ndhaon91 Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 With many/most Cuban cigars using no ligero at all (are there any that actually do?), it occurred to me to wonder what they do with it all. Do they sell it under the radar to other countries that are known for using more ligero in their blending? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctorossi Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 They don't grow it; their plants are naturally topless. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliverdst Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 As far as I know not all tabaco plants produce ligero leaves so not many available. The ones that are available I suppose are used. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnS Posted August 1, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 1, 2017 Ligero means 'light' in Spanish. However, the ligero leaf, grown at the top of the tobacco plant, is anything but light to taste, it adds strength and spice to a cigar, and it burns slower too. Whereas, seco and volado leaves take 1 to 2 years to mature before use, ligero leaves take 3. Blends are a closely guarded secret in cigar production, but it's safe to surmise that a cigar with 3 to 5 leaves as filler would only need 1/4 or 1/2 a leaf of ligero to be balanced. Cuban cigars, in the main, utilise ligero leaves in their blends. The only ones that may not use them are smaller ring gauge cigars smaller than 38 or 40/64ths of an inch or lighter-strength marcas such as some Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, for example. However, exact information on this matter (as to what cigars do not use ligero leaves) is speculative...keep that in mind. In general, there are around 180 regular production Cuban Cigars currently and of these, the great majority would use ligero leaves in their blends. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archosaur Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 44 minutes ago, ndhaon91 said: With many/most Cuban cigars using no ligero at all (are there any that actually do?) Uhhh....what? Are you sure you're not confusing blending differences between Cuban and non-Cuban cigars with other differences related to terroir, the use of different tobacco cultivars, and differing methods of cultivation and production? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndhaon91 Posted August 1, 2017 Author Share Posted August 1, 2017 11 minutes ago, archosaur said: Uhhh....what? Are you sure you're not confusing blending differences between Cuban and non-Cuban cigars with other differences related to terroir, the use of different tobacco cultivars, and differing methods of cultivation and production? Well, no, I'm not sure at all! My understanding was that Cuban blending consisted of primarily viso and seco, which is why, in general they aren't nearly as strong as Nicaraguan cigars, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallclub Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 59 minutes ago, ndhaon91 said: With many/most Cuban cigars using no ligero at all (are there any that actually do?), it occurred to me to wonder what they do with it all. Do they sell it under the radar to other countries that are known for using more ligero in their blending? Where did you find the idea that most habanos use no ligero? Only few habanos doesn't use ligero (most vitolas below 39 rg). And the fact that some vitola doesn't use ligero doesn't mean that ALL the ligero available isn't used… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallclub Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 2 minutes ago, ndhaon91 said: My understanding was that Cuban blending consisted of primarily viso and seco, which is why, in general they aren't nearly as strong as Nicaraguan cigars, for example. It has nothing to do with the presence/absence of ligero; the Nicaraguan leaf is completely different; the cuban leaf is much RICHER. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archosaur Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 2 minutes ago, ndhaon91 said: Well, no, I'm not sure at all! My understanding was that Cuban blending consisted of primarily viso and seco, which is why, in general they aren't nearly as strong as Nicaraguan cigars, for example. Understood, no worries. As mentioned above, your understanding is just not accurate. It is a broad discussion topic, but in general I would say that the strength differences between Cuban and certain non-Cuban cigars are due to many factors, not just blending. The idea has been discussed many times but there doesn't seem to be much incentive for Cuba to export premium cigar leaf in any major quantities, or evidence of it happening, at least that I am aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diabolicalpherpher Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Behikes uses the medio tiempo which was considered ligero before they started classifying it separately. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWC Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 1 hour ago, oliverdst said: As far as I know not all tabaco plants produce ligero leaves so not many available. The ones that are available I suppose are used. Are you confusing ligero with medio tiempo? Not all plants produce medio tiempo leaves but all plants have ligero. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliverdst Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 20 minutes ago, DWC said: Are you confusing ligero with medio tiempo? Not all plants produce medio tiempo leaves but all plants have ligero. I think I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallclub Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 23 minutes ago, Diabolicalpherpher said: Behikes uses the medio tiempo which was considered ligero before they started classifying it separately. And I still have to hear/read someone describing what the medio tiempo brings to a blend… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnS Posted August 2, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 2, 2017 11 minutes ago, Smallclub said: And I still have to hear/read someone describing what the medio tiempo brings to a blend… I'll have a go at completing that sentence, Frank. Here goes...it brings money. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxcjs0101 Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Incoming butthurt BHK fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigar Surgeon Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 2 hours ago, Diabolicalpherpher said: Behikes uses the medio tiempo which was considered ligero before they started classifying it separately. Referred to as corona leaf for the most part outside of Cuba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugu Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 11 hours ago, Diabolicalpherpher said: Behikes uses the medio tiempo which was considered ligero before they started classifying it separately. And even not at all a new "invention" in Cuba. Medio Tiempo as a classification term (a ligero subclass) had been in use and can be found in older textbooks long before the development of the BHK-line. Had been classified but not always used separately. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RijkdeGooier Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 Medio tiempo is the topmost ligero leaf. The topmost leaf is smaller and is usually cut to let the plant grow the other leaves better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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