Much of the terminology used to describe the world of Havana cigars is obviously Spanish. We have therefore included terms in both English and Spanish. This glossary is a translation from a Spanish original. Kindly e-mail us if you wish to comment or add an entry
 

Apagón: Spanish term that refers to a cigar that goes out easily and often.    
 

Aroma: Bouquet of the cigar when burning. One of the factors to be taken into account when appraising a cigar.    
 

Bale (paca): Cloth wrapped packages in which the filling and binder leaves are stored.    
 

Band (anilla): ring of paper that most cigars have around the wrapper or outer leaf. Originally conceived to give the smoker somewhere to place their fingers without the cigar staining their gloves. Later became an adornment identifying the different brands. Collecting the bands, as well as the hallmarks, seals and certificates has become very popular.    
 

Banded: Used to describe a cigar when it has a band around it.    
 

Banding: Placing of the band on completing the manufacture of the cigar.    
 

Binder: the tobacco leaves that wrap round the filler tobacco, binding it together. The Spanish term for this layer, the capote, is also applied to the leaves of the tobacco plant selected specifically to this end. (See "The Plant")    
 

Blend: The blend (Spanish "liga" or also "ligada") is the proportion in the mixture of different types of leaves, be they "ligero", "seco" or "volado", which makes up the filling, giving a cigar its unique qualities and character and differentiating it from others. (See "Types of Tobacco")    
 

Bofetón: packaging that covers the cigars directly. (Spanish)    
 

Boîte Nature: considered a luxury packaging, it consists of a rectangular cedar box whose corners are rounded, varnished and has a fastener to keep the box shut. The only marks are fire-branded. (French. See "Semi Boite Nature")    
 

Box with sliding lid: Packaging for Havana cigars. This box is made from cedar wood but, unlike the common box, is cube shaped. It has a sliding lid, is not lined with paper and only has hallmarks. It is not usually varnished.    
 

Burro de fermentación: the pile of leaves or bulks on which the second fermentation process is begun. (Spanish. See "Fermentation")    
 

Cabinet: this is the most luxurious packaging for Havana cigars. It varies considerably in shape and size. It is usually varnished and lacquered. Often used for special editions.    
 

Calibre: this is the thickness or gauge of the cigar. If it is broader than a 45 gauge (17.87 mm) it is considered to be of thick calibre, if the gauge is between 40 (15.87 mm) and 45, it is a medium calibre cigar, and cigars of less than a 40 gauge are known as slim calibre cigars (See gauge).    
 

Camada: each of the layers of cigars as laid out in a box or cabinet.    
 

Carmelite: In Cuba (Spanish carmelita), the name for the colour of manufactured tobacco, ranging from light to dark brown. The word originally comes from the habits of Carmelite monks. The equivalent in English would be a light chestnut brown. (See also "drying")    
 

Cedar: Kind of wood used to make boxes, humidors, showcases and cellars and facilitates ideal conditions for the preservation of cigars. (See "Boîte Nature" and "Semi Boîte Nature").    
 

Cellar: an enclosure in which the ideal conditions are maintained, whether naturally or artificially, to preserve cigars (temperature between 16ºC ~ 18ºC and a relative humidity between 65% ~ 70%).    

Centro fino (fine centre): Level of leaves at the centre of the tobacco plant which gives the seco (dry) type of leaf for the filling and the binder of the cigar.    
 

Centro gordo (thick centre): Level of leaves at the centre of the tobacco plant, above the centro fino, which gives the ligero (light) type of leaf for the filling.    
 

Centro ligero (light centre): Level of leaves at the centre of the tobacco plant, below the centro fino, which gives leaves for the seco (dry) type of filling and for the binder of the cigar.    
 

Chaveta: Knife with a semicircular blade used by the twister to cut the tobacco leaves during twisting.    
 

Cigar box: the most common packaging for Havana cigars, also called a common box, is made from cedar wood and is rectangular, totally lined with paper and sealed with a nail. If the box is sealed with a fastener instead of a nail, it is known as a common box with fastener.    
 

Cigar case: A case used to carry from two to five cigars and where they can be kept for a short period of time.    
 

Cigar cutter: Small utensil consisting of a guillotine that is used to prepare the cigar for smoking by cutting the tip without damaging it.    
 

Cohiba: Old Taina Indian word for the rolled bunches of tobacco leaves smoked at ceremonies.    
 

Corojo: Variety of tobacco plant from which the wrapping or outer leaves are obtained in Cuba. Also the plantation where that variety was developed and that gave it its name.    
 

Corona (crown): Level of leaves at the top of the tobacco plant. The strongest tobacco (the ligero type) comes from this part of the plant.    
 

Costero: Side of a cigar box or cabinet, as well as the hallmarks or seals on that side of the box.    
 

Cover: Outside of the lid of a cigar box, as well as any covering that may be placed on the lid.    
 

Criollo (Creole): Variety of tobacco plant native to Cuba from which is obtained the leaves for the binder and the filling.    
 

