Strange Burning Cohiba Maduro

[Escrime]

I am relatively new to CCs and smoked my first Cohiba Maduro Secretos the other day. The wrapper looked perfectly normal before I lit it and it smelled great but when it started to burn some spots on the wrapper showed up as it warmed up and the ash had lots of little white bumps on it (see picture below). The bumps/spots would start to show up on the wrapper as the ash got closer but didn't show at all when cold.

Is this normal with the Cohiba Maduros? I definitely have never seen anything like this with any other cigar I have smoked and I'm wondering if it had something wrong with it.

 

[GasGuy82]

Somewhere there is a thread on this phenomenon. I believe the bumps indicate that the soil in which the tobacco was grown had high levels of magnesium? Regardless, I have seen it a number of times with CC's and nothing to be concerned with.

[Spanishcedar]

Looks good to me, remember that they are a leaf; a natural product, and none will ever be the same.

Most importantly, how was the flavor?

[MooseAMuffin]

2 minutes ago, GasGuy82 said:

Somewhere there is a thread on this phenomenon. I believe the bumps indicate that the soil in which the tobacco was grown had high levels of magnesium? Regardless, I have seen it a number of times with CC's and nothing to be concerned with.

I have had a cigar do this before as well and was told it was the magnesium level too. Tasted great though!

[Escrime]

Thanks for the info guys!

Once you told me what to look for I googled "magnesium in cigar" and saw lots of pictures like mine. Glad it wasn't some kind of strange mold or other issue. The flavor didn't seem to be effected so only a cosmetic impact.

[GasGuy82]

I have seen number of people claim that this phenomenon correlates with a more flavorful cigar. Apparently, though before my time, this was much more prevalent in the past. Why it is not as prevalent, I couldn't tell you. Perhaps different tobacco strains, stress on the soil, different fertilizer or nutrient mixtures for new strains. Regardless, the most important aspect was the taste and whether it was an enjoyable cigar.

[havanaclub]

Yes I have heard it due to the magnesium in the soil too.
I have seen this quite a bit with tatuaje broadleaf wrapped cigars. Dark, oily ones.


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[DWC]

 Those are pixie eggs.   If collected and allowed to hatch, they will grow into the pixies that are responsible for plume.

      -Dan

[Mahstah]

cigar herpes, it gives you shingles be-careful! 

[Smallclub]

That's cigar acne, happens to young cigars…

[Winchester21]

Warning. This is a rare and dangerous condition that is harmful to new smokers. I have special equipment to evaluate this disease for further research to raise public awareness. Please ship the remainder of the box to me immediately so that I can incenerate them for you. PM me got shipping details???

[Stump89]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe  those bumps are considered 'tooth' on the wrapper leaf which is caused by pocketsof oils present on a lot of darker/maduro wrapper leaf.

[Guest Nekhyludov]

I always though those bumps were oil-related, as well. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

The Mg explanation makes more sense. 

Either way, when I see that, it usually means I'm about enjoy the hell out of cigar. 

[Trueser]

Corrected by NSX, it's apparently called grain  


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[NSXCIGAR]

17 minutes ago, Trueser said:

The internet can explain better than I..

"What is Plume?

Plume, also called “bloom,” appears as a white dust on the surface and may have a bit of a sparkle. This occurs when the oils within a cigar come to the surface and crystallize. Plume may also appear as a haze on the wrapper. Unlike mold, plume is always white or light gray and tends to cover the entire body.

If that white substance on your cigars is actually plume, no problem! It’s nothing to worry about; its appearance just shows that your humidor is doing its job of keeping your smokes fresh. In fact, plume is the sign of a well-aged cigar. If your smokes show a covering of crystalline powder, just brush off the powdery residue before smoking. Cigars made from oily tobacco, such as many Maduros, are more likely to develop plume after being stored for long periods of time."

