When you enter the world of cigars, you need to understand how they are made. One of the essential components you'll be told about from the very start of your journey is the marvellous... the famous... the divine... wrapper leaf. That's why we've decided to tell you all about this sheet, which plays an elementary role in the constitution of your precious vitolas.
The wrapper leaf is the "noblest" part of your cigar. Some Cuban manufacturers will like to debate the usefulness of this leaf, attributing to it essentially aesthetic qualities, so it would simply be a particularly beautiful leaf chosen to enhance the look of the final product, and above all to hide the wrapper leaf which is generally devoid of these same qualities and often less graceful. Yet today, any self-respecting cigar enthusiast will like to attribute gustatory qualities to the wrapper leaf, which amply influences the tasting experience. As a result, cigars from the so-called "new world" make use of wrapper leaves specifically selected for their rich aromas (cigars from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua).
Depending on the methods used for cultivation and fermentation, a wrapper can display a multitude of colors. Appearance says a lot about the cigar when tobacco develops a particular color depending on the conditions in which the plant is grown, as well as the fermentation process.
What are the criteria for identifying a quality cape?
Like a book cover, the wrapper leaf has the basic function of attracting the eye. In a way, it's your cigar's packaging. In many ways, the wrapper leaf introduces the cigar so that connoisseurs can get an idea of the tasting to come, even before they light up. So, as we mentioned earlierIt is appreciated both for its aesthetic qualities and its taste.
To be considered a high-quality cape, the leaf should be fine and delicate, with as few "veins" as possible. The result should express a soft texture and brilliant sheen indicative of the richness of the plant's oils. In this sense, the leaf must be of a substantial size in order to to avoid the appearance of too many grooves and a rough texture.
Conversely, a low-quality cape leaf is likely to have streaks and stains, which are generally caused by a clumsily executed fermentation process. When the veins in the leaf are too visible, this usually means that the leaves used were relatively coarse, and therefore of low quality.
As a result, breakage on a wrapper leaf is generally a sign of poor treatment. Indeed, it indicates that the cigar has probably been stored in unsuitable conditions. Sometimes, signs of mold will indicate an excessively humid storage environment.
That being said, a rough wrapper texture is often considered unsightly, undoubtedly heralding the tasting of a relatively coarse cigar.
There are a number of terms used to define the different types of capes. Some of these terms refer to the color, the country of origin (where the tobacco was grown), but also to the variety of seeds used for cultivation. Some of these terms combine and define all these elements together... It's therefore conceivable that it's not always easy to find your way around.
There are two main sets of capes: "Claro" (natural) and "Maduro". Broadly speaking, these terms could be considered analogous to light and dark. Although these two terms encompass a large number of specific wrappers, they allow the identification of a rudimentary classification that can be applied to a large number of cigars. Indeed, some modules offer two types of wrapper leaf for the same blend. Finally, what really distinguishes these different wrapper types is the variety of colors in which they are found. Some consider that a Claro wrapper tends to be less pronounced in its flavors, while a Maduro wrapper would provide a more marked and powerful taste, yet when you really get down to it, you discover that this is a reductive analysis.
Which part of the tobacco plant is selected for the wrapper?
If we consider the qualities required to produce a quality cigar, today's cigar wrappers are rarely made from "Ligero" leaves, which generally have too rough and thick a texture. Volado" leaves also tend to lack aroma, and for this reason, they don't do well in this honored role.
That's why, as you may have guessed, capes generally come from the "Seco" part of the plant. These leaves possess undeniable aromatic qualities, while delivering a soft, smooth and oily texture!
There are also cultivation techniques that involve covering tobacco leaves with a protective veil to spare the plant from burns caused by the sun's UV rays. Once the tobacco has been harvested, the plant undergoes a meticulous process to ensure that the wrapper is free of any potential imperfections, and thus develops a perfectly even texture.
Color spectrum
Find out all about cigars in our weekly articles: How are cigars portrayed in film? Cigars for beginners, a beginner's guide! The best cutting methods for your cigars Perfect lighting! The cigar enthusiast's guide!
That's why, as you may have guessed, capes generally come from the "Seco" part of the plant. These leaves possess undeniable aromatic qualities, while delivering a soft, smooth and oily texture!
