The Taste of Seco

[alfredo_buscatti]

I used to think all cigars tasted the same, and now, in my 8th month of cigar smoking, I still do, to some extent; that is there is some component in cigars that make them taste like cigars.

Now this doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the myriad tastes conferred by wrapper and leaf; each cigar tastes the way its been blended.

But something is the same, and as a cigar can't burn without seco, I'm wondering if that's what gives cigars an at least similar taste.

[Stinky]

The one unique difference that separates cigar tobacco from all other tobacco is:

FERMENTATION

Pipe tobacco is not. Chew is not. Cigarette tobacco is not. Only Cigar Tobacco. Seco is just one type of cigar tobacco. They are all fermented. And, the different tobaccos, different leaves, different priming's, etc. are each fermented differently.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by alfredo_buscatti

a cigar can't burn without seco,

Where in the world did you learn this?

Originally Posted by Stinky

Pipe tobacco is not. Chew is not. Cigarette tobacco is not. Only Cigar Tobacco. Seco is just one type of cigar tobacco. They are all fermented. And, the different tobaccos, different leaves, different priming's, etc. are each fermented differently.

Yes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco's, and cigarette tobaccos are all fermented. 99% of tobacco that is consumed is cured and fermented.

[awsmith4]

I think it is the use of tobacco in cigars that make them all have similar tastes...

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I think it is the use of tobacco in cigars that make them all have similar tastes...

[BTcigars]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I think it is the use of tobacco in cigars that make them all have similar tastes...

A simple but true explanation!

Cigars are going to taste the same to some degree because they are cigars. The different tobaccos give it different proprieties for example, try smoking a corojo wrapped cigar along with a maduro. If you smoke them at the same time you will notice the differences.

Where the tobacco was grown also makes a difference. Tobacco from Nicaragua is the strongest on earth so the more powerful cigars out there (JdN Dart Antano and Cain F) use Nica ligero for it's strength.

All in all, the differences can be subtle and the more you smoke the more you will educate your palate. Again I recommend smoking two different cigars at once so that you can spot the noticeable differences right away. Hope this helps.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by BTcigars

Tobacco from Nicaragua is the strongest on earth

It may be the strongest used in cigars but Nica baccy is not the strongest in the world. That would be Mapacho (sacred tobacco) from the Amazon.

[LasciviousXXX]

This whole thread makes me go

Am I just reading it wrong? Maybe the OP could clarify for us

[sam a]

i'm not really clear on if i understand the question... but it does look like the OP is confusing seco and volado. not that the volado used makes all cigars taste the same or similar, but volado is the leaf that is most used for it's burn qualities.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sam a

i'm not really clear on if i understand the question... but it does look like the OP is confusing seco and volado. not that the volado used makes all cigars taste the same or similar, but volado is the leaf that is most used for it's burn qualities.

Semantics that depend on the country.

In Cuba and the DR - volado is the name of the lowest priming groups. In Central American countries, seco is the name given to the lowest priming.

Cuba/DR - top down: ligero, seco, volado
Nicarauga, Honduras, etc - top down: ligero, viso, seco

Not every Central American cigar has seco in it. In fact many don't.
There are less island cigars that lack volado, but they do exist.

[sam a]

Originally Posted by T.G

Cuba/DR - top down: ligero, seco, volado
Nicarauga, Honduras, etc - top down: ligero, viso, seco

interesting.. i wasn't aware that they called things differently outside of cuba, that is kinda confusing. thanks for the info.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sam a

interesting.. i wasn't aware that they called things differently outside of cuba, that is kinda confusing. thanks for the info.

Welcome. The differences don't stop at the names either, there are many other differences in blending, placement of tobacco and construction, etc.

[T.G]