Cigars can come in a rainbow of different colours with terms such as “Maduro” or “Claro”. These terms refer specifically to what is known as the wrapper, the cigar’s outermost leaf.
Whilst this rainbow of colours is certainly attractive to look at, the wrapper can also have a great effect on the resulting flavour. As you will learn in this guide, it’s not simply a matter of darker cigars being stronger. However, there is something of a correlation.
Like learning about the shapes and sizes of a cigar, understanding the colours can have a huge impact on your understanding. Therefore, scroll down to discover the internet’s best guide to cigar wrappers and their various colours.
Learning about cigars is an infamously complex journey. Truly mastering the subject is likely an impossible task, which isn’t helped by the conflicting information that you will encounter.
However, this guide to cigar wrappers that cuts through the confusion and gives you precise details. Here, you’ll be able to learn the different cigar colours and their characteristics. Furthermore, you’ll even understand what makes a quality wrapper as well as the tobacco used to make it.
In this guide, you will learn the following topics:
- What Are Cigar Wrappers?
- How To Identify A Quality Wrapper
- What Tobacco Is Used For Wrappers?
- Different Cigar Wrapper Colours
You can simply click on any of the links above to jump ahead. However, you can also scroll down to learn it all!
Definition: What Is A Cigar Wrapper?
As you may have learned in our introductory guide to cigar anatomy, the wrapper is the cigar’s outermost leaf. Being the only directly visible tobacco leaf, the wrapper is often the focus of attention from enthusiasts.
For this reason, the wrapper’s function is largely aesthetic. However, some cigars will use the wrapper to contribute considerable flavour to the overall blend.
Generally, Cuban manufacturers will argue that the “capa” or wrapper is an attractive leaf used for hiding the unsightly binder. Meanwhile, New World cigars from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua will feature rich and flavoursome wrappers.
Depending on the methods used for curing and fermentation, a wrapper can come in a multitude of colours. The wrapper’s appearance will say a lot about a cigar as the tobacco will develop a particular colour due to the cultivation, curing and ageing processes.
How To Identify A Good Quality Cigar Wrapper
Like the cover of a book or product packaging, a cigar’s wrapper is chosen to be particularly appealing. In many ways, it acts as an introduction to a cigar and a prelude to its flavours. As such, a cigar enthusiast will develop certain expectations according to the wrapper’s appearance.
To be considered a truly alluring wrapper, the leaf should be thin and delicate while featuring as few visible veins as possible. The result should feature a smooth texture with a glistening sheen of rich oils. Similarly, the leaf used needs to be large to avoid creating the appearance of too many lines.
Conversely, a low quality wrapper may have blemishes and stains, which are caused by improper or rushed curing and fermentation. Thick and visible veins usually mean that coarser tobacco was used for making the wrapper.
Likewise, cracks and splitting wrappers are usually bad signs. This can suggest that the cigar has been stored in careless and dry conditions. Meanwhile, signs of mould can usually show that the storage environment is too humid.
Similarly, a rough texture is considered to be unsightly or may indicate a coarse cigar. However, this may be sometimes used intentionally to showcase a blend’s bolder personality.
What Tobacco Leaves Are Used For The Wrapper?
As an attractive wrapper is a thin and delicate leaf with few visible veins and a smooth texture, Ligero tobacco cannot be used as it’s often too thick and coarse.
Meanwhile, an oily sheen and rich aromas are considered as quite desirable, which rules out the tasteless and dry Velado leaves. Therefore, wrapper tobacco usually sourced from the Seco primings. These are oily and aromatic without being too thick and veiny nor too bland.
During the growing process, the selected leaves are meticulously cultivated in prime conditions. For instance, some tobacco may be grown under a cheesecloth-like gauze to prevent it becoming thick under the sun’s rays.
Once the tobacco has been harvested, a very careful curing process ensures that the wrapper is free of any blemishes and develop a consistent colour.
What Are The Different Cigar Colours?
Due to various methods in cultivation, curing and fermentation, cigars can come in many vibrant colours and textures. The full range of hues is staggering with many seeds and hybrids that can provide different results depending on the technique.