There are also cultivation techniques that involve covering tobacco leaves with a protective veil to spare the plant from burns caused by the sun's UV rays. Once the tobacco has been harvested, the plant undergoes a meticulous process to ensure that the wrapper is free of any potential imperfections, and thus develops a perfectly even texture.
Classification by color
Classification by color is just one indicator, but there are over sixty shades of capes on the market, from light green to black. Below, we describe the most important terms that will enable you to navigate this ladder smoothly. Cape Claro In general, a "Claro" wrapper will be rather light and golden in color. In terms of tasting, it tints the cigar with notes of cedar almonds, toast and often spices, which are particularly present in a wrapper of this type. Many brands and retailers use this term to describe, more or less crudely, a cape that differs from a Maduro cape. This is why "claro" (natural) corresponds to a broader definition of capes that we will identify more precisely in our glossary (Ecuador, Habano, Nicaragua, Corojo and more). The example of a claro cape used in a small module: Ashton Classic Esquire. Cape Colorado "Colorado" simply means "colored" in Spanish. That said, a cape of this type is in the middle of the color spectrum, neither very light nor very dark. It does, however, have a halo that gives it a distinctive orange sheen, found, for example, in the Casa Magna Colorado. "Rosado" is another term sometimes used for this type of leaf, which corresponds more to the pinkish shade sometimes found in certain cigars, such as the Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum. Cape Maduro "Maduro" means "mature" or rather "ripe" in Spanish. In this case, it's a term that refers to the fermentation technique employed (the way in which the tobacco that makes up the wrapper is brought to maturity). Maduro" wrappers undergo a meticulous natural fermentation process that leads to the development of the characteristic dark color of a wrapper of this kind. At one time, these leaves were harvested only from the upper part of the plant, which was most exposed to the sun. Today, it's the fermentation process to which the tobacco leaf is subjected that defines its name. The Alec Bradley Gatekeeper is a good example of a cigar using a wrapper of this type. Cape Oscuro This is the most intense level of coloring; literally, "Oscuro" means dark. You'll often find this type of cape referred to as "Double Maduro" or perhaps even "Maduro forte", so there are many ways to name this shade. The Balmoral Anejo Oscuro uses a cape of this type.Color spectrum
Glossary of popular capes on the market
Brazil Typically, Brazilian capes feature dark colors, almost reminiscent of black jet. The astringent tastes of coffee beans and black pepper are combined with a touch of sweetness. Cigar brands and ranges : CAO OSA, Don Pepin Garcia Jaime Garcia Edition Especial, Cameroon Cameroon capes are grown in Cameroon, as the name suggests, but also in other neighboring Central African countries. Cameroon capes are prized and appreciated by a wide range of connoisseurs for their lush flavors, which provide a natural sweetness. The production of this leaf was the work of Jeremiah Meerapfel, a true celebrity in the cigar world. Growing tobacco in Cameroon was a real challenge, mainly because of the omnipresent political tensions at the heart of this region of the world. Cigar brands and ranges : Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, Arturo Fuente Hemingway,God of Fire by Carlito, Oliva Viejo mundo Candela Cigars rolled with a Candela leaf are easily distinguishable by their intense green color. Before the tobacco plant has reached maturity, the leaves are harvested prematurely and quickly dried to fix the natural chlorophyll contained in the plant. The result is a green wrapper color that is relatively unconventional on the market. Indeed, Candela capes are more commonly found on the American market. This cape leaf gives a typical herbaceous green tea taste with a hint of pepper, giving a rather gentle strength when tasted. Connecticut Broadleaf This is surely the most popular wrapper leaf on the cigar market. It refers to the Connecticut river valley that flows through the state. There are countless cape sheets rolled with this tobacco. The fertile soils of the Connecticut River provide ideal conditions for growing the tobacco plant. These cape leaves are generally associated with a light color and hold special qualities in terms of their smooth, oily texture. At one time, this wrapper was devalued in comparison with its Connecticut shade Broadleaf cousin, but today it is appreciated in contemporary modules that appeal to today's connoisseurs. Tobaccos from a considerable number of regions can be fermented in "glistening