What is Candela Wrapper?
Posted on June 09 2025
Quick Summary
- Candela (also called Claro) is the bright-green cigar wrapper famous for its quick, high-heat curing that locks in chlorophyll.
- Flavor profile: fresh hay, sweet grass, light cream, and a hint of white pepper; body is mild.
- Most Candela comes from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, though small plots still exist in Nicaragua and Honduras.
- Compared with Connecticut Shade it is grassier; far milder and brighter than Habano.
- Classic examples: Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Claro, Illusione 88 Candela, and Alec Bradley Torpedo Candela.
What is Candela wrapper?
Candela, also called Claro, more accurately Double Claro, is a cigar wrapper that retains its vivid green color thanks to a rapid, high-temperature “flash” cure. Farmers harvest the leaves slightly underripe, then raise barn temperatures to about 165 °F (74 °C) for 24–72 hours. The quick heat seals chlorophyll in place before it degrades, creating a distinctive hue and fresh-cut-grass flavor.
How Candela curing works
- Harvest: Shade-grown leaves are primed early while still soft and thin.
- Sealed barn: Vents are closed, and propane burners or charcoal pots boost heat rapidly.
- Flash cure: High heat drives out moisture in two to three days—much faster than the six-week air-curing used for other wrappers.
- Short fermentation: After color is set, Candela requires only minimal pilón time at lower temperatures to prevent browning.
Flavor and smoking experience
Expect a mild body with notes of sweet hay, green tea, light cream, and faint white pepper. The thin wrapper burns evenly, producing a pale-gray ash and a clean, grassy room note.
Candela vs other light wrappers
| Wrapper | Color | Dominant Flavors | Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candela (Claro) | Bright green | Hay, grass, cream | Mild |
| Connecticut Shade | Honey-gold | Cream, almond, cedar | Mild–Medium |
| Cameroon | Light brown | Baking spice, cedar | Mild–Medium |
Well-known cigars using Candela wrappers
- Arturo Fuente — 8-5-8 Claro
- Illusione — 88 Candela, HL Candela Lancero
- Alec Bradley — Torpedo Candela
Explore more wrappers in our Tobacco Encyclopedia.
Browse all of our Candela wrapped cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Candela taste like menthol?
No. While the grassy notes can feel “bright,” there’s no menthol or mint flavor—just sweet hay and cream.
Is green color a sign of under-fermented tobacco?
In Candela it’s intentional. The flash cure locks color before chlorophyll breaks down; for any other wrapper, green would indicate improper curing.
Do Candela cigars age well?
They retain freshness for years if stored at 65 % RH. Over-aging can fade the grassy sweetness, so many smokers enjoy them within five years.
Why are Candela wrappers less common today?
Milder flavor trends waned in the 1990 s, and the specialized curing method raises production costs. A niche revival keeps them in limited production.
Ideal beverage pairings?
Light roast coffee, crisp pilsner, or citrus-forward gin complement Candela’s grassy-sweet profile.