Although the wrapper is just a small part of the cigar, its colour can serve as an indicator of the cigar’s flavour and intensity. Lighter cigars can be interpreted as milder while the darker options are more robust.
However, this is only sometimes the case and its important to remember that the colour isn’t always a reliable indication.
Nevertheless, the Colorado Scale is sometimes used to make it easier to classify the majority of shades. This simplified range breaks it down into 7 distinctive hues as illustrated in the graphic below.
You can learn more about each individual colour using the menu below:
- Candela Wrapper
- Claro Wrapper
- Claro Colorado Wrapper
- Colorado Wrapper
- Colorado Maduro Wrapper
- Maduro Wrapper
- Oscuro Wrapper
Alternatively, scroll down to learn about each one.
Candela Wrapper
Also Known As: Clarisimo, Double Claro, American Market Selection
Mostly associated with the American market, these young leaves can range from light blonde to a vibrant green. When cultivated, the leaves are usually flash-cured either through a quick-drying process using charcoal fires. Traditionally, they were fermented with candlelight, which earned the named “candela”.
When heated during the drying process, it will lock in the chlorophyll, which gives the distinctive green colour. This is why green cigars are often referred to as Candela whilst blonde ones are Double Claro.
To browse Candela wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Claro Wrapper
Also Known As: Connecticut Shade
As well as cultivating the leaves early, Claro tobacco is grown under cheesecloth tents. This reduces exposure to the sun by keeping them in the shade. However, it also protects delicate leaves from varying weather conditions. After air-drying, Claro wrappers have a distinctive tan or golden colour.
Although the Connecticut Shade is the most famous example of this process, the colour isn’t exclusive to the North-Eastern USA. Claro can also be found in Ecuador, which also produce a mild and aromatic cedar flavour.
To browse Claro/Connecticut Shade wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Colorado Claro Wrapper
- Also Known As: English Market Selection, Natural
Featuring a medium brown colour, Colorado Claro is grown in direct sunlight and left to mature before cultivation. The result is a so-called natural wrapper that isn’t too dark or too light.
Sometimes it may be referred to as English Market Selection. However, this usually implies a specific inventory that was vetted by the historical importers, Hunters & Frankau.
To browse Colorado Claro wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Colorado Wrapper
With its aromatic aromas and rich flavour, the Colorado is a popular choice. Often shade-grown, Colorado leaves are left to mature far longer than their lighter counterparts to develop a robust profile.
To browse Colorado wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Colorado Maduro Wrapper
- Also Known As: Spanish Market Selection
Seen as something of a compromise between the Colorado and Maduro (hence the name), it used to be the Spanish favourite. However, it has since long lost this association.
Some may claim that being slightly less cured than a Maduro, it retains a more aromatic flavour profile.
To browse Colorado wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Maduro Wrapper
One of the most famous cigar wrappers, the Maduro (“mature” in Spanish) has a passionate following of enthusiasts. Usually cultivated from some of the highest leaves of the plant exposed to the sun, i can undertake years of curing and fermentation.
In order to survive the hot conditions of the pressure chamber ageing process, Maduro leaves are often thick and coarse. The result is an oily yet robust wrapper with a distinctively sweet flavour and high nicotine content.
To browse Maduro wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Oscuro Wrapper
- Also Known As: Double Maduro, Negro, Black
Like the Maduro, the Oscuro is taken from the highest leaves exposed to the most sun. However, they’re left on the plant for as long as possible before cutting. Once cultivated, they endure a much more intense and longer fermentation process than a Maduro that can last many years.
The result of this is a dark and almost black wrapper with a rough texture and very pronounced flavour. Due to the work involved in obtaining this precious leaf, they are quite rare to find.
To browse Oscuro wrapper cigars available for sale on CigarPage, click here.
Limitations Of The Colorado Scale
As mentioned earlier, the Colorado Scale limits the different shades and hues by breaking them down into 7 possibilities. However, whilst it makes it easy to understand, it leaves out a wide majority of nuances and hues.
