The different colors of ash

[Wurm]

I'm sure this topic will probably be mostly opinions like a discussion over the proper color for the head on a Guinness (white IMO)

But mostly I'd like to know why some cigars burn with a snowy white ash and others with a soot grey to charcoal black ash.

And if someone is of the opinion that white ash means a better tasting cigar I would respectfully disagree with them, one of the best cigars I've tasted burnt with a dark grey ash.

So teach me the way of the ash, fellow smokers, I'm "all ears".

 

[N2Advnture]

The color of the ash is determined by the amount of various minerals in the soil - which I guess would effect the taste.

 

[Wurm]

The color of the ash is determined by the amount of various minerals in the soil - which I guess would effect the taste.

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I've heard more than once the color of the ash is

1) How well rolled the cigar is.

2) How good the tabacco used is.

3) How aged the cigar is.

So its really only the minerals in the soil, nice. I quess I have some BS de-bunking to do.

:thumbs:

 

[Jan Primus]

I think it's all about the soil...Cubans always have a dark grey ash, white ash on Domiinicans etc.

 

[KayakinBoy]

1) How well rolled the cigar is.

2) How good the tabacco used is.

3) How aged the cigar is.

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1) Wouldn't change the tobacco
2) It's where and how it's grown that makes it good
3) Age wouldn't effect the color of ash

Sorry

I think it's all about the soil...Cubans always have a dark grey ash, white ash on Domiinicans etc.

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:thumbs:

Smoke a cuban and then smoke something non cuban. you'll see.

And cubans don't always have dark grey ash. There's really bright white ash, or dark spotted ash.

 

[Wurm]

Sorry

No reason to be sorry, I didn't believe that stuff to begin with, thats why I asked.

 

[N2Advnture]

I think it's all about the soil...Cubans always have a dark grey ash, white ash on Domiinicans etc.

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Not always

 

[Pyre]

I believe fuente said that the whiter the ash, the better the soil used to grow the tobacco. He said the white was caused by a particular mineral in the soil (magnesium? sulfur?) I can't remember what mineral he said though.

 

[kro77]

If I remember correctly the whiteness in the ash is related to the amount of Calcium in the soil, some times you will see a darker ash with an almost brown or redish tint i guess (this is from reading not personal experience) and that is supposedly magnesium in the soil. Supposedly a number of regions in cuba have very low calcium content and that is why the ash is dark. However I have also heard that the type of wrapper used and it's curing (sp?) process contributes to the color significantly.

K

 

[knightlaird]

Hi, Wurm! Some of the finer Honduran cigars also burn with a dark grey ash, and have a complex flavor. I suppose that this is because of the soil conditions, and could also be due to the fact that some of the Honduran cigars are made with tobacco grown from Cuban seed. This is a very interesting topic. Regards, knightlaird

 

[The Master]

The reason for the white ash on many Dominicans is the amount of magnesium in the soil. The dark grey and black ash you see on Cuban cigars is due to the type of soil in Cuba which has different characteristics than the DR.
Each country has their own unique soil characteristics which is why you see so many different color ashes.

One thing is for sure, the color of the ash means absolutely nothing when it comes to taste.

 

[cletus]

I have a white ash and my soiling is plentiful and rich in minerals.





Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[CvilleYoungGun]

I had a question about ash that I didnt feel deserved its own thread but since we have one here, why not? So Have you ever had a cigar that starts with a white ash and then as it burns the white starts to turn a yellowish color? I see this mostly on stronger cigars, so I was wondering if it was the nicotine or something else. Just something Ive wondered for a while.


Thanks,

CYG

 

[kro77]

Could the change in color be the way the cigar is blended to change taste as it smokes. Can any FOGs shed some light on this question?

- K

 

[The Master]

I've never seen an ash turn yellowish. That's a new one for me.

 

[moki]

Outside of just idle curiosity, I wouldn't worry too much about the color of your ash

 

[bchem]

I had a question about ash that I didnt feel deserved its own thread but since we have one here, why not? So Have you ever had a cigar that starts with a white ash and then as it burns the white starts to turn a yellowish color? I see this mostly on stronger cigars, so I was wondering if it was the nicotine or something else. Just something Ive wondered for a while.


Thanks,

CYG

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Good question! I noticed that too. Maybe not yellow, but not white or dark, almost a brownish color maybe. Oh well, didn't think it would change the flavor any, just something I noticed too, but didn't think to ask.

 

[Lumberg]

I've never seen an ash turn yellowish. That's a new one for me.

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I've seen a yellowish hue to my ash before. Can't recall what cigar it was.

 

[Randyb1]

Not agreeing or disagreeing
Quote from Min Ron NEE

"Ash

The black /grey /white colour of cigar ash has been a hot topic of many authorities on cigars. Whatever I have read or whatever explanations are offered for the different colours. I notice there is one thing in common: the writer offers no proof of what he says.

I might have a real explanation which you can test for yourself.

Try this. Torch the black/grey ashes. They become white. The black/grey ashes are due to incomplete combustion. The black particles might be partially burnt organic molecules, because they are too large to be combustible.

A white ash means near complete combustion. A white ash means the cigar burns better. This might be the result of the breaking down of complex molecules, by the fermentation process, or the breaking down of tannin long chained polymers with age ( see entry Aging- Second maturation).

A whiter ash offers a plausible explanation as to why cigars get stronger in taste in the first few years. Substances too complicated to burn remain in the ash as black particles. With time, these substances become combustible and the cigar becomes stronger. This happens most commonly with cigars which have a bitter or harsh green taste when new.

Please note that a white ash may be skin deep. The wrapper ash is white, but what's inside is still grey. Look vertically at the foot of the cigar and you will see clearly.

The ash of a cigar nearly always begins to turn white by 5 to 6 years of age. By 30 years old the ash of most cigars has become snow white.

It is interesting that some young cigars have a white ash. A young cigar with a white ash nearly always tastes smooth.

The meaning of a whiter ash means better complete combustion. It is in no way related to the long term aging process. in which complex mysterious chemical reactions take place and are practically not understood.

A cigar in a box in which others have a white ash, but which has a grey ash in particular could mean two things.

The humidity of that particular cigar when smoked may be not optimal, either too dry or too moist, which hinders proper combustion.

The smoking technique might not be the best. Drawing too quickly or too frequently also results in undesirable combustion of the tobacco."

 

[CvilleYoungGun]

I had a question about ash that I didnt feel deserved its own thread but since we have one here, why not? So Have you ever had a cigar that starts with a white ash and then as it burns the white starts to turn a yellowish color? I see this mostly on stronger cigars, so I was wondering if it was the nicotine or something else. Just something Ive wondered for a while.


Thanks,

CYG

[snapback]236679[/snapback]​

Good question! I noticed that too. Maybe not yellow, but not white or dark, almost a brownish color maybe. Oh well, didn't think it would change the flavor any, just something I noticed too, but didn't think to ask.

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Well at least someone else has noticed this, the reason I thought it may be the nicotine in the cigars is because the color is the similar to the color that white filters turn after a whole cigarette (a decent marlboro red or isom cigarette anyway) so yellow-brownish ??? not good with naming colors i guess. :laugh:

And outside of idle curiosity I have no interest in knowing the answer to this, all of those cigars were great, just wondering for the sake of wondering.



CYG