Every cigar smoker, sooner or later, comes across cigars with discoloured wrappers. These markings can range from green stains to yellow spots or even black dots. Unlike cigar bloom (a harmless plume of crystallised oils that can be wiped away), wrapper discolouration is permanent — usually the result of natural pigment faults in the tobacco leaf.
Over the years, I’ve collected dozens of such examples, and far from being a reason to discard the cigar, they are often fascinating insights into the plant’s journey from soil to soul. Much of what follows is informed by Didier Houvenaghel’s excellent book The Cigar from Soil to Soul, a recommended read for anyone curious about the agricultural side of cigars.
Common Types of Wrapper Discolouration
1. Green Stains
- Cause: Incomplete breakdown of chlorophyll during drying, often due to high temperature and low humidity. Chlorophyll may also concentrate in fine wrapper cracks.
- Impact: These stains are not mould and generally have no noticeable effect on taste.
2. Yellow Stains
- Cause: Insufficient humidity in the drying barn, leaving yellow pigments that survive fermentation.
- Impact: Considered a wrapper fault; in theory, such leaves should not be selected for premium cigars.
3. Black Stains
- Cause: Excessive humidity during drying prevents sugars from breaking down, eventually turning pigments black.
- Impact: The high sugar content can make the cigar feel excessively “fresh” or give an unpleasant scratchiness in the throat.
4. White Stains
There are two common types:
- Large, blurred white spots near veins: Caused by blue mould on the green leaf. While harmful to the live plant, it has no effect on taste or combustion after fermentation.
- Small, sesame-seed-like specks: Signs of the cercospora fungus, which feeds on chlorophyll but does not damage the leaf or alter flavour significantly.
Should You Worry About Discoloured Wrappers?
In most cases, wrapper discolouration is cosmetic rather than functional. While yellow and black stains may indicate less-than-ideal drying conditions, green and white markings usually have little to no impact on smoking quality.
For enthusiasts, these imperfections can even add character, telling the story of the leaf’s growth, harvest, and curing.