Curing: Drying, fermenting and maturing process applied to the tobacco leaves to prepare them for smoking.    
 

Despalillo: Stripping room (See also stripping).    
 

Draw: Greater or lesser resistance offered by the cigar when the smoke is taken in through the tobacco.    
 

Drying: Process that freshly harvested tobacco leaves are put through, consisting of drying the leaves until they acquire their characteristic Carmelite colour. The leaves loose up to 85% of their content in water over a period of about 50 days.
 

8-9-8 box: luxury box made from cedar wood with rounded sides and which is usually varnished. Shows only hallmarks and has a fastener. It is taller than others as the cigars it holds are laid in three layers of 8, 9 and 8 cigars, hence the name of both the cigar and the packaging.    
 

Escaparate (showcase): Cedar lined reconditioning room in a factory where the conditions are ideal for the finished cigars to lose their excess moisture acquired during the twisting process.    
 

Fábrica (Factory): Facilities where the cigars are made and packed.    
 

Fermentation: A process the tobacco leaf is put through to eliminate several substances, mainly ammonia, before being used in the manufacture of the cigars. (See also "Burro de Fermentación"    
 

Fillet: Fittings on the edges of cigar boxes.    
 

Filling: Blend of tobacco that makes up the interior of the cigar.    
 

Filling, long (tripa larga): Leaves cut into long strips to be used for longer format machine-made cigars.    
 

Filling, short (tripa corta): Chopped leaf used for the filling in machine-made cigars. Also called picadura in Spanish.    
 

Flavour: One of the aspects that are evaluated when tasting cigars, the flavour of a lit cigar.    
 

Format: Different sizes of cigar available. (Further information)    
 

Galley Large room in which there are rows and rows of tables, as in a galley ship, where the "torcedores" make the cigars. (See also "galley name")    
 

Gauge: Utensil, usually made of wood and drilled with one or several holes of specific sizes, used to measure the diameter of the cigar. Also used to refer to the units of measurement of 1/64 of an inch.    
 

Gavilla (hand): Bunch of 40 to 50 dry leaves.    
 

Guajiro: Cuban name for peasant, or farm or plantation worker.    
 

Guillotine: Tool used by the twister to cut the cigar to the right length.    
 

Havana cigar: Cigar made in Cuba. The name is given to all cigars from Cuba because they were originally shipped from the port of Havana.    
 

Hallmarks: Three fire-branded seals of guarantee (hierros) to be found on the underside of Havana cigar boxes.    
 

Hygroscopic: Quality or feature that tobacco has by which it may absorb and give off ambient moisture.    
 

Humidor: Box, case or small cabinet in which cigars are preserved at a constant temperature and humidity. (Further information)    
 

Jute: Material that the bales of filling and binding leaves are wrapped in for storage.    
 

Lance: Long, straight shaft over which the leaves are hung for their curing or drying in the tobacco houses. The Spanish term, cuje, also refers to the leaves hung on each of the shafts.    
 

Larguero (crossbar): The front of a cigar box or cabinet, as well as the fittings or seals on the front of the box.    
 

Libre de pie (free at foot): The layer of leaves at the foot of the tobacco plant. These leaves are the least potent but burn most easily. Provides the ‘volado’ type leaves for the filling and the binding.    
 

Ligero(light): the leaves that grow at the top of the plant. A variety of rich, aromatic tobacco that gives strength to the blend, also called Strength 3.    
 

Manojo (bunch): 4 "gavillas".    
 

Mazo (bundle): Bundle of 25 ó 50 cigars tied together.    
 

Mechanised: A machine-made as opposed to a hand-made cigar.    
 

Media Rueda (half wheel): A "mazo" or bundle of 50 cigars that the twister hands to quality control.    
 

Oreo (airing): Interval of respite given to the leaves after wetting.    
 

Oriente: Tobacco growing region in Eastern Cuba.    
 

Parrilleros: Shelves or racks on which the leaves are placed to be aired.    
 

Partido: Tobacco growing region in Cuba, located south of Havana. Produces excellent tobacco leaves for the outer wrapping.    
 

Perilla (lobe): Small tobacco sheath which the head of the cigar is covered with once the twisting is completed.    
 

Petaca: Small case in which certain cigars are supplied. Now usually made of cardboard. Useful when a rigid leather cigar case is not available. Originally a term in Spanish for a tobacco pouch or tin.    
 

Picadura: Short filling, chopped tobacco leaf used for the manufacture of machine-made cigars.    
 

Pilones: Piles of dry leaves in which the first fermentation is carried out in the tobacco houses.    
 

Pinar del Río: the easternmost province in Cuba, Pinar del Río is also the name of the capital of the Vuelta Abajo region (the very best tobacco growing area in Cuba).    
 

Piso foliar (foliage layer): Each of the different levels of leaves of the tobacco plant.    
 

Plumier (pencil case): Individual cedar case for large format cigars.    
 

Postura (sapling): Tobacco seedling ready to be transplanted to the field after 45 days in the nursery.    
 

