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Escogida (colour sorting)
Escogida is the meticulous final classification process in a Cuban cigar factory where finished cigars are sorted by their precise wrapper shade. This ensures that every cigar within a single box presents a uniform appearance and a smooth, graduated transition in colour from left to right. It is a strictly aesthetic procedure performed after the cigars have rested, designed to meet the high visual standards expected by collectors.
What it means
In a Cuban factory, the *escogedor* (colour grader) works in a naturally lit room with a neutral background, examining hundreds of cigars at a time. Their task is to organise them into dozens of minute shade variations. While broad terms outline the primary categories, a skilled escogedor can identify over 60 distinct micro-shades of brown.
Once graded, the cigars are passed to the *anilladora*, who applies the bands, and then to the packer. The packer arranges the cigars in the box so that the darkest shades sit on the left and the lightest on the right. This meticulous arrangement guarantees a seamless visual progression when the box is first opened.
Wrapper classification shades
To understand the complexity of the sorting process, it helps to review the primary classification categories used across the industry.
Claro Claro — Common Name: Double Claro — Typical Characteristics: Pale green to yellowish; minimal fermentation. — General Occurrence (%): < 5%
Claro — Common Name: Claro — Typical Characteristics: Light tan; typically shade-grown wrappers. — General Occurrence (%): 15%
Colorado Claro — Common Name: Natural — Typical Characteristics: Mid-brown; often found on standard production. — General Occurrence (%): 30%
Colorado — Common Name: Rosado — Typical Characteristics: Reddish-brown; rich and oily. — General Occurrence (%): 25%
Colorado Maduro — Common Name: - — Typical Characteristics: Dark brown; typical of longer fermentation. — General Occurrence (%): 15%
Maduro — Common Name: - — Typical Characteristics: Very dark brown to nearly black; sweet and heavy. — General Occurrence (%): 8%
Oscuro — Common Name: Double Maduro — Typical Characteristics: Black; extremely rare in modern Cuban production. — General Occurrence (%): < 2%
Why it matters when buying
For a collector, the result of the escogida is a primary indicator of factory quality and authenticity. A genuine box of Habanos, bearing the correct box codes and EMS stamp, will always display a disciplined colour arrangement.
If you open a cabinet or dress box and find a chaotic mix of light and dark wrappers, it should prompt immediate scrutiny. Inconsistent sorting is a frequent hallmark of counterfeit goods or boxes that have been tampered with after leaving Cuba. When inspecting cigars before purchase, evaluating the escogida helps confirm that the presentation meets standard Havana production criteria.
Related terms
Capa: The outer wrapper leaf that determines the cigar's colour and is the focus of the sorting process.
Escaparate: The cedar-lined resting room where cigars settle before undergoing the escogida.
At MokaCigar
When you purchase from MokaCigar, every box is thoroughly inspected to ensure the factory escogida meets our standards for presentation and authenticity. Whether you are acquiring a cabinet for long-term ageing or a dress box for immediate enjoyment, we verify the visual consistency alongside the physical seals. Browse our current inventory in the shop to explore our meticulously vetted selection of Habanos.