Cigars are a class of smoked or smokeless tobacco products. They can be made from a variety of materials, including tobacco, clove cigarettes as well as other herbs.
Cigars vary in size and shape and they’re rolled with tobacco leaves or paper and have a buttery texture and a full-bodied taste that could giv a unique smoking experience.
Though they are enjoyed by people all over the world, cigars have a particularly rich history and have been enjoyed by smokers for centuries.
Cigar smoking dates back to the 18th century when cigar-making was a manual process and the act of hand rolling became a status symbol.
Though cigars are more mechanized now, the ritualistic act of enjoying one remains alive and well. In this article, we have compiled a list of key facts about cigar smoking.
A good cigar has a deep, rich look to its wrapper. This gives it a darker look compared to lighter-colored cigars. The darker ones are also typically better tasting than their lighter counterparts.
If you have a discerning taste when it comes to your cigars, you will not be comfortable smoking certain brands in public.
For example, you may never be very pleased with the quality of Churchill’s and prefer those that are more expensive and have a special taste.
Points to keep in mind-
- More expensive Cigars should be better in quality and taste; however, depending on the type, this is not always true as they could equally be good.
- If you have a deep knowledge of cigar smoking or have been doing it for many years, you will have a better idea of what you want from your cigars.
- For a beginner, however, it would be best to find out what suits you and stick with it.
- The point above also applies to someone who has been smoking cigars for some time but has recently started smoking cheap machine-made ones.
- They might find the taste of their regular cigars less appealing because they have been smoking machine-made ones. The solution here is to try a blend of the two cigars but it will not be just as good as before.
- Do not assume that a cheaper cigar will have an inferior taste.
- This will only come from your own experience and it may take time for you to realize that these cheaper cigars are as good as any other.
How To Cut A Cigar?
You do not have to use a cigar cutter when you have a cigar in your hand. This is because, unless it is tightly rolled, you can simply bite it off and this will give you the same results.
The alternative way to cut your cigar is to use a guillotine or v-cutter. These are easy to find, even with non-specialized shops selling cigars.
Points to keep in mind-
- If you choose not to use a cutter and decide to bite it, make sure that the cap is removed from the cigar before doing so.
- This will avoid cutting through the tobacco and give you an uneven cut that could affect the taste of your smoke.
- The other alternative that you might want to try is using scissors. These are commonly used by cigar smokers and this will also give you even result with the same results.
- If you have cataract, it is best to avoid using guillotines and scissors.
- These can be difficult to use and it is not recommended when you have these conditions.
- It will also be a bit harder for you to judge the length of your cigar by sight since you will need to feel around for the right spot to cut it.
- If this is the case, then simply select a cigar cutter that has markings that are easy to see and follow them accordingly.
How To Light A Cigar?
When you are lighting your cigar, you should always use a long lighter. This is because, unless you have a special device that can be used to light cigars, it will not be easy for you to hold the cigar and light it at the same time.
Remember that even with a lighter, the process of lighting your cigar will require some practice before it becomes second nature.
With practice, however, and the help of an experienced adult who has been smoking cigars for years, you should quickly become adept at lighting your cigars without much trouble.
Points to keep in mind-
- Do not be tempted to try and light your cigar with matches or anything else that requires flame contact.
- This will cause the wrapper to burn or char prematurely and this will ultimately affect the quality of your smoke.
- If you have been smoking cigars for some time, you will know what kind of lighter you need.
- For beginners, it is best to buy one large enough so that it is comfortable in your hand and one with easily accessible parts in case something goes wrong.
- Do not be surprised if the flame you are using to light the cigar does not make a perfect circle around the tip of your cigar but only touches a small portion of it at first.
- It will be easy to make adjustments after lighting as needed, but remember that lighting your cigar is not as simple as lighting other things such as a cigarette.
- The fire that comes from the lighter should not be a problem for you.
- If your experience is limited and you are smoking without any kind of proper preparation, it would be best to purchase a quality one after first getting some advice from an experienced adult.
If you think that lighting cigars might be confusing, then consider doing it during a game of poker or checkers.
With this option, you will not have to worry about the fact that there is a difference between holding your cigar and lighting it.
How To Smoke A Cigar?
To properly smoke a cigar, you will need to adjust your breathing so that the smoke does not come out quickly. You should also keep in mind that tobacco burns faster the hotter it is.
Remember that you should never hold your cigar too close to your mouth as this will suffocate you.
Instead, you should only hold it about an inch away from your lips and then slowly draw it in until it is level with them.
As a beginner, you might want to simply inhale through your nose rather than through your mouth. This will avoid air getting in contact with the heat of the cigar and give you a better chance at avoiding mouth burn.
Points to keep in mind:
- If you are a beginner, it is best to use a dry cigar. This will give you a better chance at smoking it correctly and avoiding problems with your mouth.
- You can consider smoking a cigar that has been stored in the right conditions.
- If you have limited experience with cigars, however, you should stick with what this book suggests and avoid using wet cigars for now.
- Do not be surprised if the first few drags on your cigar do not taste as great as what you expect from it.
- Remember that the heat from your lighter will affect the flavour of your smoke and this will not disappear right away when you start drawing on it.
- It is normal for the cigar to smoke differently from the way it smells and tastes. Do not be surprised if you do not detect the flavour of chocolate or any other flavour that you are anticipating right away.
- You should also remember that cigar smoking requires practice and this could take a while before you can fully appreciate it.
- When you are learning, it is best to focus on a few things at a time while avoiding distractions such as conversation.
- This will give you a better chance at understanding what is going on in your smoke and how flavours come out at different temperatures.
Tips, Tricks, And Conventions
Cigars are an acquired taste and most smokers do not like to see someone who is not familiar with them strike a few puffs and then give up.
If you are smoking cigars for the first time, you should remember that it is a lifelong process that will require patience and practice on your part.
As a beginner, it is important to understand how much time will be needed to get used to smoking cigars.
You should not expect your first attempt to be perfect and keep in mind that it takes time for the mouth, respiratory system, and sensory organs of the nose to adjust their responses.
By following these suggestions, you will soon understand why even experienced cigar smokers take their time when enjoying these delightful delights-
- Avoid smoking too many cigars on your first day. It is best to start with just one and then gradually add to the amount each day.
- You may find that even your senses will not be fully adjusted at first.
- No matter how much you like the taste of cigars when you are sampling them at a cigar shop or hotel bar.
- Keep in mind that they might not be as flavourful when they are smoked later.
- Cigars are a long-term process and they should be enjoyed with care.
- Learn what brands you might like.
- While some smokers have their favorites, you need to find the one that is right for you first before moving on to other ones.
- This will allow you to know the kind of cigars that you prefer and help your decision-making process.
Remember that it will be easy for you to get used to the smell of a cigar when they are in large groups but this will not be as true once they are lit.
Conclusion
The fact that cigars are available in a wide variety of sizes and are allegedly beloved by smokers since time immemorial.
It takes skill to select a high-quality cigar, and there are ways to distinguish between good and terrible cigars.
However, this does not make these premium cigars better because sometimes a cigar with a basic wrapper can still be of high quality and give the smoker a pleasurable experience.
Cigar smoking could take some getting used to if you are finally familiar with the cutting and lighting techniques.
As cigar smoking depends on breathing and other factiers, but once you have learned all of that, it could be like a walk in the park.