Cigar FAQs, the smouldering answers to your burning questions.

Sometimes a blog is informative and useful to the reader, to inspire and educate; sometimes a blog is used to answer questions that people ask in order to bring them to your site. To be entirely transparent, this is a little more from column B than column A. If you are here reading this, enjoy, I hope you find something useful, if not just a little bit funny.

 

1. What is a cigar?

A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves, designed to be smoked. Unlike cigarettes, cigars use whole tobacco leaves, and are not intended to be inhaled into the lungs. The cigar experience is more about flavour and aroma rather than nicotine consumption alone, however cigars do provide nicotine via absorption through the tissue in the cheeks. Cigars come in various shapes, sizes, and strengths, catering to different tastes and preferences.

 

2. How are cigars made?/ What is the difference between hand made and machine made cigars?

Cigars can be made in two ways, the first is machine made cigars. Machine made cigars are, as the name suggests, made by a machine. These cigars are generally cheaper and lower quality than premium, handmade ones, generally using chopped up pieces of tobacco rather than whole leaves and sometimes using homogenised wrappers, made from tobacco scraps that have been turned into a type of paper, Frankenstein style. 

The other way cigars can be produced is by hand. Handcrafted cigars are produced by skilled artisans, usually in regions known for their rich tobacco-growing traditions, such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. The process starts with curing and fermenting the tobacco leaves. Then, a "bunch" is formed by rolling filler leaves, which are wrapped in a binder leaf. The final wrapper leaf is applied to give the cigar its finished appearance. Each step is done by hand to ensure quality control.

At CaLaDa we believe that hand rolled cigars are better cigars, don't believe us? Have a look for yourself here.

 

 

3. What is a cigar wrapper?

The wrapper is the outermost leaf of a cigar, responsible for much of the cigar’s initial flavour and appearance. Wrappers come in various shades, from yellowy light Connecticut wrappers to dark brown Maduro wrappers. The quality of the wrapper is crucial, as the wrapper influences the cigar’s burn, draw, and a significant portion of the flavour profile.

 

4. What is a cigar filler?

The filler is the tobacco blend that makes up most of the cigar, providing the majority of the flavour. Cigars can have short filler (chopped-up leaves) or long filler (whole leaves). Premium cigars almost always use long filler, which allows for a more complex smoking experience. The filler blend, usually a mix of different tobaccos, contributes to the cigar’s strength and character. 

 

5. What is a cigar binder?

The binder is the leaf that holds the filler tobacco together. It is located between the filler and the wrapper. Although it is not as visible or flavourful as the wrapper, the binder plays a crucial role in how the cigar burns and how well it holds its shape - the unsung hero of the cigar world.

 

6. What is the difference between a handmade and machine-made cigar?

Handmade cigars are crafted entirely by skilled artisans, making each one unique and of higher quality. Machine-made cigars are mass-produced and often contain short filler or tobacco scraps. Handmade cigars usually offer more complex flavours, a better burn, and overall higher quality than machine-made cigars.

At CaLaDa we only stock handmade cigars, find them here and enjoy a premium smoke at a reasonable price.

 

7. What are New World cigars?

New World cigars refer to cigars made outside of Cuba, typically in countries such as Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras and even Mexico. These countries have established themselves as top cigar producers, offering a variety of flavours and styles that are distinct from Cuban cigars. Interestingly, these ‘New World’ cigars were traditionally produced by cuban migrants, thus all of the historic knowledge and skill that goes into perfecting tobacco blends and cigar rolling has been maintained in the new world. Much like new world wines, these cigars are often of the same, if not higher quality than Cuban cigars, however without the history or accolades of the old world, these cigars are generally a cheaper offering.

At CaLaDa we are New World lovers, have at look at our New World offerings here (Click the links to see!):

Dominican Republic

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

 

8. What are Cuban cigars, and how do they differ from other cigars?

Cuban cigars are considered the gold standard due to Cuba’s ideal growing conditions and long history of cigar craftsmanship. They are renowned for their rich, full flavours. Cuban cigars differ from other cigars mainly due to the specific type of tobacco used (Cuban seed) and their unique terroir (dirt). However, New World cigars from Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic have rivalled Cuban cigars in terms of quality. New world cigars first came about when cubans migrated to these New World countries, thus all of the historic knowledge of cigars has been maintained, furthermore, many New World cigars use ‘cuban seed’ which essentially means that the tobacco used is the same species as traditional cubans cigars, as a result, New World cigars are often of the same, if not greater quality than cuban cigars, and at a cheaper price point as they do not come from the traditional old world countries.

