{"id":606,"date":"2025-10-14T06:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T06:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/?page_id=606"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:36:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:36:33","slug":"glossary-of-cuban-cigars","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/glossar-kubanische-zigarren\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossary of Cuban cigars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here you will find the glossary of Cuban cigars - your compact reference work on Cuban cigars. Whether you want to check the meaning of Vitola, Ligero, Seco or Medio Tiempo, understand the difference between Reserva and Gran Reserva or want to know what is behind terms such as Tabacuba and Habanos S.A.: The Cuban cigar glossary explains the technical terms precisely, comprehensibly and historically correctly. This will give you a quick overview - from planting and fermentation to manufacture. Take your time with the glossary of Cuban cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Glossary<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Vasilij Ratej & Claudia Puszkar, the publishing duo of Origin Of Cigar<\/em>. The glossary of Cuban cigars will of course continue to be developed. Are you missing a term and its explanation? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The glossary of Cuban cigars is aimed at beginners and connoisseurs alike. You will discover the torcedores' tools (chaveta, cepo) and the variety of wrapper colours from claro to maduro. There are also terms for shapes (parejo, figurado), quality levels and storage terms (escaparate, tercio), which will help you to immediately categorise descriptions in reviews, box labels and specialist articles correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our aim: With the Cuban cigars glossary, we want to provide you with first-hand, in-depth knowledge - concisely explained, with Cuban vocabulary and German explanations. Scroll alphabetically through the glossary of Cuban cigars - and deepen your understanding of the language and soul of Habanos cigars. Find answers in our Cuban cigars glossary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glossary of Cuban cigars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ANAP (Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Agricultores Peque\u00f1os)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

National Association of Small Tobacco Growers, represented on the Regulatory Council for the Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.P.) Habanos <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anilla (cigar ring) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cuban term for the ring of the cigar (in Spain: vitola).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acopio y Beneficio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The process of buying and processing the tobacco leaves after they have been harvested up to the point when they are packed into bales for storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aporque (soil accumulation) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soil is piled up at the base of the tobacco plant to promote vigorous plant growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonche (swaddle, doll) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cylindrical wrap that is created when wrapping (rolling in) the insert with the wrapper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boquilla (foot) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

side of the cigar that is lit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cajuela (mini-rodero)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The box, open at the front, in which the torcedor places his finished cigars so that they can be placed in the larger boxes (roderos) and taken to the quality assurance department in the factory for inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capa (cover sheet) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The outer visible leaf of the cigar. Covers the binder leaf (which in turn contains the filler).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capote (wrapper) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The leaf in which the insert is wrapped (s. bonche); longest of the leaves from the lower part of the plant (volado).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casa de tabaco (tobacco house) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drying shed in which the tobacco leaves are traditionally air-dried in the tobacco plantations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casquillo (sleeve) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cylindrical element used to cut a small round piece out of the wrapper to form the cigar head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catadores (Tasters) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Those who taste the cigars every day in the factories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedros (cedar wood) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is used to wrap cigars and also as a divider between the individual layers in the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cepo (gauge) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tool used to check the length and diameter of a finished cigar. Also synonymous with the diameter (ring gauge) of a cigar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chaveta (blade) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A semicircular knife used by cigar rollers to cut the tobacco leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claro (light)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The colour of a light brown top sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colorado (red) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The colour of a chestnut brown top sheet. There is also COLORADO CLARO (medium chestnut brown) and COLORADO MADURO (dark chestnut brown).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comisi\u00f3n Nacional de Degustaci\u00f3n (National Tasting Commission)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is made up of the best Cuban tasters and is part of the Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3nes del Tabaco and, together with the Regulatory Council, coordinates quality control and continuity in the blends of brands, formats and tobacco varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consejo Regulador Denominacion de Origen Protegida DOP Habanos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Regulatory Council for the Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.P.) for Habanos and other Cuban tobacco industry organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is made up of all the institutions in Cuba that are responsible for compliance with production standards, from the tobacco plantations to the factories. It includes the following organisations: Tabacuba, Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Agricultores Peque\u00f1os (ANAP), the Empresa de Acopio y Beneficio del Tabaco, the Tobacco Research Institute, Cubatabaco and Habanos S.A. Together with the Tobacco Research Institute, the Regulatory Council coordinates the quality control of Habanos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cortaperillas (cutter for the mouthpiece) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Name of the instrument used by torcedores to cut the side of the cigar (perilla) that is brought to the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuje (rod, crop) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rod over which the leaves are threaded in pairs and then hung up to dry in the drying shed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curaci\u00f3n (drying) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first drying process to which the leaves are subjected in the drying shed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are you missing a term and its explanation in the glossary of Cuban cigars? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Desbotonar (removal of the buds) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A step in which the upper buds of the tobacco plant are removed in order to concentrate the energy on the development of the other leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deshije (remove shoots) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remove the side shoots to restrict the plant's growth to the leaves that have already developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despalillo (stripping) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Workplace in which the lower parts of the central veins of selected outer and inner leaves are removed. The second and third fermentation of the seco, ligero and medio tiempo leaves also takes place here. Volado leaves and wrapper leaves are only fermented twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despalilladoras (workers who strip) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Workers who carry out the stripping of the wrappers and inserts (in the esgocida) and the wrappers (in the manufactories).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edici\u00f3n Limitada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Limited edition Habanos made from filler, binder and wrapper leaves aged for at least two years. The wrapper leaves come from the top of the plants grown using the tabaco tapado method. When matured, these leaves take on a darker colour. The boxes bear an additional gold and black seal, which also indicates the year of production. Each cigar has a second cigar ring labelled Edici\u00f3n Limitada.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensarte (threading) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The harvested leaves are strung together, placed on wooden sticks and hung side by side in the drying barn for traditional air-drying. This term is also used to describe the leaf-by-leaf harvesting method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Escaparate (maturing storage room or shop window) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A special storage room in the factories where the cigars are stored at a temperature of 16\u00baC to 18\u00baC and a relative humidity of 65 to 70 per cent to \u201erecover\u201c from the production process and release the excess moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Escogida (selection) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Workplace where the leaves are divided into wrapper, filler and binder leaves. This is also where the fermentation of the wrapper leaves takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figurado (irregularly shaped cigar) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cigar shape that is not cylindrical and tapers to a point at one or both ends (double figurado).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortaleza (power, strength) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Term for time spans. Fortaleza 1, 2, 3 and 4 are also synonyms for the strength of the deposits volado, seco, ligero and medio tiempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galera (production site) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

