How to properly light a cigar. Useful tips

When you decide to embark on the experience of smoking cigars you often do not have the correct information about them.

Many in fact think it’s like a classic cigarette, but it’s not. Smoking a cigar is a completely different experience.

The cigar is generally accessed in moments of pure relaxation to enjoy the aroma of tobacco and the experience that the same is able to give you.

The moment of lighting a cigar requires special attention and a lot of patience. As a result, you have to dedicate the right time, without being taken by the rush.

But how do you light a cigar? Is there a proper way to do it?

In the following article we will provide you with useful tips for a proper lighting of the cigar in order to ensure a unique and pleasant experience.

How to properly light a cigar

Before even lighting the cigar, it is necessary to cut it. Cigar cutting represents a delicate operation that can determine the quality of the smoke. Cigar cutting is a fundamental and essential process; without it the passage of smoke would not be possible.

The next step is the lighting of the cigar, a moment in which you need to be particularly careful and take the right time.

The choice of instrument is fundamental.

It is important to note that not all lighters are good for lighting cigars; gasoline lighters or other types of these in fact are strongly discouraged, as they may alter the taste of the cigar.

A wooden match, better if long, or a gas cigarette lighter, are more appropriate tools to complete this operation.

Arming oneself with patience and wooden matches would be the most correct way to light a cigar, but the use of gas lighters has a significant advantage: offering a steady and regular flame. A flame like this allows to facilitate the ignition by adjusting it and making it more homogeneous; is therefore a good alternative, especially for beginners.

The use of gas lighters also avoids dangerous maneuvers around matches, which can often lead to an irregular lighting of the cigar itself.

Typically, cigarette lighters feature a valve with a double nozzle that releases a V-flame, which wraps around the foot of the cigar and ensures a smooth and quick ignition.

The part of the cigar that must be cut and that must be subsequently heated for the ignition of this, is called cigar foot.

Highly functional, though usually less beautiful, are the head lighters: they work with a quartz instead of the flint and give a vigorous and regular flame that resembles that of the blowtorch and that is particularly useful especially for beginners.

The ignition process initially requires holding the cigar between the fingers at an angle, rotating it and letting the foot remain a couple of centimeters away from the flame, as necessary to heat it. Ideally, the flame should heat the cigar without touching it directly. Progressive and patient heating will prevent blackening and gradually lead to ignition.

It is important that the tip of the cigar is lit evenly, throughout its entire diameter.

A useful tip is to blow on the brazier so as to gain more control over the uniformity of combustion, throughout the smoke.

In addition, keeping the ashes from the brazier, without getting rid of them hastily, can help manage the combustion in a correct way.

Extinguishing the cigar 

Smoking a cigar is an experience to be experienced slowly.

If the cigar goes out earlier than expected, it is advisable to blow inside it. In this way the old smoke will be eliminated, and once equalized the brazier will be possible to light the cigar a second time without its taste will have undergone alterations.

The process just described, it is best to do it before it cools down; Relighting a cigar after allowing time to pass may alter its aroma and flavor.

Regarding the intentional extinguishing of the cigar, the same patience applied to lighting it will also have to be devoted to extinguishing it.

It is important to remember that a cigar, when deemed finished smoking, should extinguish itself. In fact, it is sufficient to simply place it on the ashtray and allow it to extinguish itself. The act crumpling up that remains of the cigar itself in an ashtray as is usually done with an ordinary cigarette should therefore be avoided.

Before putting it down, you can possibly blow inside the cigar thereby removing the smoke that is likely to be trapped inside if not.

In conclusion, lighting a cigar is an art that requires practice and experience. By following these simple instructions, however, you can learn how to do it easily.

Lighting a cigar is an enjoyable experience that can be shared with friends and enjoyed by all.

If you are a regular cigar smoker, stay up to date by visiting our arscigars page; here you can also find some products that might interest you. We are waiting for you!