Filler leaves rolled together and wrapped with a binder leaf to form
a round shaped cigar.
Burros
carefully monitored fermenting piles of tobacco
Capa
outside wrapper of a cigar.
Capote
The layer just under the Capa referred to as binder leaf
Casa de Tobacco
house on the plantation where the tobacco leaves are cured.
Catadores
tasters who monitor the finished cigars
Cervantes
6.5in x 42 ring gauge. This cigar is the third in a trilogy of 42
ring gauge cigars. It's more popularly known as a Lonsdale.
Chaveta
The roller's knife - blade used to cut the wrapper leaf.
Churchill
7in x 47 ring gauge. Officially known as a Julieta No. 2 but
referred to as a Churchill because it was the statesman's cigar of
choice.
Claro
ascribed name to a light-brown wrapper.
Colorado
ascribed name given to a dark brown wrapper.
Corona
5 5/8 in x 42 ring gauge. The most familiar shape and size for a
premium cigar - also referred to as a parejo.
Cubatabaco
Formerly Cuba's Worldwide distributor - currently replaced be
Habanos S.A.
Culebra
Spanish word for snake, these cigars are made from three panatela
linked and braided together.
Dalia
6 3/4 in x 43 ring gauge. Dalia was the name of the galera in which
the cigars were produced. Its popular name 8-9-8 is derived from the
original box in which they were packed forming three rows of 8, 9 and
8.
Despalillo
The Stripping House where binder and filler leaves are taken to be
stripped of their inner veins and stems, second fermentation also
takes place in this phase.
Double Corona
7 5/8 in x 49 ring gauge. Traditionally known as a Prominente , the
colossal leaves of this cigar are surprisingly delicate at first but
then suddenly burst into an explosion of flavours.
8-9-8
6 3/4 in x 43 ring gauge. Also known as the Dalia this cigar took on
the popular 8-9-8 name from the original box in which they were packed
forming three rows of 8, 9 and 8.
Escarapate
A cooling room kept at 16-18 o C or 61 o F-64 o Fand about 70 o
humidity where cigars are kept for a few weeks after they have been
rolled.
Especial
9in x 47 ring gauge. Also referred to as Gran Corona this is the
largest classic form cigar.
Figurado
A cigar rolled with a point at one end. There also exists the
double-figurado pointed at both ends. Also referred to as a Piramide,
Campana or an Exquisito.
Fortaleza
The strength of a cigar. The three degrees in order from 1,2,3 are
synonymous with the terms volado, seco and ligero.
Galera
Literally translates to the galley or the factory workshop where
cigars are made by hand.
Gran Corona
9in x 47 ring gauge. Also referred to as an Especial this is the
largest classic form cigar.
Habanos
A denomination of origin for Cuban cigars, literally translates to
Havanas.
Habanos S.A.
Jointly owned by the Cuban government and the Franco-Spanish
corporation, Altadis S.A. is the Havana based company that that
markets and distributes Cuban cigars internationally. Formerly known
as Cubatabaco .
Hecho en Cuba
Made in Cuba
Julieta No. 2
7in x 47 ring gauge. Originally from the Romeo y Julieta Factory
this cigar is more popularly known as the Churchill because it was the
statesman's cigar of choice.
Laguito No. 1
7 1/2 in x 38 ring gauge. Popularly known as the Lancero this cigar
takes it's original name from Havana's el Laguito Factory. Its slender
length coupled with the twist of leaf on the cap makes the Lancero a
most elegant cigar.
Lancero
7 1/2 in x 38 ring gauge. Traditionally known as the Laguito No. 1 .
An elegant and slender cigar marked by it's length and twist of leaf
cap.
Lector
Traditionally, the person who read stories to the cigar rollers
throughout the day.
Ligador
The master blender in a cigar factory.
Ligero
One of the three fillers of tobacco leaves. The word literally
translates to light although it refers to the top most leaves of a
plant that are richest in flavour and often darkest in colour. The two
others are called Seco and Volado .
