b) Hand Rolled Cigars –

The closed end (or head) of a cigar is meant to be cut before you place it in your mouth. A cigar should never be cut until you are ready to smoke. If you cut the cigar properly then it would enhance the flavour of the smoke. The trick is to hold the cigar with one hand and the guillotine with the other then insert the head of the cigar into the guillotine and cut into the cap, usually about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch down. If the head of the cigar is shaped like a cone, then cut into the cone, but don’t cut the wider part. Bear in mind, never cut into the body of the cigar. If you do not have a cigar cutter then go the Indian way and cut the cigar from your teeth but never try this with an expensive cigar, only try this with a cheap cigar.

Cigar connoisseurs recommend butane lighters or wooden matches to light a cigar. Never use scented candles or other lighting modes which have chemicals and other substances as chemicals and other substances might ruin the cigar. The perfect way to light a cigar is by lighting  the lighter with one hand, then gripping the cigar about an inch or two from the head using your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger (if necessary), and then placing it in your mouth. Position the end of your cigar just above the top of the flame. Word of caution here, be careful not to let the cigar actually touch the flame. Begin puffing on the cigar, and then slowly begin to rotate the cigar while continuing to puff. Keep puffing the cigar until the tobacco around the outer rim begins to glow, and the smoke begins to easily draw.

Always remember a cigar connoisseur never inhales the smoke. If you smoke it like a cigarette then there would be harmful effects like a cigarette but if you smoke a couple of cigars a week and do not inhale the smoke then the health risks caused by a cigar are not very significant.