Why is Handmade Better Than Machine-Made?
By Mariana HerediaThere are certain quality aspects, like consistency and flawless construction, that we haven’t replicated in machine-made cigars. I’m not saying that Machine-made cigars are a terrible option, but if you have the time and money to invest in a good quality cigar it’s best to opt for a handmade product. The flavor, texture, and aroma embedded into handcrafted masterpieces will take your breath away. Let’s take a closer look at a handmade vs machine-made cigar product. Also, keep reading to find the perfect online site where you’ll be able to buy machine-made as well as hand-rolled cigars at the best possible prices.
Why is handmade better than machine-made?
Machine-made cigar products are mass-produced, and during this process, certain elements are lost. This is often reflected when smoking a cigar. Try comparing eating at McDonald’s and a Michelin-star fine dining restaurant. Additionally, mass-market cigars are often made with additives, tobacco scraps (AKA short fillers), preservatives, and chemicals. These factors directly affect their flavor, aroma, construction, and smoking experience.
Compared to handmade cigars, which are more than just cigars, craftsmanship is seen as a form of art. Cigar artisans carefully manufacture these with top-quality controls in every step. An authentic hand-rolled cigar is completely made out of 100% natural aged tobacco leaves from countries like the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras, Mexico, USA, and Indonesia.
Top 3 differences between hand-rolled and machine-made cigars
- Filler. Machine-made cigars tend to burn faster due to small pieces of tobacco, glue, and additives compressed together. Most machine-made products are made from a substance called ‘HTL,’ or homogenized tobacco leaf. This is known as a mixture of scrap tobacco and adhesive to hold the scraps together. Compared to hand-rolled cigars, there is often a mixture of all-natural aged tobacco leaves used to create unique flavors. The process is repeated several times until cigar artisans form the desired shape.
- Binder. For this process, machine-made cigars are made from 2 binder leaves fed to the machine and cut. The short filler runs through a hopper that drops a pre-measured amount of the filler into the binders as they move onto a conveyor belt. Lastly, they are cut to a specific size. As to handmade cigars, they always use natural tobacco leaves. They are wrapped around the filler by the artesian and pressed together with a “torcedor.”
- Wrapper. For this step, machine-made cigars rely on strong materials to withhold the pressure. Therefore an all-natural tobacco leaf is not reliable. Occasionally natural ingredients are not used for this step. Handmade cigars during this final process consist of an all-natural, intact tobacco leaf. It is tightly wrapped around the binder and filler of the cigar. Due to its natural moisture and oils, it produces the perfect burning whilst smoking.
So, handmade vs machine-made cigars?
When trying to decide between handmade vs machine-made products, it’s up to you. Honestly, it’s not always a bad idea to buy machine-made cigars. They come in handy to smoke around with non-experienced smokers or cigars fans who likely wouldn’t appreciate a good VegaFina. The final verdict between hand-made vs machine-made products is all up to you. If you are looking for a place to buy handmade or machine-made cigars online, try Cigar Country. With vast options of cigars, you’ll be sure to find your perfect match.
For any further guidance or questions be sure to reach out to Cigar Country via the contact form, Instagram, or live chat.