct light and what that does for photosynthesis, avoidance of tobacco blemishes, etc).
People reading this article - please take it for what it's worth: a snipet of a high level summary of techniques and knowledge that goes back 100's of years. If you find this article interesting, please continue to research and learn and don't just regurgitate this info.
7 - sr
I would think Monica Wolinsky would be the expert as the cigar aficonado. Is it better with or without a wrapper. Only Bill and Monica know. I love great cigar's just like Rush does. Would hate to see a great smoke wasted on a hoe.
8 - Tommyontime
I agree with SR. Both of us think that Ms. "Wolinsky" could render a rather knowledgeable opinion about wrappers-better with one on or without? Here here to Monica and Bill. Could I freshen your drink SR? Anyhow, a simple test of wrapper influence to taste would be to cut the wrapper off of the first ½ inch of the cigar. Smoke it and note the difference when you begin to burn wrapper. I didn’t believe it either but it is true. I still think Monica should know better.
9 - discount cigars
I had to agree you are perfectly right here. And the 10 things we should know about them are awesome and I agreed with every one of them. Keep posting like this and maybe it will have some impact on more people than just me.
10 - hogwash
i tried the wrapper test, makes no difference. wrapper is purely aesthetic