Wrapper

[nic]

This is what the FX Indo Sumatra wrapper looks like. This is a corona gorda. Has that typical strange Sumatra smell until it ages on the bone a bit, then it smells neutral. But it brings a surprising spice (which smells nothing like the raw leaf) to the lit cigar.

Looks great Blake. Is that color as is, or further color curing?

 

[Hopduro]

@Hopduro - that wrapper is the 2006 CT Shade that's super cheap?

Yeah, it's this one: https://www.wholeleaftobacco.com/product/ct-shade-leaf-2006-crop-american/
Worth trying it out for that price!

 

[blisscigarco]

Looks great Blake. Is that color as is, or further color curing?

As is, but that's fresh rolled. I can reshoot in a couple days. Humidity's been low so I had to mist it a few times during the roll.

 

[ras_oscar]

I for one, would hate to see you go as well as any one of us. seeing discouragement or, loss of interest is hard for me.

For me, discouragement is something I'll leave with those recipients of my inquiries of knowledge of processing tobacco that seem to want to impress discouragement on me. I get why industry trade secrets are not given to us by them. Potential loss of revenue.

One thing I really took to heart was something Jorge said to me when I asked him about his Nicaraguan seco and viso differences in pounds the first time I had bought from him. He said that they were mixed together and sorting and grading them was my job. I took that to mean as the seller of the leaf his job was done and mine has just begun. I was eager to learn what it meant to find the knowledge myself.
The last thing he said to me before hanging up the phone really meant a lot to me. he said welcome to cigar making.

The amount of investment for me seems endless. Away from the money part of it.
We have all heard of seed to smoke. Well, for us as home rollers there's a part in the middle of all that where it seems some are not willing to do. It's that part that lays between the bale of tobacco and the rolling table.
That is, be willing to gain the knowledge that only comes first hand. I would not know how exactly one could teach that.

There's a reason why the cigar manufacturers have "stemmeries" and rolling parlors close to each other.
My guess is that the final preparations are left to do as it goes into the cigar. Reason being, once the final preparations are done, it won't store well.

Is any of this making any sense to anyone yet?

I would agree with you if the product was described as " Brazil mata fina" for instance, not " brazil mata fina binder" or Brazil mata fina wrapper" But in fact they indicate filler, binder and wrapper, at different price points, which suggests a certain level of grading has taken place, not merely pulling a pound of leaf from the bale at random.

 

[Marc L]

I would agree with you if the product was described as " Brazil mata fina" for instance, not " brazil mata fina binder" or Brazil mata fina wrapper" But in fact they indicate filler, binder and wrapper, at different price points, which suggests a certain level of grading has taken place, not merely pulling a pound of leaf from the bale at random.

Alright. My point was to say get to know the leaf. This mata fina wrapper was not described as such.
https://www.wholeleaftobacco.com/product/mata-fina-binder-brazil/

 

[Cigary43]

Wrappers can make or break any cigar and while I tried to roll some of my own years ago it became a descent into hell trying to roll my own so I just continue to purchase cigars. If I had the patience I'd do it but I'm an impatient man at best so I leave this expertise to the expert torcedors who I have great respect for. I tend to love maduro and brazilian wrappers/tobacco but not limited to just those...there are some great tobaccos that are just like desserts for me and add libations and life doesn't get much better.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

I would agree with you if the product was described as " Brazil mata fina" for instance, not " brazil mata fina binder" or Brazil mata fina wrapper" But in fact they indicate filler, binder and wrapper, at different price points, which suggests a certain level of grading has taken place, not merely pulling a pound of leaf from the bale at random.

The folks that do the initial "grading" work for peanuts essentially and are going through pounds and pounds of leaf at a high speed. When we get the leaf we have the time to really inspect and further break it down and find things they missed