Cigar Words & Terms D to L

GLOSSARY OF COMMON CIGAR WORDS, TERMS, AND IDIOMS

 

D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L

 

D

DAR CHAVETA:  This is the method by which the tabaqueros applies pressure to the tobacco, on his rolling table, to cut the tobacco leaf to size specifications. It is a slight hammering/slicing movement which is honed to perfection over years of experience.

DAR TABLA:  The pressing method used by the roller, at his table, in preparation of the leaves for rolling.

DÉCIMOS:  This refers to a cabinet with 1,000 cigars, 100 per level.

DEHUMIDIFICATION:   After the 2nd fermentation, sheaves of filler and binder leaf are laid on racks in a in climate controlled room, allowing them to rest and dry out. Dehumidification also occurs after the cigars have been rolled and placed in marrying rooms.

DEMITASSE:  A small size cigar usually 4 inches long with a 30 ring gauge.

DEPENDIENTE:  The storeroom overseer, in the casa de despalillo.

DESANGRAR:  The cutting of the thickest part of the leaf without damaging any veins of the residue, allowing full usage of the leaf.

DESBOTONAR:  The process of trimming the suckers off of the tobacco plant so that more strength goes into the main leaves.

DESBOTONAR:  The removal of small buds from the growing plant, preventing loss of nutrition, which would be ‘eaten’ by the growths.

DESCADO:  The tobacco drying, or curing, process. First, the leaf slowly eliminated its moisture, and then it undergoes color changes. The various steps in this process are discussed elsewhere in this glossary and in special sections on Curing.

DESCARADOR: The person who unloads baskets of leaves at the casa de tabaco.

DESCOGOLLAR:  Removal of the tobacco plants flowers.

DESHIBE:  The process of removal of buds and suckers from growing tobacco leaves.

DESHIJAR:  This is the removal process, during the plant growth period, when suckers and shoots are removed, after the plant has been topped. If either is allowed to grow larger than one-inch, there will be resultant damage to the plant. Because the process is an on-going job, it is often referred to as ‘repasar’.

DESHILE Y SELECCION:  The Cuban term which means to “remove and select.” It is the action of untying the gavillas in the casa de escogida. The leaves are then brought to the women workers (abridoras) who unfold them and arrange them in uniform piles (planchas). They set aside the smaller leaves and defective ones, which are then used as ‘tripas de la capa’ or ‘tripas de banco’, for the production of cigars for local consumption.

DESNUDO:  This term refers to a cigar which is not in cellophane or in a tube.

DESORILLAR:  The cutting process used by the tabaquero, to provide the maximum amount of usable leaf, in the production of his allotment of tobacco.

DESPALA: The area in the casa de escogida, where the leaves are stripped of their center veins.

DESPALAR:  The joining of tobacco leaves after their midribs are removed.

DESPALILLADORA:  The person who strips the midribs from the tobacco leaves, usually a woman.

DESPALILLAR:  The name for the series of actions taken to strip the midrib.

DESPALILLO:  The department where the midribs are stripped.

DESPUNTE:  Literally, ‘eradication.’ The process of removing overdeveloped seedlings.

DESVENAR:  Stemming or removing the large veins of the binder leaves.

DIAMEDMAS:  A large shaped cigar, essentially a true torpedo shape, at least 8 inches long, with a ring gauge of 40 near the head and 52 or 54 at or near the foot, tapering at each end.

DIVAN:  A private smoking room or club.

DOBLE CLARO:  The name for a cigar with a greenish wrapper, also known as AMS selection.

DOBLE CORONA:  The name for a cigar, classified as a “Prominente” measuring 7½ to 8 by 48 to 52-ring gauge.

DRAW:  The term used to describe how easily a cigar allows air to pass through it.

DRESS BOX:  The opposite of a cabinet box, the dress box is amply decorated with labels and other trimmings that cover the wood.

