Moisture or Oil???

[Mister Moo]

Burned sugar.

Your observation caused me to research a bit. I've wondered about the same thing. So, I think hard - smoke comes out of the ears - and "D'uh, we know that maduro wrappers are fermented and fermentation is a process that converts sugar(s) into other compounds." And maduros are often characterized as having a special "sweetness". Where's SeanGar? He's science.

I looked to see if there is there is any remarkable amount of sugar in tobacco leaves. If they ferment, I would expect there is. I believe the dark, shiney band is actually carmelized sugar. A quick google confirms (but does not prove) my speculation. See:

http://www.lsc.org/tobacco/farming/growing/curing.html

and

http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/m.../cigars_en.xml

which mentions:

Wrapper
... The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor and the greater the oil and sugar content will be.

[OilMan]

Well, then. Thats a good enough answer for me. Thank you for doing the research

[omowasu]

Yes, it is oil - water would either evaporate from the stick or soak in. The oil can be generated from two likely causes - burning or carmelization of sugars and/or high nicotine content in the wrapper. I dont think it will harm anything, I saw the same phenomenon on a maduro stick I smoked this past weekend.

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by Mister MaDuroo

which mentions:

Wrapper
... The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor and the greater the oil and sugar content will be.

Thanks for the research Mr Moo! Read the links and they seem to confirm a higher sugar (and oil?) content in maduro wrappers.

I also tried an earlier suggestion about trying to wipe it off to see if it evaporated. I couldn't see anything wet or otherwise on the tissue. I also touched the edge of the area and it didn't seem wet, slick or sticky either. It really seems to be more of a change in the "finish" (for lack of a better term) of the wrapper itself. Not a very scientific approach but I'm just glad I didn't set the tissue on fire or burn my finger.

Maybe this thread should be called moisture, oil or carmelized sugar? I have a very unscientific mind and sugar is certainly a theory I would have never considered.

Yep, where's SeanGar and the other good science apes when you need them?

[donp]

Originally Posted by Mister MaDuroo

Burned sugar.

Your observation caused me to research a bit. I've wondered about the same thing. So, I think hard - smoke comes out of the ears - and "D'uh, we know that maduro wrappers are fermented and fermentation is a process that converts sugar(s) into other compounds." And maduros are often characterized as having a special "sweetness". Where's SeanGar? He's science.

I looked to see if there is there is any remarkable amount of sugar in tobacco leaves. If they ferment, I would expect there is. I believe the dark, shiney band is actually carmelized sugar. A quick google confirms (but does not prove) my speculation. See:

http://www.lsc.org/tobacco/farming/growing/curing.html

and

http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/m.../cigars_en.xml

which mentions:

Wrapper
... The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor and the greater the oil and sugar content will be.

Makes much more sense than water, and I too have seen the effects of sugar as it burns. Good find!! and thanks!