This isn't plume, bloom, mold or "tooth". These topics have been covered here probably more thoroughly than anywhere else online, and none of these phenomena would manifest as bumps in or on the cigar's ash.

It is what's referred to as "grain", and is, as others have pointed out, an indication of high levels of magnesium and/or potash in the soil used to grow the leaf, most likely the result of the fertilizers used.

Here's one of several articles I could find on the subject:

http://www.stogiefresh.info/edu-tobacco/articles/wrapper-grain.html

[rhcolbert]

Some food zingers on here, made my day ?

[canadianbeaver]

I was just saying to my dog Blue, What is Plume/Bloom/Mold? All he has is tooth.

[Trueser]

Thanks NSX, good information. I'll remove my post.


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[RickHendeson]

18 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

This isn't plume, bloom, mold or "tooth". These topics have been covered here probably more thoroughly than anywhere else online, and none of these phenomena would manifest as bumps in or on the cigar's ash.

 

 

Most people I know who use the term "tooth" are referring precisely to bumps on the wrapper leaf (which eventually manifest in the ash).  The guy in the linked article is drawing a distinction that I'm not sure would be widely accepted.  

 

He also seems a little off when he says Cameroon wrappers are naturally more toothy, for example.  In my experience Cameroon may have a fine tooth but CB is where it can be really pronounced.

[NSXCIGAR]

3 hours ago, RickHendeson said:

Most people I know who use the term "tooth" are referring precisely to bumps on the wrapper leaf (which eventually manifest in the ash).  The guy in the linked article is drawing a distinction that I'm not sure would be widely accepted.  

 

He also seems a little off when he says Cameroon wrappers are naturally more toothy, for example.  In my experience Cameroon may have a fine tooth but CB is where it can be really pronounced.

"Tooth", as I have always known it, refers only to texture of the wrapper discerned by either tactile feel or a rough look, but primarily tactile feel and is most prevalent in Cameroon wrappers. Also, a wrapper can be free of visually apparent bumps or any other imperfections and actually appear uniform in color and texture but would feel a sandpaper-like bumpiness or roughness to the touch. In my experience I have had plenty of "toothy" or rough-to-the-touch wrappers that had no visually detectable bumps or texture either on the leaf or in the ash.

In fact, the commonly accepted cause for "toothiness" is not raised or convex bumps (which are grain-type bumps) but very small concave pockets that fill with tobacco oils. This gives a unique visual appearance much different from what is called "grain". Here are two contrasting images, the first of "tooth" on the most commonly "toothy" wrapper Cameroon and the other is in image of what is clearly similar to the OP's bumpy ash and wrapper:

As is clear in the pics, the bumps in the second picture are much more defined and stand out against the wrapper color and even appear raised and white-ish. The bumps in the first picture appear to be the same color as the wrapper and almost appear to be like "goosebumps" on the skin. 

Here are a few discussions about toothiness and grain vs. toothiness

https://cigarfan.net/2008/08/05/some-thoughts-about-tooth-and-grain/

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-cigar-discussion/90728-what-does-toothy-mean-you.html

[Fugu]

On 25/05/2017 at 9:57 PM, Stump89 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe  those bumps are considered 'tooth' on the wrapper leaf which is caused by pocketsof oils present on a lot of darker/maduro wrapper leaf.

Basically yes. Base of trichomes ("hairs"), usually linked with a glandular cell or cells in the tobacco leaf. Often containing higher mineral contents than the rest of the matter, either stuff the plant needs to get rid of and/or defence against herbivore feeding etc. Not in a particular way related to a certain form of tobacco processing (like e.g. maduro) but just more conspicuous in darker wrappers.

[RickHendeson]

4 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

"Tooth", as I have always known it, refers only to texture of the wrapper discerned by either tactile feel or a rough look, but primarily tactile feel and is most prevalent in Cameroon wrappers. Also, a wrapper can be free of visually apparent bumps or any other imperfections and actually appear uniform in color and texture but would feel a sandpaper-like bumpiness or roughness to the touch. In my experience I have had plenty of "toothy" or rough-to-the-touch wrappers that had no visually detectable bumps or texture either on the leaf or in the ash.