For instance, whilst the Connecticut Shade is included even as a synonym, well-known seeds such as the Corojo or Habana are left out. Nevertheless, even if the Corojo or Habana leaves are relatively consistent in appearance, different ageing processes can create a great variety of resulting colours and textures.
Similarly, various firms may define shades somewhat differently. For example, one house’s Claro may be another’s Double Claro. Rather than use this Colorado Scale as a precise standard of unit, it serves as a visual aid to make it easier in appreciating the varieties available.
What Next?
Now that you have read about the different types of cigar wrappers, discover some of our other cigar resources such as the following:
Cigars Contents
Nice guide. Candela is new to me. Can you recommend a good one?
Hi Mark,
Absolutely, we’re big fans of the Camacho Candela, which is a great homage to the American favourite.
Best,
CP
How do these wrapper color definitions translate into the wrapper terms like: Connecticut, Corojo, Habano, Sumatra etc?
Hi Dan,
Good question!
Each of the terms that you mentioned aren’t necessarily related and refer to different things but they’re often associated with wrapper colour.
Firstly, Connecticut is a growing technique that we mention under the Claro section, which refers to tobacco grown under cloths to keep them in the shade. Meanwhile, Corojo, Habano, and Sumatra are types of tobacco seed.
Although these are associated with specific colours and territories, it’s actually their growing and ageing conditions that have a greater affect on this as well as the leaf’s position on the plant. For instance, they’ll become darker the longer they’re aged and the texture of the leaf will change depending on when they’re harvested.
Best,
CP
It was very informative, thank you very much,
I have a doubt this wrapper which part of tobaco leaves using common in world wide markets, is it seco , or volado, need help
Hi Jai,
It depends on the tobacco variety used, the blend, as well as the climate of the year it was harvested. For instance, hot and dry years will produce smaller and stronger leaves so it’s more likely to use lower primings to compensate. Sorry that I can be more specific!
All the best,
CP
Thank you so much me.CP,
Happy to help!
All the best,
CP
I ‘m dense so explain to me how you can ferment tobacco with a specific type of light?
Hi Paul,
From what I understand, candles were traditionally used for producing this type of tobacco. However, it’s far more common today that they’re heat-cured using charcoal fires instead. I imagine that the same results using the old-fashioned way would have needed a significant number of candles!
Best,
CP
Thank you, it was very informative, my question – which wrapper is closest to a Cuban cigar wrapper e.g. Cohiba Siglo III, Montecristo No. 4 or Punch-Punch if that is possible?
Arthur
Hi Arthur,
Most Cubans like these fit into the Colorado and Colorado Claro category. However, these are just basic colours rather than a reference to the wrapper leaves themselves.
Best,
CP
Thank you!
Arthur
You’re welcome!
Great read! Perfect for newcomers getting interested in cigars! Many thanks! Quick question, under Candela Wrapper, it reads “When heart during the drying process…”. Is this a typo or perhaps an expression? Also, I believe I found a tiny typo under Maduro Wrapper, ” …plant exposed to the sun,( i )can undertake years”. Regardless, amazing piece of information!
Hi James,
Thanks for the kind words! Indeed, that’s a typo, which I’ve just corrected. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
All the best,
CP
Discovered your website a month ago and being both a pipe and cigar smoker, it has really helped fill in the gaps of my aficionado knowledge. Thank you.
Question: I once heard that the best wrapper for cigars comes from the US plantations and is one of the reasons the Cuban producers downplay the importance of it as they are still under US embargo. Is there any truth to this? I have had Cuban cigars and, although quality made, were no better then any other.
Hi Patrick,
Great to hear that you’ve been enjoying our content!
I’m not personally aware of any relationship between Cuban and American tobacco plantations. They’re very different with unique soils and climates. Indeed, American plantations, such as those in the Connecticut valley, have an excellent reputation. As the region suggests, they’re best known for shade-grown tobacco.
As it was discovered that the effects could be simulated by covering the tobacco with cheese cloth or by using Ecuador’s natural cloud cover, many went out of business since it’s quite expensive. However, it has experienced a recent renaissance thanks to renewed interest. The region is also very diverse in the tobacco that it cultivates.
All the best,
CP