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Flavoring a
cigar is nothing new. Almost all the mixtures that are used to make
machine-made cigars have some type of ingredient to enhance their flavor, since
the tobacco that is usually used is of low quality and therefore has little
natural flavor.
So, to say
that flavored cigars have been around for a long time is not a new. However,
from the end of the 1990s they acquired an unusual boom, to the point that some
data affirms that the sales of these cigars tripled between 1997 and 2007 in
the US market.
So far,
nothing would be exceptional if it were not for the fact that this growth took
place in the segment of premium or artisanal cigars and not in that of
machine-made cigars, as might have been thought. Before that, premium flavored
cigars were very rare and most of the time what was added was liquor.
Although
the idea of ??aromatizing cigars that underlies the process is the same, that
is to say, incorporating into the tobacco a different flavor than the one
produced by the leaves through the different stages of maturation to which they
are subjected, not all the methods to do so are equal. Depending on the
technique used, the differences in the product obtained are so significant that
today a distinction is made between flavored cigars and infused cigars.
Flavored
cigars
Most of
these cigars are made by spraying them with a flavoring substance. Although
there are many different flavorings, some of the most used are liqueurs such as
brandy or wine, syrups from various sources and some extracts such as vanilla,
coconut, coffee and chocolate. Obviously, the choice will depend on the
manufacturer and the preferences of the consumer or the market that you are
interested in capturing.
The most important
thing to note in this method is that the flavor is added after the cigar has
been made. To do this, the cigars are placed in a sealed room or container and
are sprayed with the flavoring for a time, until the tobacco absorbs the flavor
to the desired extent.
Cigars
infused
An infused
cigar is a cigar whose leaves are treated before production to add an
additional flavor to the natural taste of tobacco. The tobacco leaves are hung
in the curing rooms while they are sprinkled with different types of essences
such as coffee, cognac, fruits or herbs, until they are gently moistened and
acquire the flavor of the chosen ingredient.
Adding
flavor by infusion requires a careful balance whereby additional flavor is
delicately introduced while maintaining the natural taste of the tobacco. The
new aroma should enhance the original flavor of the cigar without overpowering
it. How this mixing and infusing process is successfully carried out to achieve
the perfect result is a well-kept secret of the few premium cigar makers that
make infused cigars.
Some of the
most recognized infused cigar makers on the market are Drew State, owner of
Acid Cigar, perhaps the most popular infused cigar in America, Alec Bradley,
Rocky Patel, and Davidoff, just to name a few.
Although
many smokers and knowledgeable experts have a strong rejection of this type of
cigars, the truth is that sales have increased notably in recent years, and
according to recent forecasts by renowned US global market research firms, it
is estimated that the global market for flavored cigars will grow between 2021
and 2028 at an annual rate that, depending on the source, will be more than 6%
or a little less than 11%.
A true
revolution in the exciting world of tobacco.