In fact, the commonly accepted cause for "toothiness" is not raised or convex bumps (which are grain-type bumps) but very small concave pockets that fill with tobacco oils. This gives a unique visual appearance much different from what is called "grain". Here are two contrasting images, the first of "tooth" on the most commonly "toothy" wrapper Cameroon and the other is in image of what is clearly similar to the OP's bumpy ash and wrapper:

As is clear in the pics, the bumps in the second picture are much more defined and stand out against the wrapper color and even appear raised and white-ish. The bumps in the first picture appear to be the same color as the wrapper and almost appear to be like "goosebumps" on the skin. 

Here are a few discussions about toothiness and grain vs. toothiness

https://cigarfan.net/2008/08/05/some-thoughts-about-tooth-and-grain/

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-cigar-discussion/90728-what-does-toothy-mean-you.html

 

Thanks for the links, afraid I'm gonna remain in the "skeptical" aisle for now.     Happy Mem. Day if you're American.  

 

[NSXCIGAR]

14 hours ago, RickHendeson said:

Most people I know who use the term "tooth" are referring precisely to bumps on the wrapper leaf (which eventually manifest in the ash).  The guy in the linked article is drawing a distinction that I'm not sure would be widely accepted.  

 

He also seems a little off when he says Cameroon wrappers are naturally more toothy, for example.  In my experience Cameroon may have a fine tooth but CB is where it can be really pronounced.

Most of the toothy wrappers I've encountered did not have bumps manifest in the ash. It was simply a wrapper texture issue. I have also seen the "grain" in wrappers that the author describes and I noticed that it appeared separate and distinct from the toothiness I have seen. Sometimes the bumps appeared in the ash, sometimes not. But I've never had any trouble delineating between the two phenomena. Again, toothiness has always pertained to the tactile feel of the cigar, not necessarily the visual appearance. I've had cigars that had no visibly discernible "bumps" of any kind that I would describe as "toothy".

And I also don't think the author is saying the toothiness is more pronounced in Cameroon wrappers, just that the likelihood of toothiness is higher. In other words, Cameroon wrappers are more likely to be toothy but there may be wrappers that may be toothier on average. 

Here's a page dedicated to Cameroon wrappers and it's inherent toothiness--it also describes toothiness as a characteristic of texture and the "grain" of the wrapper, so to speak. When looking very closely it can resemble goosebumps, similar to the second image I posted and in contrast to the first.

https://www.famous-smoke.com/cigaradvisor/5-things-about-cameroon-wrapper

Now, I am finding some reliable sources out there that state that toothiness can manifest in the ash, but the preponderance of articles that I can find seem to clearly support the distinction between "grain" bumps and "tooth" bumps, and that only the grain bumps will manifest in ash. Also, my personal experience supports this notion, so I'm in agreement with the majority of the opinions on this topic. 

[RickHendeson]

On 5/27/2017 at 0:05 AM, NSXCIGAR said:

Here's a page dedicated to Cameroon wrappers and it's inherent toothiness--it also describes toothiness as a characteristic of texture and the "grain" of the wrapper, so to speak.

 

Which, of course, completely contradicts the thesis that tooth and grain are two different things. 

[NSXCIGAR]

9 hours ago, RickHendeson said:

Which, of course, completely contradicts the thesis that tooth and grain are two different things. 

It appears that way but in this case the term "grain" refers literally to wrapper texture, as in the grain of wood, or the expression "going against the grain". The phenomenon of cigar "grain" is different than the grain or overall texture of the wrapper. I agree it's confusing and there could have been a better term for the bumps discussed in this topic than "grain" but that is the name the cigar world gave to this phenomenon.