What is the Difference Between a Maduro and a Claro Cigar?

When it comes to cigars, there are a variety of different wrappers that can be used. Ripe tobacco leaves are the result of a fermentation process that gives them darker, richer, and sweeter characteristics. Maduro wrappers are dark brown, almost chocolate-colored, and are thicker and more textured due to their longer and heat-intensive fermentation process. Claro wrappers, on the other hand, are grown under gauze tents to reduce the exposure of the leaves to the sun, keeping them cool in the shade.

Aged in wooden barrels for at least five years, the Maduro wrapper of the Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos cigar adds to its unique aromas and underlying sweetness. For new cigar smokers, it is recommended to start with lighter cigars before trying out darker ones. Maduro wrappers tend to offer more significant flavors, sometimes rich and sweet. Claro wrappers are generally grown under gauze tents to reduce the exposure of the leaves to the sun, keeping them cool in the shade. The wrappers of Maduro (Maduro means “mature” in Spanish) tend to be dark brown, almost chocolate-colored. Cigar wrappers come in many different colors, ranging from light green to black and many shades in between.

Maduro means “mature” in Spanish, which means that it takes longer to cure this colored wrapper than lighter wrappers. An all-time favorite among Cuban cigar enthusiasts, Maduro is generally grown from the plant's tallest leaves, which are directly exposed to sunlight. Cigars can come in a rainbow of different colors with terms like “Mature” or “Clear”. These terms refer specifically to what is known as the envelope, the outermost leaf of the cigar. MADURO — El Maduro, which means madura in Spanish, is considered one of the most popular cigar wrappers since it contains cigars from prominent Cuban tobacco brands such as Cohiba for years.

Ernie Leduke
Ernie Leduke

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