workplaces in the manufactory, where the cigars are made entirely by hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gavilla (bundle) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bundles of 40 or 50 assorted leaves; bound together to facilitate their handling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goma (adhesive) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Natural, odourless and tasteless glue made from plant sap and plant protein, which cigar rollers use to attach the cap to a cigar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gran Reserva<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The term Gran Reserva is used for cigars whose filler, binder and wrapper leaves have all been aged for at least five years before being made into cigars. They can be recognised by a second cigar ring and another black and gold seal on the cigar box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habanos (Havana cigar) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spanish for Havana. Protected designation of origin that guarantees the origin and production process of the best cigars in Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habanos S.A.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Havana-based company owned by the Cuban tobacco industry and the British Imperial Tobacco Group, which markets all Cuban tobacco products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habano sommelier      <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The person who assists in a bar or restaurant in selecting the desired Habano and advising on the matching drink or other products, such as coffee, tea or chocolate. A competition to find the world's best Habano sommelier takes place every year as part of the Festival del Habano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habilitaci\u00f3nes (embellishments) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Decorations used to decorate the traditional Habanos boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hecho en Cuba<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Made in Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are you missing a term and its explanation in the glossary of Cuban cigars? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3nes del Tabaco<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Tobacco Research Institute, which controls the seeds used by tobacco growers and conducts research to improve the seeds using natural methods of crossing and selection. Part of the Regulatory Council for the Habanos Protected Designation of Origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Casa del Habano <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

