The language of the leaf.

The paper band applied to the cigar. It identifies a brand or line, but does not seal quality or authenticity on its own.

The phase in which anilla and other finishes are applied to the cigar after selection and rest.

Tobacco stored for an extended period before or after manufacturing. Time can integrate aromas, it does not automatically correct a mediocre raw material.

Glass vase traditionally used to store and present some cigars.

The aromas perceived on the unlit cigar, especially from the foot and head. They offer clues, not a complete prediction of the smoke.

Mineral residue from combustion. Color and compactness tell about construction and combustion, but are not an absolute quality report.

The leaf that wraps the tripa and gives shape and stability to the bonche before applying the capa.

The designed combination of leaves, origins, varieties and locations on the plant that defines the character of the cigar.

Thin crystalline film sometimes associated with the migration of oils. It must be distinguished from mold with caution: when in doubt, do not improvise the diagnosis.

The bundle formed by tripa and hood before it is covered by the hood.

The part of the cigar that is brought to the mouth; coincides with the head in the parejos.

Cigar with a square section, obtained by pressing in the box or in dedicated molds.

English term equivalent to bonche: the internal body of the cigar before the cap.

Box, often made of wood, designed to store cigars in bundles or rows with a less rigid presentation than the classic dress box.

Asymmetric burning where one side advances further than the other, creating a canoe-like shape.

The outer leaf, chosen for elasticity, appearance and combustion. It contributes to the aroma, but does not alone determine the strength of the cigar.

See binder: the intermediate leaf that contains the tripa and supports the structure.

Small circular tool used by the torcedor to obtain the portion intended for the head from the capa.

Thin strip of cedar used to light the cigar with a soft, controllable flame.

Breathable casing that protects the cigar from abrasion and attenuates rapid exchanges of humidity without creating an airtight seal.

Diameter of the cigar expressed in sixty-fourths of an inch. A cepo 52 measures 52/64 of an inch.

Semicircular torcedor knife, used to cut and trim leaves on the bench.

Color indication for light caps. Color is not a reliable measure of strength.

Capa with a reddish-brown tone, often placed between claro and maduro.

Intermediate shade between claro and colorado, with golden-brown reflections.

Darker colorado tone, close to maduro but still with reddish undertones.

The brazier line that separates ash and the part not yet burned. A smooth line facilitates stable smoking.

Variety and seed family historically associated with Cuban capas; today the name can indicate seeds or profiles grown in different countries.

Broad term for varieties developed from locally acclimated seeds. It does not identify a single taste or a single genetic.

Wooden rod on which leaves are hung in nursing homes.

Controlled drying after harvest. It reduces water and initiates color, structure and aroma transformations.

Partial or total removal of the central vein of the leaf, according to the intended function of the cigar.

Resistance encountered when drawing on the cigar. Too closed limits smoking; too open can accelerate heat and combustion.

Brief rest of the cigar outside the humidor, in a controlled environment, to reduce excess humidity before smoking.

Name used in specific programs, especially Habanos, with its own criteria. The word “limited” should always be read in conjunction with the manufacturer's rules.

Selection and classification of leaves by size, color, quality and destination.

Family of cigars with at least one tapered end or a shape other than the regular cylinder.

The inner leaves that form the heart of the cigar and build combustion, strength and aromatic development.

Tobacco cured with the heat and smoke of selected woods. It is central to the Kentucky tradition and the Toscano cigar.

The end that lights up, normally open in parejos.

Cuban classification of the strength and function of tripa leaves, linked above all to the position on the plant.

The department where the torcedores make the cigars by hand.

Closed end brought to the mouth. In handmade cigars it is finished with a perilla or cap.

Container or environment designed to maintain stable conditions suitable for cigars.

Instrument that measures relative humidity. It must be calibrated and read together with the temperature and the actual behavior of the cigars.

Tall leaves of the plant, more exposed to the sun and generally thicker, oilier and intense.

Tripa composed of whole or long leaves, arranged along the cigar.

Dark capa obtained from mature leaves and adequate fermentations. It doesn't automatically mean stronger cigar.

Small leaves that can develop in the upper part of some plants, rich in oils and used sparingly.

Fungal growth favored by excessive humidity or contamination. It should not be confused with harmless efflorescence without careful examination.

Very dark head, often the result of thick leaves and intense fermentation.

Regular cylindrical cigar with parallel sides, open foot and closed head.

Figurado tapered at both ends, with wider central part.

Small portion of capa applied to the head to close and finish the cigar.

Stack of leaves constructed for fermentation. Temperature and humidity are monitored and the pylon is turned over when necessary.

Progressive collection of leaves by levels, from bottom to top, following maturation.

Cigar whose tobacco components come from the same country. It does not necessarily mean a single region or a single variety.

Circular hole drilled on the head. It retains part of the cap but can concentrate the flow.

Gently blow through the lit cigar to expel gas and rebalance an overheated smoke.

Restart after shutdown. First, it is best to remove the ash and warm the foot without carbonizing it.

Commercial or regulated term depending on the manufacturer. It alone does not guarantee a universal age.

Passage of a small part of the smoke from the mouth to the nasal cavities without breathing it into the lungs. Amplifies the aromatic perception.

Leaf of medium-low position, generally aromatic and important for regularity and combustion.

Cultivation under sheets that filter the sun, favoring thinner and more elastic leaves often destined for the head.

Filling composed of pieces of leaf, often obtained from selected clippings. It can be used in hand or mechanized cigars.

Transition area between body and head. The cut should remain above the shoulder to prevent the head from opening.

Tobacco grown in direct light, usually thicker and more structured than shade-grown.

Traditional bale covered with royal palm bark, used for the refinement of some leaves.

Micro-reliefs visible on certain capas, due to the structure of the leaf and the presence of small pockets of oils.

Craftsman specialized in the manual making of cigars.

Indication that identifies a cigar made entirely by hand according to the practices declared by the manufacturer.

Head finished with multiple flaps or cape passages, traditionally associated with Cuban manufacturing.

Defect in which the tripa burns faster than capa and capote, digging an internal channel.

Individual hard case, often made of aluminium, which protects the cigar during transport and sale.

In Cuba, plantations selected to produce tobacco for Habanos according to supply chain criteria.

Tobacco grower; in a broader sense, a person linked to the work of vega.

Technical name of the format used in the factory, based on length, diameter and shape.

Commercial name with which a cigar is presented to the public, which may differ from the vitola de galera.

Lower leaves of the plant, light but precious for combustion.

English term for capa, the outer leaf of the cigar.

Traditional coating obtained from palm trees, used in some phases of tobacco packaging or refinement.