Cigar Colors: The Basics

The color of a cigar wrapper says it all. It speaks to your eye, to your nose and, if selected, directly to your mouth and taste buds. As one of most important characteristics of a cigar, the leaves that were used for rolling and curing methods receive meticulous cultivation and care. The unique flavors produced by the wrapper influence the taste of the cigar.

The color of the cigar wrapper gives you insight into a cigar’s personality and how it was made.

The most commonly recognized cigar colors

Claro

The wrapper is light brown or tan. To achieve this color, tobacco is usually grown under the protection of shade tents. The leaves are harvested before they reach maturity and are rapidly taken through an air-drying process. Normally, claro cigars are mild and smooth because the wrapper does not influence the tobacco flavor.

Double Claro

Light green to yellow colored wrapper. It is usually attained by a quick-drying method that involves applying additional heat. These kinds of wrappers are usually characterized by a mild flavor in addition to subtly sweet taste. It is sometimes also called Candela.

Natural

Light brown to brown in color, also called Colorado Claro, often sun-grown wrappers. They result in a fuller bodied flavor in comparison to the Claro.

Colorado

Medium brown to dark reddish brown. Usually the leaf is shade-grown and robust and rich in flavor.

Maduro

Very darkish reddish-brown to nearly black. The color is rendered either by "cooking" the leaves within a pressure holding chamber, or fermenting all of them for a lengthier time period in really hot conditions. The particular wrapper is usually sweet and indicates the strong flavor. Drawing its name from Spanish, “maduro” means “mature."

Colorado Maduro

Darkish brown characterizes the color of this wrapper. Known for being classically aromatic, with a rich, moderate taste. 

Oscuro

The darkest Maduro wrapper, nearly black. It implies that the leaf has been left on the particular plant and fermented longer than other leafs. Recognized by a full-bodied flavor, the Oscuro is associated with Nicaraguan, Mexican or Brazilian origin. Occasionally referred to as double Maduro or Maduro Maduro, these are the darkest wrappers available.