La Casa del Habano is the name of the worldwide cigar shop network as a franchise system of Habanos S.A. There are now more than 140 La Casa del Habano on five continents. A complete up-to-date list can be found at www.lacasadelhabano.com.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lector <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ligador (compound manufacturer) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Skilled worker who puts together the tobacco blends for the various formats and Habanos brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ligero (light) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A variety of the inlay leaves. Despite its literal meaning (light), ligero refers to the leaves from the upper part of the plant, which are usually darker in colour and have a strong flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maduro (mature) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The colour of a very dark, chestnut-brown wrapper leaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mancuerna <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Harvesting method in which the tobacco leaves are cut off the stem in pairs with a knife. Alternative to leaf-by-leaf harvesting (ensarte). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manojo (waistband) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bundle of four leaf bundles (gavillas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mecanizado (Tabaco mecanizado)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Machine-made cigars. These are no longer referred to as Habanos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Rueda (half-wheel) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bundle of 50 cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medio Tiempo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the leaves for the insert. This is the most aromatic and strongest leaf; only a plant grown in the sun sometimes develops two leaves at the top of the plant. Very rare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mini rodero (cajuela)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The box, open at the front, in which the torcedor places his finished cigars so that they can be placed in the larger boxes (roderos) and taken to the quality assurance department in the factory for inspection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moja (humidification) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Moistening of the tobacco leaves, which is carried out if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacas (bales) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designation for the packaging in which sun-grown filler and binder leaves are matured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parejo (cylindrical)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cigar shape with parallel, straight sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perilla (head) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Head of the cigar; the side of the cigar that is closed with a cap that must be cut off or opened before lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reserva <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designation for a Habano in which all the leaves - filler, binder and wrapper leaves - have been stored in bales for at least three years before being rolled into cigars. Each cigar has a second black and silver-coloured cigar ring to identify it as a Reserva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodero <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

large wooden box in which the cajuelas containing the torcedores' cigars are transported within the factory to the respective department for quality control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seco (dry) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A variety of filler leaves. These are leaves of medium thickness from the middle part of the plant with a great influence on the flavour of the cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are you missing a term and its explanation in the glossary of Cuban cigars? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tabaco (Spanish for tobacco) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The only component of Habanos. Also synonymous with cigar in Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabaco Mecanizado <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Machine-made cigars. These are no longer referred to as Habanos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabaco Negro Cubano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

(Cuban black tobacco) Original tobacco plant that Christopher Columbus discovered on the island in 1492.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabacuba<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

State-owned agricultural company responsible for all agricultural and manufacturing aspects of Cuban tobacco production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabla (wooden board) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wooden board on which the cigar rollers make the cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tapado (covered) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cultivation method for tobacco plants under fabric sheets, especially for top-quality wrapper leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tercio (bale) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Packaging made from yagua (from the bark of the royal palm), in which the leaves selected as wrappers are matured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiempos (duration) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Corresponds to the term fortaleza. Classification of different types of filler leaves that are combined in the production of the blend for a Habano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torcedor(a) (cigar roller) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cigar roller who makes cigars in the manufactories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Totalmente a mano (made entirely by hand) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A term used to distinguish the traditional Cuban production process - long-fillers made entirely by hand - from the partly semi-machine production methods used elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tripa (insert) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The centrepiece of a Habano. It consists of a mixture of the leaf varieties ligero, seco, volado and partly medio tiempo and essentially determines its flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tripa Corta (cut insert) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sliced or chopped tobacco leaves in the filler; sometimes also referred to as picadura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tripa Larga (filler made from whole tobacco leaves) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whole tobacco leaves in the filler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are you missing a term and its explanation in the glossary of Cuban cigars? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vegas de Primera (first quality plantations) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designation for first-class tobacco plantations located in the best tobacco-growing regions defined by the Tobacco Research Institute and the Regulatory Council, which grow the tobaccos used for the production of Habanos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veguero<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cuban tobacco planter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitola (format) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A word with different meanings. General: Format and dimensions of a cigar. Production name: vitola de galera (production name). Trade name: vitola de salida (sales or trade name). Also: Special cigar format in a special type of packaging. In Spain: Name for the ring of a cigar (vitolfilia is the name given to the collection of cigar rings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volado (fleeting) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A type of filler leaf. Leaves with a lower thickness from the lower part of the plant, very important for the good burning of the cigar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yagua (Yagua bark)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bark of the royal palm (Cuba's national tree), which is used to make the bales in which the bracts are matured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zafado (dismantling) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to remove the leaves from the wooden poles to form bundles (gavillas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was the glossary of Cuban cigars. We will continue to work on the topic and add terms where relevant.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you missing a term and its explanation in the glossary of Cuban cigars? Please write to us! \ud83d\udc49 Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources on the topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The glossary of Cuban cigars is not the only thing that is helpful; you can find even more exciting information about Cuban cigars on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any questions about the Cuban cigars glossary? Please contact us!<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hier finden Sie das Glossar kubanische Zigarren \u2013 Ihr kompaktes Nachschlagewerk rund um kubanische Zigarren. Ob Sie die Bedeutung von Vitola, Ligero, Seco oder Medio…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-606","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=606"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1001,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606\/revisions\/1001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}