 

9. How do I choose my first cigar?

Choosing a first cigar can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. Traditionally cigar shops will, after turning their nose up at you because you’re not an aficionado, recommend a more mild flavoured cigar. At CaLaDa we generally disagree with this advice, if you like the intense flavours of black coffee, dark chocolate, or neat spirits, you may already be accustomed to a stronger flavour and thus enjoy a fuller body. Essentially the main thing that we recommend doing is purchasing a variety of cigars (obviously, we are a cigar shop) and working out what you like. Just keep in mind that different cigars provide different experiences, just because you don’t like one cigar definitely does not mean you don’t like cigars overall. 

Try out beginner’s set here: CaLaDa Beginner Taster 

Alternatively, have a look through our budget options 

 

10. What is cigar strength?

Cigar strength refers to the nicotine content in the tobacco. Strength can range from mild to full. A cigar with high strength has more nicotine, which might make you feel lightheaded if you’re not accustomed to smoking. Generally cigar shops will recommend beginners try a more mild strength cigar to begin with, however if you’re smoking a pack of Marlborough Reds a day, this advice is irrelevant. If you are accustomed (addicted) to nicotine you can choose what you like regarding strength, if you have a lower tolerance choose something more mild, simple.

Have a look at our explanation page here to learn about cigar strength.

 

11. What is cigar body?

Cigar body refers to the overall intensity of the flavours in a cigar, not to be confused with strength (nicotine level) . A mild-bodied cigar may offer subtle, smooth flavours, while a full-bodied cigar will have bold, complex flavours. If you like your coffee with milk and sugar and your chocolate milk or white, a milder cigar is probably your bag (baby). If you take your whiskey neat, coffee black and bed at three, a fuller bodied cigar is probably your thing. You can’t knock it until you try it.

Have a look at out explanation page here to learn about cigar body.

 

12. What is a cigar’s flavour profile?

Generally cigar people say that a cigar’s flavour profile includes the range of tastes and aromas you experience while smoking. According to these traditionalists (tossers) common flavours in cigars include notes of wood, leather, earth, spice, cocoa, and even sweetness. While we may not be the most experienced cigar smokers in the world here at CaLaDa, we generally think that flavour notes are stupid. Much like wine, if you are searching for the flavour notes, you might find them, however if you’re not searching for them, don’t expect a cigar to actually taste like caramel. Generally we think cigars taste like tobacco, there is a wide range of tobaccoey flavour to taste, and you’ll probably find one you like, however cigars taste like cigars, not chocolate.

Want to take it one step further and learn about pairings? Read this right here if you do.

 

13. What is a vitola, and why does it matter?

A vitola is the shape and size of a cigar, cigar smokers will tell you that a thicker cigar will burn more slowly and provide a cooler longer smoke and a thinner cigar will burn faster and provide a more intense smoke. We don’t believe that, vitola, in our opinion means nothing other than the way a cigar feels in your hand, as a result we don’t even sort our cigars by vitola, as anyone can just make one up, they don’t really mean much. The only thing we can really see a vitola influencing, other than making you look cool with a massive cigar in your hand, is smoke time, as a result we list the smoke times of all of our cigars rather than the shape or size they are. 

 

14. How do different cigar shapes and sizes affect the smoking experience?

We don’t think they do. People say that cigar shapes and sizes (vitolas) influence the burn rate, draw, and how the flavours develop, no chance. They will tell you that larger ring gauges tend to burn cooler and longer, while smaller ring gauges often deliver a more intense flavour, nope. An aficionado will proudly state that shapes like the Torpedo or Perfecto can focus flavours in certain areas of the smoke due to their unique tapers NO! A cigar is a cigar is a cigar, if you like it buy it again, if you don’t, throw it in the bin and send me a hate email. Don’t limit yourself to a certain cigar shape, or expect an experience from a cigar because ‘this one is a torpedo’, finding what you like, as with anything else in life, is a process of trial and error, at CaLaDa we have stripped down our range to the absolute minimum to remove all the bumf from cigar shopping. 

Have a look at our cigars and find one you like, simple as.

 

15. How should I store cigars?

Cigars should be stored in a humidor at around 70% humidity and 70°F (21°C). If the humidity of a cigar is too low, it will try out, this will make the cigar burn too fast and make the smoke far harsher in flavour. Conversely, cigars that are too moist won’t burn properly and may even develop mold over time. We ship every cigar order with a Boveda pack to ensure each and every cigar you receive is at the perfect humidity to smoke on the spot, or store away in a cupboard for when the time is right.

 

16. What is a humidor, and do I need one?

A humidor is a wooden box, that’s pretty much it. Humidors are used to keep cigars at the ideal humidity level, however, the box itself actually has nothing to do with it. The humidity packs within the humidor absorb and release moisture as needed to ensure that the humidity level remains at about 70% (the general humidity level for cigars). As such, a plastic bag with a Boveda pack in it will pretty much do the same thing.

