Ever wondered what those fancy terms the Cuban cigars smokers drop in their conversations? Well don’t be left out and get your Cuban Cigar vocabulary on par!

Anilla: The label or ‘band’ around a cigar. Anilla is the ‘Cuban’ version.

Aporque: The process of making the roots stronger of a Cuban tobacco plant.

Bonche: They cylinder shaped group of leaves that are formed when the Cuban cigar wrapper is filled with the last remaining leaves.

Boquilla: The other end of the cigar also referred to as the ‘foot’ of the cigar.

Capa: Their are certain layers used to wrap a Cuban cigar. This refers to the outer leaf.

Capote: Leaf used to ‘bind’ all the initial tobacco. The ‘binder’ leaf used in this process comes from the largest and is of the highest quality Volado leaves.

Casa de Tabaco: Another word for ‘House of Tobacco’ or where the cigar leaves are prepared.

Casquillo: The small part used to ‘cap’ the Cuban cigar - this cap is cut before lighting the cigar.

Catadores: These guys have the best job or what! Catadores are official ‘testers’ of the Cuban cigars and get to try different cigars daily.

Cedros: Another wrapper used to wrap cigars in and also used to divide them once the cigars are placed in a box.

Cepo: Every cigar has to be perfect, this is the template used to check the ring size, length and guage of the cigar.

Chaveta: Blade used by cigar assembles (Torcedores) that is semi-circular in shape.

Claro: Refers to the light brown wrapper on a finished cigar.

Colorado: Refers to the dark brown wrapper on a finished cigar.

Colorado Claro: Refers to the mid brown wrapper used on a finished cigar.

Colorado Maduro: Refers to the darker brown wrapper used on a finished cigar. Same wrapper used on most Cohiba cigars.

Cuje: After the cigar leaves are sewn in pairs, they are hung on this metal pole.

Curacion: Cuban for ‘curing’ or the drying process the Cuban tobacco goes through.

Desbotonar: The process of removing the top ‘tobacco bud’ which promotes the growth of further leaves.

Deshije: Removing the remaining extra ’shoots’ after the ‘Desbotonar’ process.

Despalillo: Before the leaves of the Cuban tobacco leaf are ready to be rolled into a fine Cuban cigar, they are transferred to this ‘Stripping House’. The first fermentation occurs here.

Despalilladoras: Women who work at the Despalillo.

Escaparate: Cigars go through a rigorous process and have to be stored at a certain temperature. Usually at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius and at 65 to 70 percent humidity. This is the conditioning room where they are stored.

Escogida: Home of the second fermentation for Cuban tobacco leaves, also a place where the wrappers, fillers and binders are sorted out.

Figurado: Refers to the ‘irregular’ end of some custom and limited cigars. ‘Double Figurado’ means irregular shape on both ends.

Fortalez: Strength of power of the cigar. Usually applies to the taste.

Galera: Or ‘Galley’, refers to the place where the cigars are hand made.

Gavilla: Cuban tobacco leaves that are already graded.

Goma: The vegetable based liquid used to close the edge of the wrapper so your cigar stays intact.

Habanos: Also knowns as ‘Havanas’ represents the place in Cuba where the finest cigars in the world are made.

Habanos S.A: The only company in the world that produces real Cuban cigars. The Vancouver Cigar Company is authorized by Habanos S.A.

Habilitaciones: The ‘Cigar Box’ is an art piece in its own right, these are the decorations that go on the box.

Hecho en Cuba: It basically means ‘Made in Cuba’.

Ligador: The master of cigar rolling in a cigar factory.

Ligero: The darkest and riches flavored leaves on the top of the Cuban tobacco plant.

Maduro: Dark cigar wrapper.

Mecanizado: Means ‘machine made’.

Media Rueda: 50 cigars tied up together - also known as half wheel.

Moja: The art of ‘moistening’ tobacco leaves.

Pacas: Bales in which tobacco leaves are ‘aged’.

Parejo: Straight parallel sided cigars.

Pertilla: Head of the cigar.

Seco: Medium flavored leaf that creates the beautiful ‘Cuban Cigar’ aroma.

Tabaco: Spanish for ‘Tobacco’ and also means ‘Cigar’ in Cuban.

Tabaco Negro Cubano: The tobacco plant that was disocovered by Christopher Columbus. Also known as ‘Black Cuban Tobacco’.

Tabacuba: The corporation that manges the agriculture aspect of Cuban Cigars.

Tabla: Wooden boards on which cigars are made.

Tapado: Tobacco (Used for wrappers) grown under sheets of cloth.

Tercio: The material Bales are made from.

Tiempos: Different type of Fortalezas.

Torcedor(a): Official name for a cigar roller.

Totalmente a mano: Means ‘all by hand’. Something the Cuban cigars are known for.

Tripa: The blend of two or three type of different Cuban tobacco leaf that create the overall flavor.

Tripa Corta: When instead of the whole leaf, chopped leaves are used.

Tripa Larga: Filler made from whole Cuban tobacco leaves.

Vegas Fina de Primera: Individual and registered fields in Cuba restricted for Habanos leaves only.

Vitola: Refers to the size and shape of a cigar. In English its closest to the word ’structure’.

Volado: Light flavored leaves that help the Cuban cigar burn.

Yagua: Cuba’s national tree that is also used to make bales to age Cuban tobacco in.

Zafado: Loosening of Cuban tobacco after they are taken out of bails.