Friday, May 29 2009
By Didier Houvenaghel
Fact: The
wrapper leaf represents 3% - 5% of a premium cigar's total mass.
Observation: It counts for much more than this ratio in the cigar leaf's price.
The debate: It counts for much more than this ratio in the cigar's aromatic perception.
The question: Why such an influence of the wrapper in the cigar's aroma and price? Is it justified or artifice?
Let’s analyze it step-by-step and demystify this complex, yet exciting question...
Desired characteristics - A real skin for the cigar, the wrapper leaf, must possess a set of physical qualities that make the finished product pleasing to the eye. The most important features are even coloring, discreet veining, a slight sheen, and an absence of blotches and scars. Other qualities, less visible but just as vital are, a fine texture, good elasticity, easy combustibility, and of course, sufficient size for the dimension of the cigar to be wrapped. Last but not least, the chemical content that will develop the desired richness of flavours and aromas that will create enjoyment on your palate.
Traditional: Shade grown wrapper – Called tapado (Spanish for tent), some tobacco plants are grown beneath a loosely woven type of cloth called cheese cloth stretched overhead that reduces the brightness of the sun’s rays by 25% - 35 %. This dimming and diffusion stimulates a series of physical and chemical changes in the leaves whose effects are considered indispensable for obtaining good quality wrapper leaves. This cultivation method, which involves heavier investment in equipment (cloth, stakes, wire, etc.) and in labor (installation, maintenance, etc.), is more costly than open field plantation under the full sun.
More and more common alternative: Sun grown wrapper - Due to its cost, "shade growing" is only used in countries in which the sun’s rays are too strong to allow the adapted growth of these leaves in full sunlight. "Sun growing" - when possible or desired - offers substantial economy to the manufacturer with lower equipment, labor and maintenance costs. It results in the production of smaller, thicker, more veined, and less elastic leaves called capa de sol. These leaves are somewhat darker in color and in aromatic strength. When cultivated to become wrappers, the leaves must go through processes that require way more attention and care than when destined to be binders or fillers.
Interestingly, a number of Central American growers, like those in Nicaragua and Honduras, have increased their proportion of sun grown wrapper production.
Selection and classification - During the selection process, the future wrappers, which satisfy the demanding quality standards, are identified and selected. If selected, the wrapper leaves are then graded into six or eight tiempos or classes, on the basis of their color, thickness and texture. Then during the classification, the leaves of the same tiempos are sorted into seven rezagos, according to their size and any defects they may have. These selection and classification processes are normally constantly monitored by supervisors, as their reliability are key in obtaining a good quality blend.
Fermentation and aging – Because the right balance between the physical and chemical elements should be guaranteed, the wrapper must be selected from the middle-to-top half of the plant. This "foliar insertion" produces leaves that, after a specific fermentation process, maximize the very important mix of aromatic concentration and combustibility. Because they are more sensitive than binders and fillers, extra care must be given to the precious wrappers: lower temperature levels during shorter fermentations (except for sun grown wrappers) and a much longer aging process.
Tasting importance – The wrapper perks up the tasting in 3 different ways:
1) The visual approach: The first contact between the aficionado and the object of his desire is the wrapper's appearance. A nice and appealing wrapper therefore increases the attractiveness of the cigar.
2) The olfactory approach: Nice volatile aromas should directly please the nose before the lighting of the cigar. Rolling the unlit cigar under the nose is the very first real approach to the tasting. An aromatic wrapper therefore increases the quality of the cigar.
3) The gustatory approach: The carbonization of the leaves during the cigar combustion releases the most volatile aromas of their tissue. This direct aromatic flux – the white-blue smoke rising from the foot of the cigar – is mostly generated by the wrapper. Within the three aromatic perceptions of the gustatory approach – the direct olfaction, the gustation and the retro-olfaction – those direct aromas, are very important to the overall cigar perception. Moreover, an aromatic wrapper significantly contributes to the overall aromatic quality of the cigar.
Final conclusion – Because they have to guarantee challenging quality requirements, the production of finished leaves that present the required characteristics to be nice wrappers obviously need specific attention, adapted processes, and additional energy. Therefore, yes!, wrappers are clearly more expensive to produce than binders and fillers. So the question is, but, is it worth it? An excellent wrapper will be appealing not only because of its beauty, but also because of its aromatic richness. If, as well as being handsome, the outside leaf possesses generous chemical characteristics, this capa will be of the highest quality. This wrapper will be sought after by the best cigar manufacturers because it is the promise of a great upgrade for a nice blend.
But, please, always analyze, challenge, and draw your own conclusions! (_[ca]__{{{
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Didier Houvenaghel is a Belgian agricultural engineer who spent many years in Cuba studying tropical crops, specializing in black tobacco. His extensive research and knowledge of the tobacco growing and curing process led him to create Nicarao cigars, his own brand of Nicaraguan puros made today with Rocky Patel. Didier is also the author of the book, The Cigar: From Soil to Soul.
(Above illustration by Gaëlle Houvenaghel)