 

17. How do I cut a cigar properly?

A cigar has two ends, the foot, generally the part that is already cut when you buy the cigar, and the head, the bit that you put in your mouth. When cutting a cigar you may see, at the tippy top, a circular piece of tobacco leaf called the cap, generally when cutting a cigar you just just off this cap (about 3mm). If you cut off significantly more then the cigar wrapper may unravel and make your cigar fall apart, if you cut off much less than this you may have issues actually drawing the smoke into your mouth to enjoy the cigar.

Wow a link to cutters? Right here? Conveniently within this blog post?!!?

Check out our cutters here

 

18. What are the different types of cigar cutters?

The most common types of cigar cutters include the guillotine (straight cut), the V-cutter (which makes a wedge-shaped cut), and the punch cutter (which creates a circular hole). The straight cut is the most popular and versatile, while the V-cut and punch cut are favoured by some smokers for a more focused draw. At CaLaDa, we like guillotine cutters, they do their job and they're hard to mess up.

 

19. How do I light a cigar correctly?

After your cigar is cut, (see the answer to question 17 if you don’t know how to do this yet) take a lighter or match and lightly ‘toast’ the foot of the cigar, what you’re trying to do here is evenly warm up the tobacco so it all lights at the same time when you try to properly light it. In order to actually light the cigar, put it in your mouth and lightly puff (DO NOT INHALE, YOU WILL COUGH YOUR LUNGS UP) on it while keeping the flame of whatever lighting device you’re using near (not directly on top of) the end of the cigar. If you like you can now take the cigar out of your mouth and blow on the lit end lightly just to make sure that the whole ‘foot’ glows red, showing it is lit, if the foot does not evenly now red, toast that section a bit more and repeat the puffing step until everything is burning nicely. 

 

20. How do I smoke a cigar (puffing, not inhaling)?

The idea with a cigar is to take the smoke into your mouth rather than your lungs, smoking a cigar this way lets the flavour marinade in your mouth and allows nicotine to be absorbed through the inside of your cheeks. To do this, puff on a cigar in a similar way that you drink form a straw, using your tongue to bring in the smoke (I think, writing this now, it has just occurred to me that I’ve never actually thought about the process of using a straw). The next step may be difficult for the cigarette smoker among us, but please do not inhale the smoke, cigar smoke is far harsher than cigarette smoke and is not nice to inhale, just let the smoke settle in your mouth, maybe chew on it, or swish your tongue around, or do a cool trick with the smoke or something, and then let the smoke out. 

 

21. How long should I wait between puffs?

The general advice is to take a puff about once or twice a minute. However, if you’re enjoying your cigar and want to smoke it faster, do that, if the smoke is getting too hot or harsh, slow down a bit. Similarly if you want to take your time with a cigar and want to put it down for a few minutes to continue your conversation, do that, the cigar might go out but then you just relight it and keep smoking when you’re good and ready. When you start smoking cigars you will work it out by yourself how YOU like to smoke, the recommended way to ‘properly’ smoke a cigar mean nothing. You are a grown up (hopefully, if not get off this site, I have your IP address and I’m going to tell your parents) do what you like.

 

22. How should I hold a cigar?

HOWEVER THE F**K YOU LIKE.  If you want to hold it like a cigarette, do that. If you want to wrap your index finger over the top, do that. If you want to jam a metal straw into the bottom and pretend you are a fancy dancer from the 1920’s do that. There are no rights or wrongs here, do what is comfortable to you.

 

23. What is cigar etiquette?

Generally don’t be a prick, the etiquette with cigars is like the etiquette with life, the following tips will help you to understand that there are no special rules in cigar etiquette, just don’t be gross or mean.

1. If you are in a cigar shop, ask if you can touch the cigars, they don’t want your greasy fingers on their nice cigars 
2. If you are in a cigar lounge don’t put the cellophane or ring wrapped around the cigar in the ashtray, put it in a bin
3. Unless you are about to smoke it, don’t put your nose right up on the cigar to smell it, that’s yucky.
4. If you are using someone else’s cigar cutter, don’t put the cigar in your mouth first, they don’t want your mouth on their mouth (unless they do, in which case go ahead, but always ask for permission first)
5. If you’re in a cigar lounge don’t be racist (that one kind of goes for always though)

 

24. What does it mean to “retrohale” a cigar?

Retrohaling is the process of taking a puff of a cigar and letting some of the smoke out though your nose. This can help to detect subtleties of a cigars flavour, however it can be quite uncomfortable so, if you want to retrohale, which you don’t have to do ever, try a little bit at a time to see how it feels.

