Essentially, it can be said that the seven most usual colors of wrappers are the following: Double clear, clear, clear or natural red, ripe red, ripe and dark.

The uniformity of color in a cigar is so important that the leaves after the harvest are selected according to color among other aspects in the following moments:

a) Before stringing tobacco. All those pale leaves that do not show uniform green color are eliminated as future wrappers.
b) During the curing process. The producer and peasant revises the color of the leaves frequently to know about the development of the curing process and to have an idea of the quality of the leaf.
c) In the process in the sorting house.
d) In the factory during the stripping process. Here the leaves are selected again according to their color before the wrapper is placed by the cigar roller.
e) In the factory during the selection according to shades.
f) In the factory during the packing process.
g) Lastly the client when acquiring the product makes the final selection.

In the pictures can be appreciated the different tonalities and intensities of the predominant colors in the cigars, the authors want to manifest that this pictures and the comments don't belong to those referred to dark tobacco for wrappers and fillers of Pinar del Rio.

Double clear

Also well-known as "candela ", claro claro, jade or A.M.S. ("American Market Selection"). it is of clear green color like yellow which is obtained due to a process of quick drying with artificial heat that retains the chlorophyll of the leaf; the flavor of this wrapper is very soft, even sweet.

Clear

Also called natural. It is of pale yellowish brown color, obtained from the shade grown tobacco and early harvesting before the leaves ripe, followed by a quick air curing. It is the most common wrapper. Its flavor is relatively neuter.

Clear or natural red

Of clear reddish brown color, the red clear wrapper is product of a sun grown tobacco. Most of these wrappers come from Sumatra and Ecuador, and even some from Cameroon. The leaf has an oily shine and its flavor is more intense than the one given by the clear wrapper.

Red

Also called “Brown” (as all the red ones), it is product of a shade grown tobacco, of rich flavor and subtle aroma due to its high content of oil. The leaf is greasy and reddish, usually coming from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Connecticut U.S.A. This wrapper is also known as E.M.S. (English Market Selection).

Ripe red

Of brown color, it is between the red one and the ripe one. Its flavor is from medium to strong.

Ripe

The tonality of the leaf goes from a brown reddish very dark color until black; its name makes reference to the long process that is required to get this type of wrapper: These wrappers give a distinctive feature to the cigars; in general they are of soft aroma and strong flavor, although sweet. The leaf of ripe color should be very dark, oily and brilliant. The leaves are thick and they must remain united. Depending on the type of leaf, tiny veins can be appreciated.

Dark

Also called black, its wrapper has a more blackish tonality than that of the ripe ones and to obtain them the leaves are left in the plant as much time as possible, being used the leaves of the crown (the highest part),because they are the most exposed in the sun. Its flavor has bigger sweetness because of the long period of time of fermentation. These wrappers come from Brazil or Mexico.

Links & Sources:

• www.guerrillero.co.cu