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E

8-9-8:  A form of packaging in which there are three rows of cigars in the box; eight in the bottom row, nine in the middle, and eight in the top: created so the cigars would not be pressed in and become square in shape.

ELASTICIDAD:  The leaf’s capacity to stretch without breaking, an essential property for wrapper leaves.

ELEPHANT’S FOOT:  An unusual, custom rolled, cigar shape.

EMBARRILAR:  Placing the stripped parts of the leaf in a wooden barrel to allow them to rest and become uniform.

EMBOQUILLAR:  The first turn made by the roller, to the filler, when he begins to enclose it in the wrapper.

EMPACAR:  Packing tobacco into bales before they are classified.

EMPACARADO:  The title of the worker who bales tobacco leaves.

EMPALMADO:  A defectively rolled cigar.

EMPILONAR:  The arranging of the bundles of leaves, atop one another, to start the fermentation process.

EMS:  English Market Selection is the term used to designate a natural color wrapper, not claro or lighter shades, nor maduro or darker shades. In the United Kingdom, an EMS sticker found on boxes of Cuban cigars refers to inventory that has been vetted by Hunters & Frankau, cigar distributors.

ENBETUNANDO:  This term refers to the wetting down of tobacco with a mixture of water and tobacco residues. This Mojo helps accelerate the fermentation process.

ENCAJETILLADOR:  The person who places the cigars in their boxes. This process is the step prior to banding the cigars for final insertion, or for tying the identification ribbon around a bundle of cigars, for a cabinet box of 25 or 50.

ENCAPAR:  The action of placing the wrapper on the binder and filler. The Cuban term for the tobacco within the finished product is ‘tripa’, meaning ‘guts’, not to be confused with tripe, which is a less than appealing entrée, or something a poser might spout off.

ENCASILLAR:  The classification of various leaves for disbursement for further processing.

ENCENTRAR:  The cutting away of damaged portions of leaves, prior to use.

ENGAVILLADOR:  The worker who arranges and bunches sheaves of tobacco.

ENGAVILLAR:  The process, in the casa de escogida, of arranging tobacco bunches with the stems together and tying them at the top. Different grades of leaves are bound in different numbers. Likewise, the time in the gavillas determines when and which leaves are bunched together. The grading system is divided into ‘classes’.

ENGAVILLEO:  The department in the casa de escogida where leaves are arranged in bunches. See, engavillar.

ENMALLAR:  The action of reviewing the tobacco leaves, once hung on racks for drying, so they avoid touching one to the other. This avoids fermentation defects. Since the barn, or room, is open at both ends, this process is ongoing.

ENMATULAR:  The operation of lowering the racked tobacco for further processing. The tobacco had been strung together and placed on long sticks, cujes, which had been raised onto the horizontal boards, barrederas, for the long drying and curing period.

ENORME:  Spanish for huge. This describes a Cigar that is at least a 52 ring gauge or bigger.

ENSARTADO:  System of harvesting of the tobacco in loose leaves.

ENSARTADOR:  The worker who pairs up sets of leaves, by their midrib, and places them on the cujes.

ENSARTAR:  The action of stringing cotton thread through the leaves before suspending them from the tobacco poles.

ENTERCEO:  The bailing of wrapper and filler leaves in the grading house. Wrapper leaves are transported in collapsible wooden crates, called ‘caja de tercio’ (third crates). The origin of this Cuban idiom comes from the time when it took three men for completion of the operation. The measurements for each piece of equipment used in this operation, is exact.

ENTERCIADOR:  The packers in charge of placing two yagua, as a base, in making the tercios. There are always 80 bundles of wrapper leaf per tercio.

ENTERCIAR:  The formation of the tercios.

ENTUBAR:  This is the technical rolling format, which involves rolling the filler tobaccos concentrically into each other. This skillful rolling technique creates a more firmly packed and balanced cigar, providing an even burn and draw.