Maduro", however, it is impossible to duplicate the authentic sweetness of a true Connecticut Broadleaf. Notes of cedar, grape, dark chocolate, blackcurrant, licorice and chestnut are all signatures of the finest Connecticut Broadleaf. Cigar brands and ranges : Cao Osa,Liga Privada N°9,Don Pepin Garcia Jaime Garcia Edition Especial Connecticut Habano This is a slightly rarer cape on the market. The term refers to Cuban seeds (habanos) grown on land in the Connecticut River Valley. The use of Cuban seeds in foreign crops has been common practice for decades. Indeed, most of the world's best cigar makers had to leave the island of Cuba during Fidèl Castro's revolution. Cigar brands and ranges : E.P. Carillo Inch, Liga Privada T52 Connecticut Shade Connecticut shade cape leaf is one of the most expensive tobacco varieties on the market. These cape leaves are also grown in the Connecticut River Valley. Thus, the word "Shade" means shade. These cape leaves require special care when cultivating the plant. They have an almost honeyed golden color and a soft, light, silky texture. Growing a Connecticut cape leaf is a high-maintenance process. Stakes are driven into the tobacco fields, forming a grid. Wires are then connected between the poles, and lightweight nylon fabric is stretched over the sides, creating a kind of tent under which sunlight is diffused, humidity is captured and temperature optimized. Cigar brands and ranges : Ashton Cabinet Selection, Davidoff Grand Cru, Alec Bradley Connecticut Corojo Corojo is a tobacco variety that was mainly produced as cape leaf. While Corojo tobacco is no longer grown in Cuba, Corojo wrapper leaves are mainly grown in Honduras, while other varieties are created from hybrid seeds in other Central American nations such as Nicaragua. Corojo cigars are often noted for their reddish-brown hues and robust spicy-tart flavor profile. Cigar brands and ranges : A. Flores Gran Reserva Corojo Gran Toro, Caldwell Long Live The King Criollo Criollo translates as "native seed", and is a historic Cuban tobacco seed. The plant's origins can be traced back to Christopher Columbus's discovery of the "New World". Today, Criollo leaf is grown in Nicaragua, Mexico and Honduras. In terms of color, Criollo leaf is tinged with red and brown earth tones, with notes of molasses, cedar and coffee beans. Cigar brands and ranges : Gurkha Ghost Gold,Caldwell Linea Blind Mans Bluff, Alec Bradley Post Embargo Dominican Republic Tobacco grown in the Dominican Republic has been used for generations, but it's only in the last 25 years that the country has really developed its wrapper leaf production. For years, veteran exile cigar makers claimed it was impossible to grow wrapper leaf in the Dominican Republic. Carlito Fuente, bold as he was, set out to conquer this daunting challenge; to produce his own wrapper leaves on Dominican soil. After an undeniable number of trials and failures, he finally achieved his goal and developed his now legendary "Opus X" line in the mid-90s. This was the first Dominican Puro of its kind, and today it remains one of the most coveted cigars. All its tobaccos are grown in the famous Chateau Fuente, as is the magnificent copper-tinted wrapper leaf. Today, other brands also make use of this wrapper. Cigar brands and ranges : Drew Estate Undercrown Shade, Davidoff Dominicana, Fuente FuenteOpus X Ecuador Ecuador has established itself as a central production zone over the past three decades. Let's face it, the Oliva family holds a strong responsibility for tobacco growing in this region. Indeed, the Oliva family owns a number of farms in Ecuador that actively cultivate plants for wrapper leaf use for a number of popular brands. Cigar brands and ranges : Brun Del Ré, AVO Regional Ecuador Connecticut Connecticut tobacco seeds have been grown in Ecuador for several years now. These transplanted crops are called "Ecuador Connecticut". Like "Connecticut shade grown", this leaf features golden and light-brown colors. However, Equator leaves are typically paler and drier. The taste of a Cape Connecticut leaf is distinctive, with hints of white pepper, leather, nuts and particularly spicy. This is a relatively rare cape on the market. Cigar brands and ranges : E.P. Carillo new wave reserva Ecuador Habano The last decade has seen a boom in the development of "Habano" tobacco plantations off the island. "Habano" referring to tobacco varieties of Cuban origin grown in Ecuador. These wrapper leaves have stolen the limelight from a number of other varieties in recent years, but this is largely due to the increasing number of cigar makers who depend on the leaf when it comes to producing their best-selling cigars. Added to this is the fact that consumers prefer spicier, fuller smokes. Cape Habanos Ecuador leaves can vary in color from medium to very dark red, while others