Tobacco Leaves: Being a Book of Facts for Smokers

by William Augustine Brennan

Desecho. The finest quality; the top leaves of plant; best because they have received most sunshine and dew.

Desechito. Good leaves but inferior to desecho.

Libra. Good leaves but small in size; the smaller top and bottom leaves.

Injuriado. Injured leaves; root leaves soil stained and injured by insects.

Terms used to denote color

Note: The color term refers to the wrapper only. Many smokers judge the mildness or strength of a cigar by its outside color. This is a fallacy. The wrapper constitutes only about 2 per cent of the cigar weight. Moreover color is no criterion of strength. The darkest cigar may be and usually is very mild. The color is due (1) to the soil, (2) to the age of the plant when cut, and (3) to the length of time of curing and fermentation. As a general rule the lighter the color the more inferior and immature is the tobacco. Cigar smokers should remember this.

Claro or Clara. Very light colored. The lightest shade known in selected leaves.

Colorado. Red; medium in color.

Colorado Clara. Light Brown.