ENVASADO:  The process of selecting groups of cigars, from a holding ‘drawer’ to be placed on a sorting table, where they are aligned from lightest to darkest.

ENVASADORA:  The worker who separated cigars for placement in their respective boxes.

ESCAPARATE(S):  Cooling cabinet(s) in which cigars are kept at the factory for a few weeks after they have been rolled. The cabinets are carefully humidified and kept at a constant temperature. Marrying takes place here, and when the designated periods for each manufacturer has been reached, the cigars are removed for final preparation and boxing.

ESCARDAR:  The process of clearing grass from the tobacco furrows.

ESCOGEDOR:  The title for the worker who classifies leaves into their respective shades and hues.

ESCOGEDORA:  A female cigar-factory worker who sorts leaves by color; the sorting process is known as the escogida.

ESCOGIDA:  The factory department where tobacco leaves graded, or classified into color and shade. The first step in this process is to separate the leaves into six (6) colors. The second stage is to separate each color into one of 62 shades. The final stage is to group the selected tobacco into piles of 10, 25, or 50, for further processing and packaging. The grading areas are either near the farms, or in the city. At this area, the leaves undergo the following processes: 1 Pre-selection, 2 Loosening-‘zafado’, 3 Dampening-‘moja’, Airing-‘oreo’, 5 Resting-‘reposo’, 6 Selection-‘seleccion’, 7 Grading-‘rezagado’, 8 Sorting-‘picadero’, Bunching- ‘engavillado’, 10 Bundling-‘manojeo’, 11 Packing-‘enterceo’, 12 Fumigation-‘fumigacion’ and 13 Warehousing-‘almacenaje’. All of the above steps are carried out to age-old requirements. Leaves are selected according to their ‘class’, and there are 40 to 50 different classes! The determination is made based upon texture, size, and gradation of flaw. The attention to detail is amazing; an example of two classes are ‘rezagos once viso seco’, (grade 11 glossy dry), and ‘doce viso seco, (grade 12 glossy dry).

ESCOGITA:  The person responsible for the selection of tobacco leaves according to specific requirements. This is also the person who sorts the finished cigars into their respective colors, shades, and hues.

ESPECIALES:  This refers to special models, very difficult to produce. The larger ones require a wrapper 40 to 55 cm in length, something rare in Cuba. One famous Especiales was the 65 cm long pre-war panatela made by Henry Clay.

ESTANCO:  The name for the retail establishment, in Spain, where packaged cigars and accessories, are sold. Also, in the 18th century, the Spanish throne instituted a monopoly (estancio) which required all tobacco to be sold, at a fixed price, to Spain.

EVALUACION SENSORIAL:  Taste testing cigars, for quality, before they are boxed.

EVAPORATION HUMIDIFICATION:  This type of Humidifier works because of the evaporative qualities of water. Typically the surface area of the Humidifier is in proportion to the size of the box and water is released at a rate which creates 70% to 73% humidity. Some Evaporation Humidifiers use a fan to control the evaporation rate.

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F

FÁBRICA:  The building and facilities where cigars are produced.

FÁBRICA DE TABACOS TORCIDOS:  Establishment equipped with the machinery, necessary tools and facilities for the production of cigar. The first tobacco factory was created in the city of Seville in 1620.

FABRICA DE TOBACO:  The factory where cigars are produced.

FALSO:  The aisle between the cujes in the curing house.

FERMENTACIÓN:  Fermentation is the process in, and for, the development of cigar tobacco. Tobacco is moistened and placed into large bulks where it ferments. The process releases ammonia from the tobacco. After harvest, workers gather the tobacco leaves in large bulks (or piles), moistening the leaves. Temperatures may reach 140°F before the bulk is broken down and restacked until fermentation stops naturally. This process, called working the bulk, releases the ammonia from the tobacco. The process is also described as the natural organic “cooking/sweating” that accounts for the majority of flavor development and distinction in cigar tobaccos. Fermentation occurs when moisture, heat, and pressure levels reach a critical synergy.

