CIGARS AND THEIR QUALITIES 



A cigar consists essentially of three distinct 

 parts : the body or inner part called the filler; 

 the covering of the filler which is called the 

 binder; and the outside finishing cover which 

 is called the wrapper. Cuban cigars, however, 

 consist of filler and wrapper only. 



Except in the case of cigars made in Cuba 

 the wrapper leaf is usually of a different class 

 of tobacco from the rest of the cigar, as the 

 qualities to be fulfilled by each part is different. 

 The qualities required in a cigar must be viewed 

 both from the smokers' and the manufacturers' 

 standpoints and the leaf must be such as to 

 conform to these qualities. Thus the smoker is 

 concerned with the burning quality, the taste, 

 flavor, aroma, color, general appearance and 

 strength of the cigar. The manufacturer in 

 addition to seeking leaf that will answer the 

 smokers' requirements also has an eye to econ- 

 omy and requires the leaf to have qualities re- 

 garding size, weight, texture, etc. Therefore, 

 in the best cigar leaf the following qualities are 

 more or less essential: (1) good color, (2) fair 

 body, (3) a continuous pleasant aroma, (4) 

 fine texture combined with a certain toughness, 

 (5) small ribs and veins, (6) good combustion 

 so that it will hold fire for 4 or five minutes. 

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