Cigars have been on the scene and enjoyed by millions for centuries, and the collective knowledge on cigars could fill an entire library. Here we create for you a brief guide to cigars; their history, their components, and the terminology behind them. Below is everything that you need to know to open up your door to the world of cigars. It is almost certain that you will discover a vast expanse of knowledge that you were unaware existed.

The history of cigars can be compared to the history of tobacco in general. Native Americans would smoke their tobacco through a pipe or rolled into a large leaf, many centuries before Christopher Columbus travelled to America in 1492. Columbus is often credited with bringing tobacco and cigars back to Europe; however, Native Americans were the first to use tobacco wrapped up in what can be described as the early form of a cigar.

It may come as a surprise to most to hear that a cigar has components. Surely it is just some tobacco rolled up in a cigar wrapper? This is not the case. Researching the components of a cigar will help you discover where the flavour comes from.

The cigar wrapping is the outer layer and is the first thing you will see when looking at a cigar and can greatly determine the overall distinguishing flavour of a cigar. Manufacturers from across the globe have created over a hundred different variants of cigar wrappers, which vary in taste from lightest to darkest.

The binder of a cigar holds the tobacco filler inside. Quite often, a cigar’s binder will be made from wrappers that were not used due to holes, blemishes, or had discolouration. The filler is simply the tobacco inside the cigar. The tobacco inside the cigar will have the biggest impact on the overall flavour of the cigar.

There are a number of terms used for a variety of aspects of cigars. These can often be misinterpreted or misunderstood, not just by beginners, but often by experts too. Some of the common cigar terms include:

Strength – The strength of a cigar is measured by the amount of nicotine is in the cigar. This can often be referred to as the cigar’s kick. However, over their years in storage, the strength of a cigar can be reduced.

 

Flavour – The flavour of a cigar is not referring to whether or not it tastes of cherry or vanilla. This term is referring to the pure flavour that comes from the climate where the tobacco was grown. The aging, blending and storage of tobacco will also greatly affect the flavour.

Scent – The scent of a cigar is referring to the general scent surrounding the cigar before it has been lit. Similarly to the flavour, the scent is greatly affected by the climate in which the tobacco of the cigar is grown.

Should you require a further insight into the world of cigars, contact you local tobacconist. Their expert knowledge will be more than beneficial to anyone wishing to start their own cigar collection or to expand their existing knowledge on the subject.