FERTILIZATION:  Shortly after the seedlings are planted, natural insecticides and fungicides are applied to the plants. After approximately 35 days after planting, the seedlings are transplanted to permanent fields. The fields are prepared by applying calcium carbonate, organic fertilizer, and other natural substances, to the soil. This process is repeated after 10 to 15 days from transplanting the plants.

FIGURADO:   A Spanish term that refers to cigars with shapes sizes, such as belicosos, torpedos, pyramids, perfectos and culebras, or any cigar which is not a consistent cylindrical shape. In the 19th century, this shaped cigar was finished at both ends, thus, you had to cut both ends before smoking.

FILETE:  This is a narrow band glued to the outer angles of the cigar box.

FILETEADO:  The name for the division of the factory where the cigar boxes are finished by the addition of brand name, tape, ribbon, and other identifier.

FILETEADOR (FILEADOR):  The cigar-factory worker who puts the trimmings on the boxes; after the filete, the ribbon of paper that seals the joints and edges of the cigar box; usually called a “dress box.”

FILETEAR:  The process of attaching the trim on the cigar box.

FILLER LEAVES:  The individual tobacco leaves used in the body of the cigar. A fine cigar usually contains between two and five different types of filler tobacco.

FILLER:  The combination of distinct tobacco leaves which constitute the “guts” of the cigar. Filler must be expertly bunched to make a well constructed cigar that will draw and burn in balance. The Cuban term for Filler is Tripa.

FINCA:  Spanish word for a farm.

FINISH:  A tasting term. It refers to the taste that lingers on your palate after a puff. Mild cigars do not have much finish, either in terms of length or complexity. But stronger, more full-bodied cigars have distinctive flavors that linger for a while.

FINO:  The time of completion of any particular process in the fabrication of the cigar may be called this.

FLAG CAP:  A wrapper leaf that is expertly twisted to form the cap of the cigar, rather than attaching a separate piece of wrapper; found only on certain super-premium cigars, such as the Cohiba Corona Especial.

FLAG LEAVES: An extension of the wrapper leaf shaped to finish the head of a cigar. A technique used instead of using a cap. Flags are sometimes tied off in a pigtail or a curly head.

FOLIA LEVEL:  This refers to any of the several leaf levels of the tobacco plant.

FOOT:  The end of the cigar you light. Most often it is pre-cut, except in the case of torpedos and perfectos.

FORMATO:  This is the cigar’s measurements.

FORTALEZA:  Cuban term for ‘strength’. The sensation is said to be felt in the throat with each puff and inhalation. It is part of the process by which we sense the flavor and aroma of the cigar. Specifically, the idiom is used to describe a ‘strong’ cigar. There is no literal equivalent of this term, other than by the use of full-bodied to mild.

FREEZING:  Common method used to kill the tobacco beetle, or the larva before they hatch; recommendations for freezing cigars include sealing in an air tight bag in an extremely low temperature of minus 10º F. for 3 days (72 hours); note: this is a much lower temperature than your home refrigerator-freezer will go; then move to a refrigerated temperature of 40º for 24 hours so that the wrapper leaf does not crack due to the drastic temperature increase, then keep the cigars in ‘room temperature’ for 24 hours before smoking.

FRONTMARK:  The name of a cigar’s shape that is printed on the outside of a box.

FUMA:  Another name for the curly head or pig’s tail of a cigar; it came from the phrase that came to symbolize the twisted signature ‘head’ of the cigar maker’s smoke: La Fuma de Tabacalera (the smoke of the cigar maker); the name “fuma” stuck.

FUMAR:  The Spanish word for “to smoke.” The Cuban publications even have a ‘how to’ for this term (perhaps meant for “Cigar Smoking for Dummies). It is “to inhale and to expel the smoke of the lit cigar. A cigar must be ignited slowly and without smoking, and later, smoked slowly, so it does not overheat, and provide its maximum aroma. One must always try to preserve the ash, thus producing greater aroma. One should avoid extinguishing the cigar, and allow it to cool off, by itself. To do otherwise will change the taste of the cigar when relit.”