Lonsdale
6.5in x 42 ring gauge. Named after the English sporting earl, Lord
Lonsdale who preferred the elegance of a long cigar. This vitola is
traditionally known as a Cervantes , the third in a trilogy of 42 ring
gauge vitolas.
Maduro
The word means ripe in Spanish and refers to a dark reddish-brown
almost black wrapper shade.
Media Rueda
Literally translates to half-wheel and refers to a bundle of 50
cigars wrapped together.
Mareva
51/8in x 42 ring gauge. More commonly known as a Petit Corona this
cigar is the most popular of all sizes.
Moja
Moisturizing tobacco leaves to prepare them for the rollers.
Parejo
A straight-sided cigar such as a box pressed Corona or Lonsdale .
Perla
4in x 40 ring gauge. Also called a Tres Petit Corona this cigar
forms part of the small vitola group. This smoke is brief but very
full of Habano flavours which explains the origin of its name, Perla
or Pearl in English.
Partido
Specializing in the cultivation of wrapper leaves this region forms
a historic group of growing regions founded in the early 17 th
Century. Partido encompasses Havana, Cuba's capital and base for some
of the most famous Habano factories.
Petit Corona
5 1/8 in x 42 ring gauge. The most popular of all sizes this cigar
allows for the three filler leaves to be evenly blended allowing for a
smooth smoke. It is traditionally referred to as a Mareva .
Piramide
6 1/8 in x 52 ring gauge. Also referred to as a Torpedo , because of
the this tapered head and shoulder of this cigar it is said to have
better combustibility.
Prominente
7 5/8 in x 49 ring gauge. More popularly known as a Double Corona ,
the colossal leaves of this cigar are surprisingly delicate at first
but then suddenly burst into an explosion of flavours.
Puro
The Spanish term for cigar
Robusto
4 7/8 in x 50 ring gauge. A popular cigar
Seco
This filler leaf taken from the middle of the plant often
contributes aroma and is usually medium -bodied. The two other fillers
are called Ligero and Volado .
Semi Vuelta
Situated in the Western part of Cuba it is known mainly for
cultivation of binder and filler leaves. Barely one percent of its
land is dedicated to Habanos.
Tabaco
Is the Spanish term for tobacco and in Cuba the word is also used to
refer to a cigar.
Tabacuba
The Cuban corporation that manages the agricultural and
manufacturing aspects of Cuba's tobacco industry.
Tapado
The muslin cloth tent under which shade-grown wrapper leaves are
grown. It literally translates to covered .
Tercios
Palm bark wrapped bales in which tobacco leaves are aged after
fermentation.
Torcedor
A Cigar roller. The word literally means twister even
though it is the last thing a roller should do when making a cigar.
Torpedo
6 1/8 in x 52 ring gauge. Traditionally referred to as a Robusto
this cigar offers better combustibility because of its tapered head
and shoulders.
Totalmente a Mano
A term that often appears on cigar boxes and means completely made
by hand. The term 'Hecho a Mano' often means it is made partially by
hand but also machine made and 'Envuelto a Mano' means packed by hand.
Tres Petit Corona
4in x 40 ring gauge. This small vitola can offer the smoker the true
taste of a Cuban cigar in 20 minutes or so which explains it's
original name of Perla which literally translates to Pearl .
Tripa
The cigar's filler made from leaves that form the heart of a Habano.
The three fillers are Seco , Ligero , Volado .
Tubos
Cigars packed individually in wood, metal or glass tubes.
Vega
A tobacco plantation.
Vitola
Refers to the size and shape of a cigar - Robusto or Corona are
examples.
Vuelta Abajo
the main source of tobacco for Habanos and the only region that
grows all types of leaf. It includes growing regions such as Pinar del
Rio, San Luis and San Juan y Martinez.
Vuelta Arriba
the eastern region of Cuba
Volado
These leaves are taken from the bottom part of the plant and help
the cigar in obtaining an even burn. The two other leaves used in
rolling a cigar are Ligero and Seco .
