Anatomy of a Cigar: Wrapper, Binder and Filler

A fine handmade cigar (totalmente a mano) has three parts:

Filler (Tripa)

The heart of the cigar, usually a blend of leaves from different heights of the plant:

• Ligero — top of the plant: strong, oily, slow-burning
• Seco — middle of the plant: aromatic
• Volado — bottom of the plant: light, aids combustion

Long filler uses whole leaves and is the standard for premium cigars; short filler uses chopped leaf.

Binder (Capote)

The leaf that holds the filler together. It must be elastic and also influences burn and flavour.

Wrapper (Capa)

The outer leaf — the most expensive part of the plant. It must be fine-textured with small veins and even colour. Wrapper shades run from light Claro to near-black Oscuro; darker usually means longer fermentation and more sweetness.

Head and foot

• Cap (perilla) — the small piece of leaf sealing the head, cut before smoking
• Foot (pie) — the end you light

Tip: cut only 2–3 mm off the cap, staying above the line where the cap meets the body, so the wrapper does not unravel.