{"id":912,"date":"2025-10-09T14:48:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:48:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/?page_id=912"},"modified":"2026-06-12T06:45:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T06:45:54","slug":"faq-cuban-cigars","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/faq-kubanische-zigarren\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ Cuban cigars - The fascinating world of vitola, storage &amp; ageing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FAQ Cuban cigars and welcome to the <strong>Origin Of Cigar FAQs<\/strong> - the reference book for anyone who really wants to understand Cuba's cigars. Here you will find answers to questions that even experienced aficionados ask: Why are there two <strong>Vitolas<\/strong>? What happens in the <strong>Sick period<\/strong>? Why is the <strong>Train<\/strong> sometimes solid - and how do you store cigars properly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our FAQ Cuban cigars explain with clear focus and experience, <strong>Why Cuban cigars live, breathe and change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do cigars come from?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Origin of Cigars: Myth vs. Fact\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jR77yyzGVQk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>In our FAQ Cuban cigars you will find:<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#was-ist-origin-of-cigar\">Where do cigars come from?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faq-question-1760019795464\">Why is a distinction made between two vitolas?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faq-question-1760019839718\">What is the \u201esick period\u201c?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faq-question-1760019873663\">Firm pull? Mostly a question of storage.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faq-question-1760019898309\">How do you store Cuban cigars?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faq-question-1760019926793\">Why do young Cuban cigars need a break?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#haben-sie-fragen-die-in-unseren-faq-kubanische-zigarren-nicht-beantwortet-werden\">Do you have any questions that are not answered in our FAQ Cuban cigars?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1760019795464\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Why is a distinction made between two vitolas?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u2705 Briefly: <strong>Vitola de galera<\/strong> = Factory format (technical standard designation). <strong>Vitola de salida<\/strong> = trade\/model name (this is how it appears on the shelf and on the box). <\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Vitola de galera<\/strong>Used in the factory (rollers, quality control, Habanos catalogues). Standardised <strong>Format heading for all brands<\/strong>defined <strong>Length (mm)<\/strong> and <strong>Ring size<\/strong>. Often in the <strong>Plural<\/strong> (e.g. <em>Robustos, Marevas, Dalias, Laguito No. 1<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Vitola de salida<\/strong>: <strong>Commercial name<\/strong> for the sale; <strong>Brand and model-related<\/strong>. Stands on <strong>Box, price lists, websites<\/strong>. In the German language it is called <strong>Format<\/strong>. In other languages, however, this term is unknown; there it is generally referred to as <em>Vitola<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1760019839718\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><br><strong>What is the \u201esick period\u201c?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u2705 The <em>Sick period<\/em> (often called the \u201esick phase\u201c in German) describes a temporary phase in the maturation of a cigar in which its flavour drops significantly. This phase usually occurs <strong>several weeks to months after production<\/strong> usually occur between the 3rd and 9th month after the box date. The cause is that the tobacco continues to \u201ework\u201c after rolling:<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 <strong>Residual fermentation<\/strong>Microbiological processes continue to take place in the leaves, releasing ammonia and other gases.<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 <strong>Unbalanced flavours<\/strong>The individual tobacco leaves have not yet fully harmonised; flavour notes appear angular or unbalanced.<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 <strong>Typical impression when smoking<\/strong>The cigar can taste \u201ehard\u201c, bitter, sour or even flat - often accompanied by a slightly pungent odour when cold drawn.<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 After this phase, the flavours stabilise again and the cigar gains depth, complexity and harmony with further ageing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1760019873663\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><br><strong>Firm pull? Mostly a question of storage.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u2705 I often hear the complaint that Cuban cigars have too much draw resistance. In my experience, this happens so rarely that I hardly want to think about it. In most cases, the cause lies in excessively moist storage.<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 Cuban cigars feel most comfortable at a relative humidity of 69 % - 65-69 % at around 16 \u00b0C is optimal. I know that these conditions cannot be realised in a humidor at home, especially when it comes to temperature.<\/p>\n<p>\u2705 If a cigar does have too tight a draw, place it outside the humidor for 1-2 hours (not in the sun). During this time, it will release some moisture and the draw resistance will improve significantly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1760019898309\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><br><strong>How do you store Cuban cigars?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u2705 <strong>You can store Cuban cigars in the original closed box or in a complete bundle in the humidor.<\/strong> Individual cigars belong in a sealed aluminium tubo, which you then place in the humidor. If you don't have a tubo, pack the cigar in a cling bag, add a 69% Boveda pack, close the bag tightly and place it in the humidor.<em> (Keep-fresh bags are not permeable to air and keep the moisture constant).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The reason:<\/strong> Without this protection, cigars lose a lot of their flavour within a few days to weeks - an effect that I have clearly noticed in my own experiments.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1760019926793\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><br><strong>Why do young Cuban cigars need a break?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u2705 This is not a fault of the cigar. Cuban tobacco is not matured for so long and the cigars are often sold with young tobacco. If you smoke them around 2-4 months after the box date, they can already taste excellent. After that, however, they need a maturing phase - depending on the brand and vitola, between 1 year and over 3, 5 or even more years.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"haben-sie-fragen-die-in-unseren-faq-kubanische-zigarren-nicht-beantwortet-werden\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you have any questions that are not answered in our FAQ Cuban cigars?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please write to us - we will be happy to take up your topic and continuously expand our FAQ section. The result is a living reference work that is becoming ever more precise and provides real answers - straight from the world of Cuban cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"90\">Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2.jpg\" alt=\"FAQ Cuban cigars, Vasilij Ratej and Claudia Puszkar.\" class=\"wp-image-961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Claudia-und-Vasilij_\u00a9csf-321_0101_b_2-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"vasilij-ratej-claudia-puszkar-das-herausgeberduo-von-origin-of-cigar\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vasilij Ratej &amp; Claudia Puszkar, the publishing duo of <em>Origin Of Cigar<\/em>. The FAQ Cuban cigars will of course always be updated. Are you missing questions and answers here? Please write to us! <\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"90\">Please use our contact form, we look forward to your question!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"ressourcen-zum-thema\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Curated for you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>At Origin Of Cigar:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/ageing-of-cuban-cigars-2\/\">Maturing Cuban cigars - how do you do it?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>External website:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/zigarren-lagern-ein-kontroverses-thema-mit-vielen-meinungen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cigars.zone, theme week storing cigars<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAQ kubanische Zigarren und willkommen in den Origin Of Cigar FAQs \u2013 dem Nachschlagewerk f\u00fcr alle, die Kubas Zigarren wirklich verstehen wollen. Hier findest du&hellip;<\/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-912","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/912","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=912"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2945,"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/912\/revisions\/2945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/origin-of-cigar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}