Of Cigar Tasting : The Aromas
Aromas are a fundamental concept in the complexity of sensations that a fine cigar offers us.
We perceive aromas through indirect olfaction, which is when we retro-hale by pushing the smoke from the inside of our mouth up toward the receptors in our nasal cavity.
Odors and scents, on the other hand, are perceived through direct olfaction, which means when we approach the cigar to our nose.
The remaining part of the organoleptic qualities of a cigar mainly pertains to taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami or savory) and trigeminal sensations (dry, creamy, spicy). In other words, a cigar cannot taste like walnut, it may have a walnut aroma. And a cigar does not need to have a pepper aroma to be spicy.
Generally speaking, the aromas of plants and foods are due to the presence of chemicals substances that have two main characteristics:
- they are volatile : they must evaporate to be inhaled through the nose at the top of the nasal cavities and touch the olfactory receptors. In a cigar, we perceive the aromas by the volatile molecules generated by the distillation of oils, resins and waxes that reside on the tobacco leaves
- they are odorous, which means they are able to produce penetrating aromas.
Aromas normally include a large spectrum of very heterogeneous substances of numerous organic compounds belonging to different chemical groups.
Such compounds can vary in quality and quantity depending on a number of factors: tobacco species, ecotype, geography, climate, terroir, biotic factors (presence of insects, for example), growing techniques, fertilizers, harvesting process, curing, fermentation, storage …
Therefore, in a cigar we can find many and varied aromas. Our memory and experience trigger our ability to perceive them and name them. We can use poetry to help us remind us a specific aroma. However, if we want to communicate with other cigar enthusiasts, it is important to adopt a common language. An instrument such as an aromas wheel can be very useful for this purpose.
References:
– “Di Cosa Sa un Sigaro?” — G. Tringali, S. Travali, C, Campisi, P. Rudilosso, Universita’ degli Studi di Catania, CEFIT — 2007
– “The Cigar from Soil to Soul” — Didier Houvenaghel — 2008, Editions du Mysotis
– “The Cigar Sense Aromas Wheel” — Franca Comparetto — 2015
You can find additional insights in our cigar knowledge page, in particular:
– “Of Cigar Flavors”
– “Terroir — What are the Factors that Influence the Flavor of Tobacco?” published on Cigar Journal