Puro (pure): The Spanish word widely used for Havana cigars. Comes from the phrase "cigarro puro Habano" or pure Havana cigar..    
 

Remedios: Tobacco growing region in the centre of Cuba.    
 

Retorcido (wrung): To twist the leaves of the cigar more at one end than the other. Over-twist.
 

Rezagado: The stretching, flattening and sorting of tobacco leaves by colour, size and texture for the cigar’s outer wrapper. This is done by women called rezagadoras or sorters, placing the leaves on their thighs.    
 

Rolling table: Wooden table on which the torcedor makes the cigars.    
 

Rueda (wheel): Bunch of 100 cigars.    
 

Seal: Each of the seals, hallmarks and stamps that are placed on the box and that guarantee genuine Havana cigars.    
 

Seco (dry): Leaves that grow at the middle of the plant, resulting in a variety of sweet, light tobacco that gives the blend bouquet and flavour, also known as strength 2.  
 

Selection: The process in which leaves or cigars are sorted. The rooms in which this is done (Spanish: escogida).    
 

Semi Boîte Nature: Another presentation for Havana cigars consisting of a common box with a fastener, without a lining (natural cedar). The only hallmarks are the fire-brands. Usually unvarnished. (French. See also "Boîte Nature")    
 

Semi Vuelta: Tobacco-growing region in Cuba, located in the eastern part of the province of Pinar del Río, (the westernmost province on the isle).    
 

Semillero (nursery): Grounds in which seeds are planted until they sprout and are transplanted as seedlings to the plantations.    
 

Strength: Potency of a cigar’s bouquet. (See also "seco")    
 

Stem (palillo): Central nerve of tobacco leaves.    
 

Stripper: Worker who carries out the stripping (usually women).  
 

Stripping: Extraction of the central nerve of tobacco leaves.    
 

Tabacos de sol (sun tobaccos): Open air plantations of the Criollo variety, which gives the leaves for the filling and the binding.    
 

Tabacos tapados (covered tobaccos): Plantations covered by cotton awnings to reduce the effect of the sun on the leaves of the Corojo variety, which exclusively gives leaves for the outer wrapping of the cigars.    
 

Tobacco: Common name given to Nicotiana Tabacum, from which the leaves for cigars are obtained. In Cuba, the word tabaco is also used when refering to the cigars themselves.    
 

Tobacco houses: Small wooden buildings where the process of curing or natural drying of the tobacco is carried out.    
 

Tapaclavos (nail cover): Fitting on a cigar box that covers the nail that seals the box.    
 

Tercio (one third): Oblong yagua packet in which the cigars’ outer leaves are kept for ageing.    
 

Torcedor (twister): Person who twists the tobacco to make the cigar. Also known in Cuba as the cigarrero.
 

Twisting (torcido): Actual making of the cigar, rolling or twisting the tobacco leaves.    
 

Transplant: Transferring the seedlings form the nursery to the plantation.    
 

Tripa See filling.    
 

Uno y Medio (one and a half): Lower part of the tobacco plant’s foliage, forming the second layer, just above the libre de pie, from which the volado (filling) type of tobacco and the outer wrapping is obtained.    
 

Vega (riverbank): Tobacco field. The term arises from the first plantations, which were established on the banks of rivers, called vegas in Spanish.    
 

Vega Fina de Sol: Prime quality vegas in which the tobacco for the filling and the binding is grown.    
 

Vista (view): Inside of the lid of cigar boxes, as well as the hallmarks placed there.    
 

Vitola: Often used in Spanish to describe the cigar band. However, this term should in fact be used to refer to the format, size, type or model of cigar.    
 

Vitola de Galera (galley name): Name given to the vitola or format of a cigar in the galleys, independently of the blend, the brand or the trade name. (Further information)
 

Volado: Leaves that grow on the lowermost part of the tobacco plant. A variety of tobacco leaves that gives the blend mainly better combustibility.    
 

Vuelta Abajo: Tobacco growing region located in the western part of the province of Pinar del Río, (the westernmost province on the isle). Considered to be the best in the world for tobacco growing.    
 

Warranty seal: Green seal that warrants the guarantee of the Republic of Cuba. Seals all Havana cigar boxes and forms part of their hallmarks.    
 

Wetting: Process by which the leaves are made moist. This is done before handling so they are not torn or otherwise damaged.    
 

Wooden: term that is used to describe the bouquet a cigar has when it gives off a slightly woody tang.    
 

Wrapper leaf: this is the outer leaf of the cigar that covers the binder leaves and the bunch of filler tobacco, giving the cigar its outward appearance. The Spanish term for this layer, the capa, is also applied to the leaves of the tobacco plant grown, with special techniques, specifically to this end.    
 

Yagua: Leaves of the Royal Palm tree which the tercios are wrapped in. These ease the flow of air that dries the leaves. Consistency similar to that of a hard plastic.    
 

Zafado (untying): Process of separating the tobacco leaves.    

If you wish to contribute to this vocabulary, please e-mail us