A Guide to Maduro Wrapper (from cigar.com)
09/03/2009 by blogger
This article originally appeared in the Cigar.com Newsletter, found here.
Maduro cigars are the industry’s biggest misconception. Although many individuals do not prefer a maduro as their everyday cigar, most enjoy them as an occasional change of pace. Storing away a nice supply of dark, oily maduros is a great move, as they tend to age extremely well. Whether it be for everyday or as a special treat, maduros certainly deserve a spot in your rotation.
So, what makes a cigar a maduro and how many different varieties exist? One reason many aficionados are not daily maduro fans lies in their unfamiliarity with the entire creation process and the cigar’s unique taste. Find a good maduro and you’ll enjoy it everyday!
The word maduro literally translates to “ripe” in Spanish. After tobacco leaves are harvested from the plants, they are taken into the curing barn where over a 45 day period they change from green to brown. From there, the leaves ferment in large “pilones” or piles for up to three years. During fermentation, the leaves change from light to dark brown as the sugars extract and the leaves become less tannic.
How long a leaf needs to ferment depends on the leaf’s thickness and nutrient content, which is determined by many factors including seed type, growing region and the priming on the plant. For a tobacco leaf to naturally ripen into a true maduro, it can take three to five years of fermentation and requires a very hefty, thick leaf. For this reason, many seeds and tobacco types can never become true maduros because they spawn thin, delicate leaves.
The 3+ years of fermentation required to naturally darken each leaf can be so destructive that these varieties ultimately fall apart and almost disintegrate before they achieve the sweetness and dark oily color associated with a true maduro. For example, Cameroon, Sumatra, and Connecticut-seed tobacco produces thin leaves and cannot be fermented into maduro wrappers. So which seeds and tobacco varieties are ideal? I’m glad you asked. The following is a quick guide to some of the most popular varieties.
US Broadleaf: Grown throughout the Northeastern United States, most prominently in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The Connecticut variety creates a nice subtle and smooth sweetness while the Pennsylvania grown broadleaf tends to have a richer, spicier quality mixed with underlying sweet notes (Examples: Connecticut – Macanudo Maduro, Pennsylvania – Diesel).
Habano: Usually described as Criollo, Habano-seed, and at times Corojo, Cuban-seed wrapper is most often grown in the heartiest varieties throughout Nicaragua and Honduras making Habano wrapper from these regions ideal for a rich, earthy and semi-sweet wrapper (Example: Carlos Toraño Exodus Gold).
San Andres: Cuban-seed tobacco harvested in Mexico’s San Andres region, San Andres wrapper comes in a variety of shades but is noted for its smooth and toasty qualities accompanying a sweetness you find in almost every maduro. This wrapper pairs well with most any filler making it a prime choice for blenders. (Example: Nica Libre and Padron Anniversary).
Jaltepec: The same Cuban-seed tobacco grown in San Andres only harvested in Costa Rica. This wrapper has many of the San Andres qualities but is decidedly sweeter due to the nutrient rich soil in Costa Rica. (Example: 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ and Graycliff 1666).
Arapiraca: Grown in Brazil, this seed sprouts a very strong, thick, and healthy plant in most tropical environments. The wrapper is exceptionally dark and sweet with leathery undertones. (Example: Cigar.com Brazilian Label).
Mata Fina:Grown in Brazil’s Bahia region, Mata Fina is a marbleized looking wrapper with some color inconsistencies but delivers big time on flavor, which is both sweet and spicy. (Example: CAO Brazilia).
09/03/2009 by blogger
This article originally appeared in the Cigar.com Newsletter, found here.
Maduro cigars are the industry’s biggest misconception. Although many individuals do not prefer a maduro as their everyday cigar, most enjoy them as an occasional change of pace. Storing away a nice supply of dark, oily maduros is a great move, as they tend to age extremely well. Whether it be for everyday or as a special treat, maduros certainly deserve a spot in your rotation.
So, what makes a cigar a maduro and how many different varieties exist? One reason many aficionados are not daily maduro fans lies in their unfamiliarity with the entire creation process and the cigar’s unique taste. Find a good maduro and you’ll enjoy it everyday!
The word maduro literally translates to “ripe” in Spanish. After tobacco leaves are harvested from the plants, they are taken into the curing barn where over a 45 day period they change from green to brown. From there, the leaves ferment in large “pilones” or piles for up to three years. During fermentation, the leaves change from light to dark brown as the sugars extract and the leaves become less tannic.
How long a leaf needs to ferment depends on the leaf’s thickness and nutrient content, which is determined by many factors including seed type, growing region and the priming on the plant. For a tobacco leaf to naturally ripen into a true maduro, it can take three to five years of fermentation and requires a very hefty, thick leaf. For this reason, many seeds and tobacco types can never become true maduros because they spawn thin, delicate leaves.
The 3+ years of fermentation required to naturally darken each leaf can be so destructive that these varieties ultimately fall apart and almost disintegrate before they achieve the sweetness and dark oily color associated with a true maduro. For example, Cameroon, Sumatra, and Connecticut-seed tobacco produces thin leaves and cannot be fermented into maduro wrappers. So which seeds and tobacco varieties are ideal? I’m glad you asked. The following is a quick guide to some of the most popular varieties.
US Broadleaf: Grown throughout the Northeastern United States, most prominently in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The Connecticut variety creates a nice subtle and smooth sweetness while the Pennsylvania grown broadleaf tends to have a richer, spicier quality mixed with underlying sweet notes (Examples: Connecticut – Macanudo Maduro, Pennsylvania – Diesel).
Habano: Usually described as Criollo, Habano-seed, and at times Corojo, Cuban-seed wrapper is most often grown in the heartiest varieties throughout Nicaragua and Honduras making Habano wrapper from these regions ideal for a rich, earthy and semi-sweet wrapper (Example: Carlos Toraño Exodus Gold).
San Andres: Cuban-seed tobacco harvested in Mexico’s San Andres region, San Andres wrapper comes in a variety of shades but is noted for its smooth and toasty qualities accompanying a sweetness you find in almost every maduro. This wrapper pairs well with most any filler making it a prime choice for blenders. (Example: Nica Libre and Padron Anniversary).
Jaltepec: The same Cuban-seed tobacco grown in San Andres only harvested in Costa Rica. This wrapper has many of the San Andres qualities but is decidedly sweeter due to the nutrient rich soil in Costa Rica. (Example: 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ and Graycliff 1666).
Arapiraca: Grown in Brazil, this seed sprouts a very strong, thick, and healthy plant in most tropical environments. The wrapper is exceptionally dark and sweet with leathery undertones. (Example: Cigar.com Brazilian Label).
Mata Fina:Grown in Brazil’s Bahia region, Mata Fina is a marbleized looking wrapper with some color inconsistencies but delivers big time on flavor, which is both sweet and spicy. (Example: CAO Brazilia).
