Saturday, January 1, 2011

Cigars Although A Detriment To One's Health Continue To Be Popular

By Edward Alexander


Ever since Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World, cigars have been a part of modern-day culture. Early sailors brought tobacco to Europe from the islands off Central and South America, where they found natives smoking it. Tobacco became an addiction then and remains one today.

Most tobacco is grown in the region it was originally founded with cigar products being made in Central America, the U. S., Indonesia and Europe. There are many family-owned factories who also own their own tobacco plantations, while other manufacturers buy from several plantations for developing a combination of blends. There are two major manufacturers in the world who have a number of different labels.

Tobacco leaves are harvested and stored for curing in sheds on or near the fields where grown. This usually lasts between 25 and 45 days depending upon the humidity and climate as well as the type of sheds used. The leaves must dry without rotting and during this time they lose much of their sugar. After curing, fermenting begins. It is in this time when the leaves' burning ability, aroma and taste develop, all of which is of the utmost importance.

Three different types of tobacco are used in making a cigar and all are very important. The wrapper determines the flavor and aroma. Dark wrappers have a sweeter taste than the light ones, which are dryer. Those with experience, can determine where the leaves were grown by the wrapper.

Filler tobacco is what most of the cigar is made of and it is here that blends are made. The filler can be of one tobacco or can be blended with two or more types designed by the master blend specialist. The binder is the leaf used to hold the filler together and is located inside the wrapper.

An artistry is developed by hand making these smokes which are now popularly called boutique cigars. When the tobacco is shipped to a manufacturer, it is kept divided by texture, size and color in humidity and temperature controlled areas. Specialty trained employees each have specific jobs. Only enough leaves are chosen by the master blender to use for one day's work. These are given to the rollers, who bunch the filler leaves together and gently wrap them with a binder leaf. This unit is placed into a mold where the leaves are formed into the proper shape by the roller. Once done, it is up to the master roller to finish the product, wrapping with the final wrapping leaf and checking it for blemishes.

Despite the health risks, the demand for cigars remains high. Not just for men anymore, there are products designed to attract the female smoker as well. It remains illegal for minors to purchase any form of smoking product in the U. S., even though it is not required for cigar advertising to show health warnings, as is done for cigarettes.

Cigar smoking lounges have become a popular place to socialize, perhaps due to the increase in non-smoking areas in restaurants and bars. Specialty smoke shops sell a variety of smoking-related items including tips, cutters, travel cases and humidors. However, many varieties of cigars may be found for sale in most convenience and grocery stores.




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