FUMO:  This is a traditional Cuban term for a cigar with an unfinished “shaggy” foot and a twisted Head/Cap.

 

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G

GALERA:  The room in the tobacco factory where tobacco is distributed to the torcedores or tabaqueros, for rolling. The name’s origin is from the 19th century, at which time convicts were used as rollers. The term means ‘galley’.

GAUGE:  The diameter of a cigar is referred to as the ring gauge. It is a measurement equal to 1/64 of an inch. A 64 ring gauge cigar would be one inch in thickness and a 32 ring gauge would be 1/2 inch thick.

GAVILLA:  These are bunches of tobacco leaves held together by string, which help organize the tobacco for fermentation and storage. The selected leaves must fit into the left hand of the engavillador. It is also a roller’s allotment of tobacco, usually enough for twenty-five to fifty cigars.

GOMA:  The natural vegetable gum used to seal the head of the cigar wrapper.

GOMERO:  The plastic or metal dispenser into which the adhesive is placed for the rollers.

GORDA:  Spanish for "fat." Used for describing a fat cigar as in the corona gorda shape. The traditional size is 5⅝ inches with a 46 ring gauge.

GORGOJO:  A weevil, also known as Lasioderma serricorne, the tobacco beetle.

GORGOJO: See, Lasioderma.

GORRO:  An added piece of tobacco to ‘cap’ or finish off the cigar. This is not done for the finer cigars.

GRADING:  Sorting the wrapper leaves in the factory by size, color and texture.

GRAN CORONA:  A very big cigar which generally measures 9¼ inches by 47 ring gauge.

GUAJIRO:  This is the Cuban word for farmer.

GUANO:  Dried leaves of the Royal Palm.

GUARDAPOLVO:  The covered table where the roller works.

GUAYAVERA:  A traditional four-pocket shirt worn by cigar makers throughout the Caribbean; the long sleeved version of the guayavera is considered formal enough to wear to a wedding without a tie.

GUILLOTINA (GUILLOTINE):  The cutting instrument used by the Torcedore to trim the foot of the cigar after it has been rolled. It is also the name for the instrument used to cut the cap of the cigar for smoking.

GUM:  A vegetable adhesive used to secure the head of the wrapper leaf around the finished bunch.

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H

HABANA:  Havana, Cuba.

HABANA P.R.:  This is a modified strain of tobacco, introduced to resist Blue Mold, Black Shank and Tobacco Mosaic Virus. It offered good yield and high quality leaves for filler and binder use.

HABANA VUELTA ARRIBA:  This is a newer, disease resistant, strain of tobacco, widely planted in the central and eastern parts of Cuba. It yields a large harvests; the quality of this leaf is such that it is primarily destined for cigarettes and domestically-consumed cigars.

HABANA-92 & HABANA-2000:  In 1992, these new strains were introduced, offering excellent resistance to disease and very good yields. About 25 percent of the harvest of each type was good enough to be used for wrappers, offering an alternative to the Corojo plant, which is more easily overcome by disease. Today, the Habana-2000 plant is in wide use as a primary producer of wrapper leaf, although Habana-92 and Corojo are also planted. Famed Pinar del Río tobacco farmer Don Alejandro Robaina - the namesake of Habanos S.A.’s Vegas Robaina cigar - has nearly replaced all of his traditional Corojo plants with the new plant. Overall, it is estimated that more than half of the current tobacco plantings in Pinar Del Río are of the Habana2000 variety.

HABANO:  A designation which, when inscribed on a cigar band, indicates that a cigar is Cuban. (Note: not all Cuban cigars are marked with "Habano" or "Havana.").

