Cigars 101

What Makes Some Cigar Wrappers “Toothy?”

Cigar Q&A: What Does “Toothy” Mean?

Q: I’ve often seen some cigars described as having a “toothy” appearance. What does that mean – and is it a good thing?

A: “Toothy” refers to the rough-textured feel of the wrapper leaf like Connecticut Broadleaf, as opposed to the silky feel of Connecticut Shade. This “toothiness” comes from tiny pimples on the leaf, that are filled with tobacco oils, and usually the result of sun-grown wrappers.

To answer your second question, toothy wrappers on cigars are a good thing. The advantage to toothy leaves is they tend to be more oily and flavorful. Both Sumatra and Cameroon leaf are naturally toothy, and when cured properly, are sweet in flavor and very aromatic. The toothiest tobacco leaf of all is African Cameroon, but toothiness is found in wrappers from just about every tobacco-growing country.