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Parejo
A parejo is a straight-sided cigar with a cylindrical body and a smooth, rounded head. It is the most common format in the Habanos portfolio, encompassing familiar sizes like the robusto, corona, and churchill. Unlike intricately shaped cigars, the parejo provides a consistent ring gauge from the foot to the cap.
What it means
The term parejo translates from Spanish as straight or even. In the context of Cuban cigars, it denotes any vitola that maintains a uniform diameter for its entire length. The foot is cut open and flat, while the head is finished with a rounded cap that the smoker must cut before lighting. Premium Habanos feature a distinct triple cap to secure the wrapper leaf.
Because of their straight sides, these cigars burn with a predictable evenness. This structural reliability makes the parejo the standard shape across nearly every Cuban brand.
Corona — Factory Name (Vitola de Galera): Coronas — Length (mm): 142 — Ring Gauge: 42
Robusto — Factory Name (Vitola de Galera): Robustos — Length (mm): 124 — Ring Gauge: 50
Churchill — Factory Name (Vitola de Galera): Julieta No. 2 — Length (mm): 178 — Ring Gauge: 47
Why it matters when buying
Understanding the parejo shape is highly useful for identifying the correct factory name on a box. While parejos are easier for rollers to produce consistently than tapered shapes, they still require careful inspection. When examining a box of straight-sided Cuban cigars, collectors should look for perfectly matched wrapper colours and identical physical dimensions across the row.
Counterfeiters often fail to replicate the precise lengths and ring gauges of popular parejos. Measuring the cigar and comparing it against factory specifications is a reliable method to spot fake Cuban cigars. When acquiring boxes, we verify that the physical dimensions of the parejos exactly match the format declared by the cigar box code. Look for the English Market Selection (EMS) stamp to ensure the cigars have been vetted and stored in optimum conditions.
Related terms
At MokaCigar
We stock a comprehensive range of parejos across the entire Habanos portfolio, all rigorously verified and carrying the EMS seal. To browse straight-sided formats from classic marques, visit our shop or read our detailed box code guide to learn how we authenticate every box we source for our humidors.