HABANOS S.A.:  The name of the joint venture between the Cuban government (and Cubatabaco) and the European firm, Altadis. Habanos S.A. controls the worldwide distribution and marketing of Cuban cigars. In addition, Habanos S.A. owns the trademarks for all Cuban cigar brands outside of the U.S.

HABANOSOMMELIER:  This is a fairly recent term for someone who is a specialist in Habano-cutting-and-lighting-up, as well as descriptive tasting.

HABILITACION:  The lithographed labels, 90 or 120 gram chrome paper, used to decorate a cigar box. There are seven different kinds: the cubierta, vista, bofeton, papeleta, tapaclavo, largueros y costeros, and filetes.

HABILITADO:  The operation of adorning a cigar box with various labels.

HALF-WHEEL (MEDIA RUEDAS):  A bundle of 50 cigars. Cigar rollers usually use ribbon to tie the cigars they produce into half-wheels.

HAND:  Individual leaves of tobacco that are hung together after harvest and tied at the top. These hands are piled together to make a bulk for fermentation.

HANDMADE:  A cigar made entirely by hand with high-quality wrapper and long filler. All premium cigars are handmade. Hand-rollers can generally use more delicate wrapper leaves than machines.

HAND-ROLLED:  A cigar made entirely by hand with high-quality wrapper and long filler.

HARVESTING:  The Herculean task of hand picking tobacco leaves from the plant (also see Priming).

HEAD:  The closed end of the cigar; the end you smoke.

HEAT CURING:  Accelerating the natural drying process of tobacco using heat. Without sufficient time for flavors to concentrate, this process results in a leaf with less flavor and richness than air-cured leaves.

HECHO A MANO:  Spanish for ‘made by hand’, and no longer is use. This name has been changed to “Hecho en Cuba.” It refers to a cigar whose wrapper is hand rolled. There is no conformity in structure of the cigar, with this title. Some factories use the name for a cigar whose binder and wrapper are hand rolled. If the cigar is only hand-wrapped, the filler is usually made of diced tobacco, or ‘tripa corta’.

HIERROS:  Marks engraved in the bottom of Havana boxes. The first one reads "Habanos S.A.", the second one "Hecho en Cuba" (Made in Cuba), the third "Hecho a Mano" or "Totalmente a Mano" (Handmade or Wholly Handmade). The forth one features the factory's code number and the date of manufacture.

HIJO:  An axillary growth on the underside of a tobacco leaf, while still on the plant.

HOLDER:  Cigar holders are an interesting affectation and collectible, but true aficionados let nothing come between their lips and the head of a cigar they're smoking.

HOMOGENIZED BINDER:  Binder made of chopped tobacco leaf and cellulose. Scorned by purists, it facilitates machine production and can facilitate the burn of certain products.

HORRO:  A cigar that burns poorly and it does produce ash. The tobaccos for these cigars are cultivated on land that has inadequate minerals, or is over-used.

HOT:  Describes a cigar that is under-filled and has a quick, loose draw. It can cause harsh flavors.

HUMIDIFICTION SYSTEM:  An essential element of the cigar humidor that generates an appropriate level of humidity by releasing moisture, without which a humidor would simply be just another box.

HUMIDIFIER:  An apparatus which releases and maintains the 70% to 73% Relative Humidity needed to keep cigars at optimal freshness. [Note: it is important to use distilled water or the closest alternative in Humidifiers. Minerals and other contaminants will evaporate and taint cigars.]

HUMIDOR:  A room, or a box, of varying sizes, designed to preserve or promote the proper storage and aging of cigars by maintaining a relative humidity level of 70% and a temperature of approximately 65°F to 70°F.

HYGROMETER:  A device that indicates the humidity, or percentage of moisture in the air; used to monitor humidor conditions. Analog models need periodic calibration while most digital Hygrometers do not.

HYGROSCOPIC:  This term refers to a substance’s qualities to readily absorb and retain humidity. Cigars and tobacco are Hygroscopic by nature, and require proper humidity to live and thrive properly.

