What is a Maduro wrapper?
Maduro wrappers where traditionally only made in the United States, not in Cuba.
More Heat & More Fermentation
Maduro is a Spanish word that means matured. In the old world, Maduro wrappers usually came from the top of the tobacco plant. Think of them as spending the most time in the sun. But the untold reason is the extra fermentation those leaves undergo. Through a process of heat and moisture, it is added naturally, which is very time-consuming and is what creates these types of leaves. The dark, oily signature color only comes from the lengthy process of converting the plant's starches into sugars. Due to this process, only a few types of tobaccos are used generally, the Mexican San Andres and the Connecticut Broadleaf. These strains are thicker and withstand the constant heat and fermentation process.
Darker Is Not Always Stronger
A common misconception is that Maduro cigars are stronger because of their dark color. This is generally not true. The Maduro wrapper is naturally sweeter because the process by which it's made brings out sugars. Sun Grown cigars can also vary in terms of strength. Lighter colors will have milder flavors, but do not necessarily correlate to the strength of the cigar. Just a side note: until recently, Maduro leaves were not produced in Cuba and were typically done in the United States due to our tastes. On the other hand, Maduro wrappers are made from more matured leaves that have gone through a natural fermentation process, resulting in a gorgeous dark brown leaf. Maduro wrappers have deeper and more nuanced flavors as a result of their age.
Tobacco hanging in barn during the start of the curing process.
Lower Nicotine, Think Dark Roast
While some people think that darker cigars are more full in flavor, the addition of the madero wrapper is traditionally used to stabilize the state of strong, full-bodied cigars. A Maduro cigar can have a medium to full flavor profile, making it a perfect option for cigar beginners who are not used to some cigars' strong flavors. While nicotine levels in Maduro wrappers are typically lower than the filler and binder leaves, they are also sweeter and oilier due to that extra fermenting and sugar transition. This is typically the same when discussing coffee roasting, where the darker the roast yields an oilier and stronger flavor, and less caffeine. Usually, maduro cigars cost more due to the extra time and care needed to create them.
Hit The Brakes
Some cigar makers may speed up fermentation by adding heat, extra moisture, or pressure to the tobacco. In addition, less honorable cigar manufacturers will artificially color their leaves with dyes to create a visual appeal. Obviously, this is disingenuous since premium cigar smokers expect a natural product produced through traditional methods. Fermentation is a natural process that should not be expedited. Any method of speeding up production may produce an attractive dark cigar, but it will not have a legitimate Maduro flavor profile. Ultimately, the darkest, blackest maduro will probably not be the best.
Inspecting the heat and humidity levels while fermenting tobacco.
On a side note: It has been noted, and reported, by some well-known individuals in the industry that when you smoke a cigar and part of the way through, you experience cold sweats, pounding heart rate, dizziness, and upset stomach is related to excess ammonia in that cigar. The resulting effects are brought on by the cigar not having sufficient time to ferment or “off gas” and producing too much toxic smoke and then ultimately ingested by the smoker. The effects of this is not well documented, but you should at first signs stop smoking that cigar.
