What Is a Candela Wrapper? Claro, Flash Curing & Flavor Profile

In the world of cigar wrapper leaf types, most leaves fall somewhere between golden Connecticut Shade and nearly black Oscuro. Then there’s the outlier, the bright green Candela wrapper, sometimes called a Claro wrapper or Double Claro. This leaf looks nothing like its darker cousins, and its story is just as unusual.

Wildly popular in the U.S. during the 1950s and 60s, Candela cigars are rare today but still prized by enthusiasts for their grassy flavors, tea-like notes, and mild smoking experience.

If you’ve ever spotted a green cigar in a humidor and wondered how it got that way, the answer lies in a fast, high-heat curing method that locks in chlorophyll and gives Candela its unmistakable look.

What Is a Candela Wrapper?

A Candela wrapper is a cigar wrapper leaf that keeps its signature green shade thanks to flash curing. Instead of the slow fermentation most tobacco leaves undergo, Candelas are rapidly cured in high-heat barns that “lock in” chlorophyll. What you get instead is a leaf that stays green, thin, and mild, perfect for rolling a cigar that stands apart in both look and taste.

Flavor-wise, Candela cigars offer something unique: grassy flavors, herbal and green tea notes, a touch of light sweetness, and a crisp, mild finish. They’re not built for strength or spice; they’re made for people who want a refreshing, throwback style of smoke.

Candela: A Color, Not a Country

Like Colorado or Oscuro, “Candela” refers to the color of the wrapper leaf, not where it’s grown. It’s easy for new cigar smokers to assume the name points to a region, but Candela is defined by its curing method.

You’ll find Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan Candelas, sometimes rolled from Cuban seed tobacco, or even Connecticut wrapper leaf. In each case, “Candela” signals that green shade, not geography. It’s the curing process, not the country, that shapes this wrapper’s look and flavor profile.

How Candela Wrappers Are Made

Candela wrappers are one of the few cigar wrappers defined more by how they’re cured than by seed type. After harvesting, farmers bring the leaves into barns and cure them quickly at extremely high temperatures (up to 175 degrees), a technique called fire curing. The heat essentially locks the chlorophyll in place, giving the wrapper its green hue.

It’s a tricky process. Too much heat and the leaf turns brown; too little and it won’t hold color. Done right, the result is a wrapper that’s thin, pliable, and ready for rolling by hand.

Since they skip long fermentation, Candela wrappers don’t develop the heavy oils or dark sweetness of Maduros. Instead, you get a lighter, cleaner smoke that’s unmistakably different.

The Look and Flavor of Candela Cigars

There’s no mistaking a Candela cigar wrapper. The bright green color stands out in any humidor, sometimes a light spring green, other times a deeper olive tone. Rolled cigars often show smooth, nearly blemish-free surfaces with a soft, silky texture.

On the palate, Candela cigars are known for:

• Grassy and herbal flavors, often compared to fresh-cut grass

• Tea-like notes, especially green tea

• A hint of light, sweet character

• A clean, mild finish with little lingering spice

• Occasional touches of cedar or a delicate floral aroma

Compared to milder wrappers like Connecticut Shade, Candela is less creamy and more herbal. It’s a distinctive flavor profile, popular with some smokers, less so with others, but always memorable for those who enjoy its unique character.

Famous Candela Cigars to Try

Though rarer today, a handful of respected brands still roll with Candela wrappers. For the curious or nostalgic, here are some notable blends worth finding:

• Fuente Claro (Arturo Fuente) – a classic line that shows off the grassy, herbal side of Candela.

• Camacho Candela – Honduran-made, with enough body to balance the mild wrapper.

• Illusione 88 Candela – a boutique favorite pairing Nicaraguan filler tobaccos with this green wrapper for a unique edge.

• Romeo y Julieta 1875 Candela – a nod to history, pairing familiar branding with this unusual leaf.

• La Flor Dominicana Candela – another modern example proving green cigars still have a place in the market.

• Founders Cigar Co Hamilton Candela - named for Alexander Hamilton, this green-wrapped cigar pays homage to the “greenback” architect and Revolutionary figure.

These examples prove that while Candela isn’t as popular as it once was, it’s still alive in the cigar industry for enthusiasts who want to taste something different.

Why Candela Fell Out of Favor

There was a time when Candela cigars dominated humidors across the U.S. During the 1950s and 60s, they were often marketed as the American Market Selection, prized for their mild character and novelty. Many cigar smokers grew up seeing bright green cigars as the standard.

But as tastes shifted toward richer wrappers like Maduro wrappers and Oscuro, Candelas began to lose popularity. Their grassy, tea-like flavor felt light compared to the cedar, pepper, and dark sweetness smokers wanted.

The labor-intensive flash curing also made it harder for farmers to produce them consistently. By the 1980s, Candelas had faded into a niche category, more of a throwback than a trend.

Why Candela Wrappers Still Matter Today

Even if they’re no longer mainstream, Candela wrappers remain an important part of cigar history. They prove how curing can completely transform a tobacco leaf, from its color to its aroma to its taste. For modern smokers, lighting up a Candela feels like stepping back in time, experiencing a style that once ruled the market in the U.S. and even appeared in early Habanos rolled in Cuba.

Brands like Arturo Fuente, La Flor Dominicana, and boutique makers such as Illusione still craft Candela cigars for enthusiasts who want that grassy, green tea character with hints of fresh cut grass and subtle sweetness. They’re not for everyone, but that’s what makes them special. For the right people, Candelas are a unique way to break from the ordinary and try something truly different.

At After Action Cigars, we see Candelas as a reminder of how diverse the cigar world really is. Whether you’re filling a humidor with bold Maduros or looking to browse something rare and cool, a Candela cigar adds variety and sparks conversation. Try one, and you’ll understand why this green wrapper still holds a place in the hearts of cigar aficionados.