A Crack on the Cigar Wrapper - The Causes
In addition to color changes on a cigar’s surface, cracks can also appear on its wrapper. This does not necessarily indicate a manufacturing defect, as cracks primarily occur during storage. Cigars are natural products, and their aging process continues even after production. In fact, cigars stored under optimal conditions can actually improve in quality over time, whereas improper storage can lead to damage.
Causes of Cracks in the Cigar Wrapper
If a wrapper dries out too much, the oils within it evaporate, making it brittle. When the cigar is subsequently exposed to high humidity, the filler and binder tobaccos expand significantly, which can cause the wrapper to crack. Fine-textured wrappers are especially susceptible to this issue, with cracks typically appearing in the middle or at the foot of the cigar. Smoking behavior also plays a role: if a cigar is slightly too dry and is smoked very quickly, it heats up, which can also lead to cracks.
Most cracks at the foot occur with cigars that are not packaged in cellophane, which is often the case with Habanos. These are typically transport damages: the foot of unwrapped cigars is not well protected from external shocks to the box. While these cracks may be unsightly, it would surely be an unforgivable breach of tradition to expect the Cubans to wrap their Habanos in soulless plastic film just to secure them for transport.
Treating Cracks in the Wrapper
How to handle cracks depends mainly on their type: if only the wrapper is damaged while the binder remains intact, this doesn’t usually pose a problem. If only the foot is affected, you can simply relax and finish smoking the cigar. If the appearance bothers you, you can always cut off the end. However, be careful: if you choose to do so, remember that this may alter the cigar’s intended character and can distort its true flavor.
Cigar Glue for Repairing Cracks
For those who are daring, a bit of DIY repair is possible: with cigar glue and perhaps a leftover piece of tobacco, small cracks can be patched. And for anyone tempted to try their hand at being a Torcedor, attempting to replace the wrapper may be an option.
Admittedly, repairing a cigar yourself is a challenging yet intriguing endeavor. But a word of caution to those eager to experiment: cigar rolling is a delicate craft that requires not only great skill but also years of practice. Additionally, most people are unlikely to have a suitable spare wrapper on hand.
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