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Limited Availability! Macanudo Gold Label is a limited-edition line of Macanudo cigars that adds a unique, new taste to America’s best-selling premium cigar brand. The Macanudo line of cigars is known for its smoothness and consistency, while at the same time offering different tastes to please every palate. The newest Macanudo cigar, Macanudo Gold Label, uses rare golden Connecticut Shade wrapper leaves to create a distinctive, new taste for premium cigar smokers.
Macanudo Gold Label Cigars: Processing Tobacco
By John Payne and Patrice Hirschfeld
Why Process Tobacco?
After being harvested and cured, tobacco is not fully stabilized and can not be kept long. It must next be fermented. Fermentation is a complex process, but to make a long story short, one can say that it is a transformation of the chemical components by oxydation.
Fermentation and Aging
Fermentation is a natural transformation of the chemical components that stabilizes the raw material. The process is rather deep and quite fast. When well fermented, a tobacco can be stored for years without damage.
Aging is a slow natural evolution , during which time the tobacco is going to improve its characteristics and to lose its “green” taste. Once blended in a cigar, the tobacco deserves a new period of aging in order to reach a good balance between the blend components.
Why Ferment Tobacco?
Beyond stabilization and storage capability, fermentation makes the tobacco lose its raw and green taste that nobody would really like.
Who can ferment tobacco ?
It is easy to grow a few tobacco plants in your backyard if you like gardening. But if you want to process it for smoking, you’ll have to ferment it. If not, you’ll have some trouble with the taste. To ferment your tobacco properly, you need either large quantities (hundreds of pounds) to build a bulk volume for natural processing, or expensive equipment for artificial fermentation. Our recommandation is to grow petunias (decorative tobacco plants, with a lot of colorful blossoms) and to buy cigars to enjoy your smoke!
How to Ferment Tobacco?
To process a natural fermentation, tobacco is piled up. The weight and the natural moisture content allow the fermentation to start in the middle of the pile. The temperature goes up. When the targeted temperature is reached, the pile is broken and rebuilt, the outside tobacco going inside and vice versa. And that as many times as is necessary, until the whole pile is properly fermented. Some heavy tobaccos can need up to six turnings. It takes months to ferment them correctly.
Fermentation and Rotting
Don’t be afraid when reading that tobacco is fermented! Tobacco is not going to be rotten! Just stabilized and smokeable without giving you nausea. Fermentation considerably improves the original taste.
Fermentation and Quality
Each tobacco has its own fermentation procedure. The main factors that define the process are the texture of the material, and the utilization of the tobacco afterwards. Light wrappers and full bodied fillers are not fermented the same way.
Fermentation and Temperature
Humid tobacco leaves put in a pile are going to start fermenting, giving out heat. The control of the temperature inside the pile is a key factor of success. If the temperature goes too high, the tobacco will be cooked and deteriorate. Each type has its own optimal temperature. When it is reached, the pile has to be opened to stop the heating process and a new pile is built with cooled down tobacco. The outside tobaccos go inside and vice-versa. As an example, a dark air cured tobacco accepts a temperature up to about 130ºF. And disaster can start at 140ºF.
John Payne is the Publisher of Web Marketing Ezine, and the Founder of Enviro-Friendly Products.
Patrice Hirschfeld has spent a lifetime in Tobacco, and is the Proprietor of the Online Cigar Shop- Voila Cigars. John provides Marketing Consultancy to Voila Cigars.
Tags: Macanudo
The CAO Black is the original CAO blend that put the brand on the map and led to the overwhelming success of CAO cigars today. Only available at Cigar.com and a small number of retailers worldwide, these cigars are often difficult to find.
When Cano Ozinger transitioned from pipe maker to cigar manufacturer, he had no idea how big his cigar business was about to become. In fact, today an overwhelming majority of their business is in cigars. They have developed some of the most unique cigar concepts and have utilized state of the art packaging and high-grade tobacco to put CAO on the map as one of the fastest growing manufacturers in the world with distribution inside and outside the US.
CAO Black is a rare find. The first regular blend ever made by CAO, it is only available at a handful of select retailers. It is the blend that made them famous and is still highly regarded today. In 2005 it received a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from Cigar Buyer Magazine. Each box of CAO Black is individually numbered making it a collector”s item in and of itself. The cigars are medium-bodied with a soft and dry finish and are only being made in limited supply. Don’t miss your chance to try a piece of cigar history.
Having smoked 4 so far at different points of aging (mind you, not that long), I can generalize the Bengal as this: The spice becomes much more noticed with age (not stronger, just more noticeable), and this observation is only after a few months in my humi. Earthy/ Root-y, yet not bitter nor stenchful, with a sweet honey-and-nuts undertone. Smooth draw, though others in the series are smoother. The potency and flavours are more “maduro- like” than “natural” to me, but then I prefer a double-maduro… - aphio-igor
Rated 88. Classic toro size. Excellent burn and construction, which was consistent with all other sizes – extremely well made. Medium flavor and body. - Cigar.com, November 2006 (TN)
Frontier add your review
A refined smoke. Subtle vanilla and coffee. Mild to Medium body. - Kurt
Rated 89. Impressive, cedar wrapped cigar. Silky, creamy brown wrapper with an excellent draw. Salt and earthy notes with wood on the palate. Well balanced and medium to full bodied. - Cigar.com, November 2006 (TN)
Gothic (Torpedo) add your review
I was very impressed with this cigar. The first puff straight blew me away. The draw is excellent and it has a very good smooth flavor and a great smell. I recommend at least picking up a single. Nice! - Rob
Mosaic add your review
Got 5 of these to try for free, which automatically makes them a great smoke!! Seriously though, I smoked one right away and found it to be really nice. Excellent draw with an even burn and good ash. Very smooth with a creaminess and a hint of nuts - but not bitter. I just ordered a box as a birthday gift to myself. - Lance - USMC (Ret)
Rated 91. Creamy brown, silky wrapper. Very attractive cigar. Pre-light flavors of cedar and light tobacco. Excellent construction with cedar, earthy aromas and some notes of honey. Salty on the palate but well balanced. Spice present through the nose and on the finish. Attractive cigar in a very classic size. Medium to full flavored and bodied with a delicious, long finish. - Cigar.com, November 2006 (TN)
An excellent medium bodied cigar, especially for the price. - boosdad1959
This cigar is by far the most pleasant I have had in a good long time. It is consistent in its delivery of spice and subtle sweetness. If you’re a chewer you’ll be in chomp heaven! - cynthia d. pape
Rated 90. Oily, light brown wrapper. Classic robusto size packed with flavor and well balanced. Great draw and flawless construction. Earth, cedar and salty notes on the palate. - Cigar.com, November 2006 (TN)
Nice even flavor, smoked well with even burn. Can see why this hit the market running. - Elaine
Balance Balance Balance. Earth and cedar perfectly balanced with vanilla. first few puffs are spicey then mellows and stays very consistant. i was hoping for a little more complexity but really no complaints. even burn and mega-long white ash. GET A BOX! - CodeMan
Tags: CAO
Prometheus Milano - Rosewood
The Milano is a classic humidor from Prometheus, the world’s foremost maker of fine cigar accessories. Accommodating up to 50 cigars, the humidor features a rosewood finish and comes complete with two cedar dividers. Additionally, the Milano includes a Prometheus optima humidification system and digital hygrometer. (12.25 x 9.75 x 4.88) LEARN MORE…
“Unbelievable Cigar humidor value for the money. We love it. Thanks.” -DC
Tags: Rosewood Humidor
Tags: Online Cigars