What causes spotting on some cigars?

Tuesday, August 16 2011

Q:  I've smoked very cheap cigars and very expensive Cubans that looked like the picture (at right).  What is the cause of the "spotting." The cigars taste just fine.
- Scott A. Miller, Sr. in Tanzania

A:  For this question I consulted with our resident Tobacconist University graduate, Jeff Brown:

"This is what we call a 'toothy' wrapper, where there are little bumps that give the wrapper a sandpaper-like texture. The bumps are tiny pockets of oil that when burned exhibit the white dots. All tobacco contains oil as an innate characteristic, but toothy tobacco has more of it. Aficionados actually seek these toothy cigars out so consider yourself very lucky to be smoking a toothy cigar."