Help me ID this wrapper defect

[MrBirdman]

For those familiar with tobacco defects, I’m curious about the below. I’ve tried searching the web and can’t find anything quite like it.

This is a close up of a Trini Coloniales - these raised “blackheads” covered the entire wrapper. The cigar was terrible. Your insight would be muy apreciado. 

[djrey]

I have seen this on quite a few cigars. I too am curious as to what causes it and whether or not it impacts on the flavor at all. 

[Bri Fi]

I could be wrong but I think this is referred to as “toothy”

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/what-exactly-is-a-toothy-wrapper-19231

[MrBirdman]

13 minutes ago, Bri Fi said:

 

I could be wrong but I think this is referred to as “toothy”

My first thought as well but I couldn’t find any reference to the “tooth” spots being uniformly black. The picture doesn’t capture how black they really were. 

[zigarrenziggy]

18 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

My first thought as well but I couldn’t find any reference to the “tooth” spots being uniformly black. The picture doesn’t capture how black they really were. 

Agreed. Toothy is more so the bumps on a wrapper itself than a dis- or mis-coloration. I've personally never encountered a "toothy" wrapper that had tooth that looked different from the wrapper color itself

[djrey]

Here is a similar wrapper on the middle PLPC

[MrBirdman]

@djrey That's definitely closer, especially the ones right under the silk band. Only difference on my Trini was they were deeper, more numerous, and more uniform. 

[Pag]

Having grown and been around plants many years. I am leaning towards some type of leaf sucking aphid ,spider mite or other juice sucking bug.
Just my personal thoughts.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

[captaincaveman]

8 minutes ago, Pag said:

Having grown and been around plants many years. I am leaning towards some type of leaf sucking aphid ,spider mite or other juice sucking bug.
Just my personal thoughts.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 

I didn't realize we were talking about my ex-wife!

[MrBirdman]

On 9/24/2020 at 11:25 AM, captaincaveman said:

I didn't realize we were talking about my ex-wife!

I'm a gentleman. I would never post pictures of your ex-wife and ask for comments on unsightly bumps!

[Ardan]

From other forums, facebook etc I have read that this isn't really a defect and actually rather desirable.  It means more of the oils are in that texture that leads to better flavor.  At least that is how it was explained

[Zaxeiler]

Agree with earlier comments, have never seen tooth with that dark color. Beyond @Pag's comment around possible insect issues - makes me wonder if a 'toothy' wrapper can go bad? Meaning, since it's supposed to be oils, can they go sour or rancid like other types of oils can? I don't know honestly, so just posting for consideration to see what others think.

[MrBirdman]

1 hour ago, Zaxeiler said:

Agree with earlier comments, have never seen tooth with that dark color. Beyond @Pag's comment around possible insect issues - makes me wonder if a 'toothy' wrapper can go bad? Meaning, since it's supposed to be oils, can they go sour or rancid like other types of oils can? I don't know honestly, so just posting for consideration to see what others think.

It's a thought, but oils don't necessarily turn dark when they go rancid and this stick was only ~18 months old.

[El Presidente]

Run your finger over it.  If slightly rough to the feel, then I would refer to it as a toothy/sandpaper wrapper.  I have assumed (always dangerous) that it is a normal variation as a result of unique conditions (plant specific or location specific) as opposed to any insect attack. 

[MrBirdman]

7 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Run your finger over it.  If slightly rough to the feel, then I would refer to it as a toothy/sandpaper wrapper.  I have assumed (always dangerous) that it is a normal variation as a result of unique conditions (plant specific or location specific) as opposed to any insect attack. 

Very rough, like Braille. I’ve had wrapper that feel like it but not dead black in the middle of each one (almost like a blackhead on a pimple - I know, sorry guys). 
 

If I saw black bumps like that on a leaf in my backyard I would attribute it to insects. I suppose tobacco is a leaf too, but of course I don’t have any in my yard and my yard is not in Cuba. 

[El Presidente]

Just now, MrBirdman said:

Very rough, like Braille. I’ve had wrapper that feel like it but not dead black in the middle of each one (almost like a blackhead on a pimple - I know, sorry guys). 
 

If I saw black bumps like that on a leaf in my backyard I would attribute it to insects. I suppose tobacco is a leaf too, but of course I don’t have any in my yard and my yard is not in Cuba. 

Hopefully we will have a botanist, entomologist,  farmer float through here over the weekend. 

[BTWheezy]

Have seen this too.  Curious on the findings.

[BTWheezy]

40 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Hopefully we will have a botanist, entomologist,  farmer float through here over the weekend. 

@El Presidente Any dermatologists in the mix?

[La_Tigre]

[prshah25]

Glad you brought this up.. I have one stick with this defect ..curious to know what/why it is? 

[Subcomandante]

Is it really a defect or a variation of a natural crop? Unless there’s a pattern of harsh taste between same cigars or something less I’d chalk it up to just being a natural product and environmental conditions. 

[KavalanWhisky]

7 hours ago, Ardan said:

From other forums, facebook etc I have read that this isn't really a defect and actually rather desirable.  It means more of the oils are in that texture that leads to better flavor.  At least that is how it was explained

I think they are actually referring to the Ash when there are bubbles in that but looking at the wrapper it has the black dots.  TBH I can't remember if the cigar was better or worse than normal as it was smoked last year.

[MrBirdman]

The cigar in my original post was pretty bad, but I must add it’s from my 2019 MUP box of Coloniales which has had a lot of duds.  

[GaryK 54]

Not a farmer or botanist so I could be wrong, but I believe what you are seeing is commonly referred to as ‘grain’ on the leaf. Grain is somewhat different than just a rough texture on the leaf or ‘tooth’. 
 

There have been debates on this matter for decades, but most sources see this as a natural outcome that occurs during the drying/curing process when there are higher levels of magnesium, potassium and acids in the soil that have found their way into the leaf. Certainly safe to smoke and shouldn’t have much, if any, impact on the flavor.

Following is a link from an old study that was done by Charles Ridgway on this subject:

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43965745/PDF

 

[GavLew79]

AIDS.