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I

IDEAL TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY:  Ideally, cigars should be stored at between 65% and 70% relative humidity (RH), with the temperature up to about 70°F, or 21.1°C. In hot, dry climates a cigar can dry out within a couple of days. Many people, particularly in the USA, believe the ideal storage conditions are a 70/70 mix (70% RH and 21.1°C). The British taste, however, is for a much dryer cigar. Top British merchants store at a humidity level of between 60% and 65%.

IGLOODOR:  A (usually large) insulated storage container for cigars.

INHALE:  What you don't do with cigar smoke.

INJURIADO:  Disease of inferior tobacco branches.

INTENSO:  Describes a Cigar with strong, consistent, dark smoke.

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J

JORRO: The same as “Horro”.

JULIETA NO 2:  7’ x 47 ring gauge. Originally from the Romeo y Julieta Factory this cigar is more popularly known as the Churchill.

JULIETERO: Name with which the tabaqueros use for top-notch torcedors, generally the most capable and experienced; they are given the task to produce the larger vitolas.

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K

KALFRISA:  The Cuba name for a tobacco fabrication plant equipped with gasohol heaters to cure the tobacco, artificially.

KILITCH:  A vertical bale position, in the fermentation barn, in which the bale is stood on end to allow air to reach the leaves.

KINERO:  The term given to a local Cigar transporter. This is the guy who brokers and negotiates cigar deal within a small community.

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L

LAGUITO, EL:  The term means ‘little lake’, but to cigar smokers, it is the paradigm of cigar factories.

LANCE:  A cutter used to pierce a small hole in the closed end of a cigar; also called a piercer.

LARGUEROS:  The front and backside of the cigar box.

LARGUEROS Y COSTEROS:  The piece of lithographed paper that is glued on each side of the cigar box, and bars the name of the vitola and number of cigars contained in each box.

LASIODERMA: A tobacco disease, fully described in the section, “Tobacco Disease++”.

LECTOR:  Traditionally, a person who reads to the cigar rollers while they work. Julian Rivero’s El Figaro factory was the first to employ a lector, at the end of 1865.

LIBRE: The name given to tobacco leaf of superior quality.

LIBRE DE PIE:  These are the first leaves at the base of the tobacco plant. The term translates to ‘free-footed’.

LIEBERMAN:  A hand-operated bunching device that utilizes a rubber sheet to roll the filler up into the binder; named after the inventor.

LIGA:  This refers to the blend of the various tobacco leaves, which provides the individual taste, flavor, and aroma, of particular vitolas in different brands. The ‘liga’ process is closely guarded.

LIGA O LIGADA:  A mixture of leaves, from strong to light, which compose the tripa.  This is another Cuban term for the specific blend of tobaccos which make up a particular vitola for a particular brand.

LIGADOR: The master tobacco blender, for various vitolas.

LIGERO:  One of the three basic types of filler tobacco. The name means ‘light’ in Spanish, but this aromatic tobacco lends body to a blend, and is the most sought after class of wrapper leaf.

LIMPIAR LA TRIPA:  The process of “cleaning” binder and filler leaves, at the casas de tobacco.

LIQUORING:  The process of manufacture begins with 'liquoring,' in which the leaf is treated with pure water to render it soft and pliant for the hands of the 'stripper.' The process of 'stripping' consists in stripping the leaf by taking out its midrib. The leaf when stripped is handed to the 'cigar- maker’, and in this branch of the trade many female hands are employed.

LLANO:  This is a sub-district of the Vuelta Abajo, including Guane, Mantua, Pinar del Rio, San Juan y Martinez, and San Luis.

LLENADOR DE CESTO:  The person who examined the cut leaves, for quality, and fills the baskets for transportation to the casa de tabaco.

LOMAS:  This sub-district of the Vuelta Abajo includes parts of Guane, Mantua, Pinar del Rio, San Juan y Martinez, and Vinales.

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