There are five different
types of leaves that are used in the process of making
an Habano.
La Tripa (the gut
or interior one) contains a mix of three different ones:
Ligero (light), Seco (dry) and Volado
These are wrapped
up inside the Capote ( ), while the Capa (the top coat)
dresses the cigar and it dictates its final appearance.
There exist two varieties
of seeds, where two very different kinds of tobacco
plants known as Criollo and Corojo originate from.
This
first variety, that is named after the famous plantation El Corojo where this
seed was developed, only produces one leaf: La Capa (the top leaf, the cover
leaf). Its production is more costly than that of any other leaf of an Habano.
The Corojo leaves can be grouped into seven categories, according to their position
, aiming to their recollection and classification. To complicate things even
more, the different layers of leaves can also be classified according to colour:
Claro (clear), Colorado (coloured) and Maduro (mature).
The
Criollo plant produces the remaining four of the five tobacco leaves that are
necessary for the making of an Habano, and that are responsible for the diversity
of flavours amongst the numerous brands of Cuban cigars. The Criollo variety
is the only genuine representative of black Cuban tobacco.
