Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms used across the MokaCigar catalogue and library. Each term has its own page; the index below is sorted A–Z.
A
- Aged & Vintage
- Cigars rested for years past their box date. Develops mellower, sweeter notes.
- Añejados
- A guide to the Habanos Añejados programme, featuring Cuban cigars aged for at least five years in their original boxes before release with a Revisado stamp.
- Anillado n.
- The act of placing the band on a finished cigar; also the band itself.
B
C
- Cabinet selection
- A cabinet selection refers to Habanos packed loosely in a Slide Lid Box, usually in bundles of 25 or 50 tied with a ribbon, rather than being pressed.
- Campana (belicoso)
- A Campana is a Cuban cigar vitola measuring 52 ring gauge by 140 mm in length, characterised by a tapered head on a robusto-length body.
- Cap n.
- The closed end of the cigar, applied by hand from offcuts of the wrapper.
- Capa n.
- The wrapper leaf - the outermost, most visible leaf of the cigar.
- Capote n.
- The binder leaf that holds the filler bunch together inside the wrapper.
- Chaveta
- A complete guide to the chaveta, the traditional crescent-shaped blade used by Cuban cigar rollers to cut the wrapper leaf and trim the cigar.
- Colección Habanos
- A complete guide to the Colección Habanos series, the annual book-shaped releases of special vitolas prized by Cuban cigar collectors worldwide.
- Cosecha (harvest year)
- A complete reference guide to Cosecha in Cuban cigars, indicating the specific harvest year of the tobacco used in Reserva and Gran Reserva Habanos.
- Cuban warranty seal
- The Cuban warranty seal is a green government label applied to Habanos boxes since 1912, featuring a hologram and barcode to verify authenticity.
D
- Dress box
- A definition and guide to the dress box, the standard paper-covered cedar box used for packaging most regular production Cuban cigars.
E
- Edición Limitada
- A Habanos release with a restricted production run, usually a vintage year.
- Edición Regional (Regional Edition)
- A precise guide to the Edición Regional cigar programme, detailing its 2005 inception, distinguishing bands and considerations for serious collectors.
- EMS (English Market Selection)
- The EMS mark denotes Cuban cigars imported to the UK by Hunters & Frankau. It signifies an additional layer of quality control and guarantees provenance.
- Escaparate
- The escaparate is the cedar-lined conditioning room in a Cuban cigar factory where finished cigars rest to allow their moisture levels to equalise before boxing.
- Escogida (colour sorting)
- A complete guide to the escogida, the sorting of finished Habanos by wrapper shade to ensure uniform colour presentation within each box.
F
- Factory code
- A three-letter code stamped on the bottom of a Habanos box identifying the factory where the cigars were rolled. Meaningful only alongside its date.
- Figurado
- A figurado is a Cuban cigar with a non-straight shape, such as a pirámide, perfecto, or belicoso, rolled by the highest grade of torcedor.
- Foot n.
- The open end of the cigar - the end you light.
G
- Galera
- The galera is the principal rolling room in a Cuban cigar factory. Learn what happens on the rolling floor and what the term vitola de galera means.
- Gran Reserva
- A reference guide to the Habanos Gran Reserva classification, covering the five-year tobacco aging process, Cosecha markings, and collector verification.
H
- Habanos hologram
- A definition of the Habanos hologram, the reflective security element on modern Cuban cigar warranty seals used to verify authenticity and origin.
- Humidification n.
- The system that maintains correct humidity inside a humidor.
- Humidor n.
- A sealed container that holds cigars at controlled humidity and temperature.
- Hunters & Frankau
- A reference guide to Hunters & Frankau, the exclusive UK distributor of Habanos since 1790, and creators of the EMS mark and UK Regional Editions.
L
- LCDH (La Casa del Habano)
- A definition and guide to La Casa del Habano (LCDH), the official global franchise network of Habanos S.A., including LCDH exclusive cigars.
- Ligada
- The ligada is the precise blend of filler leaves that defines a Cuban cigar's flavour profile, carefully guarded by the factory blender.
- Ligero n.
- The strongest filler leaf, taken from the top of the tobacco plant.
M
- Medio tiempo
- A complete guide to medio tiempo, the scarce, intensely flavoured uppermost leaves of sun-grown tobacco plants used in premium Cuban cigars.
P
- Parejo
- A clear definition of the parejo cigar shape, explaining its characteristics, importance in Cuban cigar rolling, and how it aids authentication.
- Pilón
- A pilón is a stacked pile of cured tobacco leaves used in the fermentation of Cuban cigars to control heat, moisture and chemical breakdown.
- Pirámide
- A definition and guide to the Pirámide cigar format, a classic Habanos vitola characterised by its pointed head and tapered foot.
- Plume n.
- A fine white dust that develops on a properly humidified, aged cigar.
R
- Regional Edition
- A Habanos release tied to a specific market or country.
- Reserva
- A Habanos premium designation using selected aged leaves.
- Revisado
- A guide to the Revisado stamp on Habanos Añejados boxes, explaining what the term means, how boxes are inspected, and its significance for collectors.
- Ring gauge n.
- The diameter of the cigar measured in 64ths of an inch.
S
- Seco n.
- A milder filler leaf taken from the middle of the tobacco plant.
- Sick period
- A phase shortly after rolling when a Cuban cigar can taste flat or of ammonia as moisture and oils settle. Learn how to manage resting periods.
- SLB (Slide Lid Box)
- A reference guide to the Slide Lid Box (SLB) format for Cuban cigars, explaining its construction, impact on cigar shape, and importance for ageing.
T
- Tabaco de sol (sun-grown)
- Tabaco de sol refers to Cuban tobacco grown in direct sunlight to provide the filler and binder leaves for Habanos.
- Tapado (shade-grown)
- A reference guide to tapado, the shade-grown cultivation method used to produce thin, elastic wrapper leaves for premium Cuban cigars.
- Tercio
- A tercio is a bale of fermented Cuban tobacco wrapped in yagua (palm bark), used for ageing Habanos leaf before it reaches the rolling factory.
- Torcedor
- A torcedor is a highly skilled artisan responsible for hand-rolling premium cigars, graded by skill level to produce specific vitolas.
- Tripa n.
- The filler - the blend of leaves at the core of the cigar.
- Tubos
- A reference guide to tubos in Cuban cigars, explaining how aluminium tubes affect ageing, storage, and transport for Habanos collectors.
V
- Vega
- A definition of the term vega, the Cuban tobacco plantations where leaf for premium Habanos is grown, and why vegas finas de primera matter.
- Vitola n.
- The shape and size designation of a cigar - robusto, corona, Churchill, etc.
- Vitola de galera
- The factory name for a Cuban cigar's exact dimensions and shape, distinct from its commercial marketing name.
- Volado n.
- A combustion leaf taken from the bottom of the tobacco plant.
- Vuelta Abajo
- A definitive guide to Vuelta Abajo, the premier tobacco-growing region in western Cuba and the only source of all leaf types for premium Habanos.
W
- Warranty seal
- The Habanos S.A. seal affixed across the lid of every genuine Cuban cigar box.