 

25. How do I know what cigar I’ll like?

At first, you don’t, when you’re experienced, you still probably don’t. Much like a fine craft beer served by a man wearing dungarees in hackney, while you may know the type of beer you like e.g IPA you don’t know you’ll like that particular one until you taste it, and even then, the new stout they have on tap may be your new favourite if you gave it a go. The same thing goes for cigars, if you like a medium bodied cigar with notes of pepper and oak in general, it may help you work out another cigar that will be similar, however again, like craft beer, the enjoyment of cigars, for us at least, comes from the experimentation with new things and experiences. 

We recommend looking at our packages to try find something that you know you’ll like, or even better find something you didn’t know you like.

 

26. What are Maduro cigars, and how do they differ from other types?

Maduro cigars have a dark, oily wrapper, achieved through extended fermentation of the tobacco leaves. This process gives the wrapper a richer, sweeter flavour. Maduro cigars are often full-bodied and can have flavours of chocolate, coffee, or spice. If you're looking for sweet rich, full bodies, oily and coffee try the Joya De Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco and the Drew Estate Undercrown 10, they're pretty great.

 

27. What are the best cigars for beginners?

This is where we shine, I could tell you about brands or tasting notes or full bodies vs mild bodies cigars. Or I could just point you towards the set that we’ve made of the cigars that we thing give a great idea for anyone beginning cigars about what cigars have to offer:

high nicotine, low nicotine, pepper, cedar, madero wrapper, Connecticut wrapper, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, full bodied, mild we have it all at a juicy discount in our CaLaDa beginner pack: Have a look here

 

28. What is the difference between a mild, medium, and full-bodied cigar?

A mild-bodied cigar will have subtle, smooth flavours and is ideal for beginners. Medium-bodied cigars offer more complexity and depth but aren’t too strong. Full-bodied cigars are bold, with intense flavours that may include spice, leather, and earth, and are typically suited for more experienced smokers.

 

29. How do ageing and fermentation affect cigar quality?

Ageing and fermentation enhance the flavours of a cigar by allowing the tobacco to mellow and develop complexity over time. Premium cigars are often aged for months or even years, resulting in smoother and more refined flavours.

 

30. What is cigar ring gauge, and why does it matter?

The ring gauge is the diameter of the cigar, measured in 64 ths of an inch. A larger ring gauge (thicker cigar) generally provides a cooler, longer-lasting smoke, while a smaller ring gauge can offer a more concentrated flavour, generally the shorter the cigar is, e.g. the longer you've smoke it for, the more intense the flavour is.

 

31. How do cigar brands differ from one another?

Cigar brands differ based on the tobacco they use, their fermentation processes, where their tobacco is grown how their cigars are rolled, and a whole host of other things. Like any kind of consumable product, brands all have their own distinct things that set them apart from the rest.  

 

32. What is cigar pairing, and how do I pair cigars with drinks or food?

Cigar pairing involves matching a cigar with a complementary drink or food to enhance the overall flavour experience. Common pairings include whiskey, rum, coffee, or chocolate. The key is to match the strength and flavour profile of the cigar with a drink or food that complements or contrasts it in an enjoyable way. Click the link here to check out our blog post on how to pair cigars with drinks.

 

33. How do I know if a cigar is bad or stale?

A bad or stale cigar will feel dry and may crack easily. It might also have a dull or brittle wrapper and lack the rich aroma of fresh tobacco. Smoking a stale cigar will result in an unpleasant, harsh taste. While there are techniques to rehydrate old cigars, generally once it's gone it's gone, just buy another one.

 

34. What does it mean to “dry box” a cigar?

Dry boxing is the process of storing cigars in a less humid environment, such as an empty cigar box, for a day or two before smoking. If a cigar has been been stored in a very humid environment, this will dry out the cigar a little to provide an optimal burn.

 

35. How long does it take to smoke a cigar?

Cigars take different amount of time to smoke based on a few factors, the cigars we stock at CaLaDa, depending on which one you’re smoking, burn anywhere from 30 minutes to 120 minutes. In our experience the primary things that influence the time it takes to smoke a cigar are size, density and the rate at which you want to smoke it.

Initially it seems apparent that a bigger cigar will burn for longer, however that’s not always the case, a good example of this is the Undercrown Shade Robusto and the El Carajon. While the Undercrown shade measures an impressive 54 ring gauge (2.1cm diameter) and 5 inches (12.7) it burns for roughly the same amount of time as the relatively small 34 ring gauge (1.4cm diameter) 4 inch (10 cm) El Carajon.

Why? The tobacco in the Principes Robusto is simply less densely packed than the El Carajon, the density of tobacco is not a reflection of its quality, rather, just a different smoking experience. 

 

36. What is the best environment to enjoy a cigar?

The best environment to enjoy a cigar is the environment that you enjoy smoking a cigar. Wether you’re in a cigar lounge, in the park, at the pub or in a garden where you feel most comfortable enjoying a cigar is the best place to do so (unless you are in a car with a baby with the windows rolled up, don’t do that).