Make Cigar

Use a thin tobacco leaf for the wrapper (that's the outside covering). Monte Calm Yellow is good; it handles well and has a smoother texture than the other types. You may also like to smooth out the wrapper leaf prior to rolling it by pressing it with a warm iron as this will give a smoother finish.

First trim off the centre rib or stems with a pair of scissors or blade, at all times ensure the leaf is flexible and not dry. Cut out a rectangle and lay this strip diagonally from left to right as in the picture to the right. Ensure the fine ribs in the leaf are vertical (going away from you). The vein ribs are more pronounced on the underside of the leaf, so, have the underside uppermost so the veins are hidden when the cigar is made. This will give a smoother finish to your cigar. Use a small amount of glue (egg white, tragacanth, guar gum etc) along the edge of the wrapper.

Now roll your cigar away from you, leaving an overlap at the left hand edge. Your option now is do you close off the ends or leave them open. Covering the end of the cigar with the leaf can be messy; think, how often do you buy a cigar that needs the end cut away? Not often. The solution is to overlap the ends when putting the wrapper on, and trim off when dry. Only practice will close off the ends of your cigar, I have yet to succeed in producing a finish I am proud of, but then I am rubbish at wrapping a parcel!
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