are milky and chocolatey. Cigar brands and ranges : Caldwell Linea Blind Mans Bluff, AJ Fernandez San Lontano Oval Ecuador Sumatra Ecuadorian "Sumatra" cape leaves are grown in Ecuador by prominent Ecuadorian growers. Today, the Oliva family supplies this tobacco variety, which was originally put on the map by the Ashton VSG brand. Carlito Fuente produced the Ashton VSG blend in the late 90s. Cigar demand for this type of leaf began to spread widely, as the trend among cigar aficionados shifted towards fuller aromatic profiles. This dark wrapper is inimitable. Its lush, lustrous, almost lacquered appearance. Cigar brands and ranges : Paradiso Revelation Leviathan Habanos The leaves of Cape "Habanos" come from Cuban seeds that are treated with a Cuban-style fermentation process. To some extent, Habano can be considered simply a broad term used mainly when these seeds were exported to other parts of the world, notably Ecuador and Nicaragua. If the term is not accompanied by such regional precision, it's usually because, from seed origin to production, the leaf comes from Cuba. Cigars wrapped in a Habano wrapper are often characterized by a rich, earthy aromatic profile. Cigar brands and ranges : all Habanos brands Honduras When you think of Honduras, you don't necessarily think of tobacco growing, and yet... In the 80s, Honduras enjoyed international status as the world's leading producer of premium tobaccos. As is often the case, a civil war and an extended period of political conflict forced a number of Nicaraguan cigar makers in the early 90s to move to Honduras, offering the opportunity to become a major tobacco producer, and Honduras began to produce a significant number of brands. Honduran tobaccos tend to exhibit a thicker, rougher texture with more pronounced veins. Cigar brands and ranges : Alec Bradley Magic toast, Indonesia Indonesian tobaccos are mainly used in the manufacture of machine-made industrial cigars. However, Indonesia has a special history of tobacco production. Swedish Match opened a factory in this part of the world in 1990, perceiving a considerable opportunity in the work ethic possessed by the locals. Cigar brands and ranges : Hiram & Solomon Traveling Man™ Nicaragua In the last two decades, Nicaragua has rivalled the Dominican Republic in terms of international cigar exports. In general, when a country name is used to define the name of the wrapper, it refers to the place where the plant was cultivated. Cigar brands and ranges : Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Pennsylvania Broadleaf Pennsylvania's tobacco-growing history dates back to the 1700s. First grown in the Lancaster area, the Pennsylvania Broadleaf was harvested by Amish farmers. The Pennsylvania Broadleaf leaf. Cigar brands and ranges : Camacho American Barrel Aged San Andrés The San Andrés Valley in Mexico's Veracruz state is home to fertile volcanic soils. Winds from the Gulf of Mexico influence the climate of this extremely humid area. San Andrés capes are known for their powerful aromatic profiles. With extremely resilient leaves, they can withstand a long fermentation process. These leaves tend to be dark brown, sometimes even black. As a result, this type of wrapper delivers an aromatic profile with notes of almonds, black pepper, coffee and intense dark chocolate. Cigar brands and ranges : E.P. Carillo La Historia San Andres Oscuro Oscuro means "to darken" in Spanish. This type of wrapper leaf undergoes a shorter fermentation process at a lower temperature than the standard typically applied for Maduro wrappers. These capes have a specifically dark color, due to the fact that the leaf is harvested at the very top of the tobacco plant, giving it the opportunity to fully absorb the sun. Cigar brands and ranges : Balmoral Anejo XO Oscuro, E. P. Carrillo Seleccion Oscuro Sumatra The Indonesian islands of Sumatra produce tobacco. The best "Sumatra" capes are generally grown in Ecuador... However, Sumatra capes grown on the island are used in a significant number of high-quality blends. Aromatic notes: Floral notes of coconut, grass, cinnamon and earth that gently caress the palate. Cigar brands and ranges : Davidoff Club Cigarillos Sun Grown "Sun grown" refers to a cultivation process rather than a specific region or variety. Sun Grown capes are grown under direct sunlight, without the aid of nylon, or any instrument likely to reduce the light passing directly through the plant. In particular, cape leaves directly exposed to the sun produce a lot of oil, providing natural protection. Cigar brands and ranges : Arturo Fuente Magnum R (Rosado sungrown), Plasencia Alma FuegoFind out all about cigars in our weekly articles: How are cigars portrayed in film? Cigars for beginners, a beginner's guide! The best cutting methods for your cigars Perfect lighting! The cigar enthusiast's guide!
