The Cigar Wrapper Helps Determine a Cigar's Character and Flavor
The cigar wrapper will determine most of the cigar's character and flavor. In fact, it will determine about 70% of those characteristics, according to some expert sources.
A good wrapper should have flavor and steady-burning qualities. There are six major color grades of cigar wrappers. They are listed below in order from the lightest (or neutral) to the boldest of flavor:
- Claro: light tan, grown under tents and are neutral in flavor.
- Candela: light green often called double claro and cured with a heat-assisted quick drying process to retain the chlorophyll content in the leaf.
- Natural: light brown and generally shade grown.
- Colorado: a brown to reddish and has a rich flavor and subtle aroma.
- Maduro: darkest of all shades of brown, requiring a longer process, typically silky and oily with a rich strong flavor and aroma.
- Oscuro: boldest in flavor. often referred to as Double Maduro with oily appearance and stays on the plant the longest and is matured or sweated the longest
