The freshly harvested leaf still has to go through preparation before it reaches rolling. Curing is one of the first stages of that journey.

Cigar Aficionado describes the hanging of the leaves in tobacco barns and the gradual loss of moisture. During the process, the colour changes from green to yellow and finally to brown. The barn’s ventilation allows the conditions to be adjusted, and the duration depends on the climate and the material being worked.

The barn is an active part of the process: ventilation is adjusted while the leaves change in appearance and lose moisture. A brown colour signals a visible transformation, but curing belongs to a sequence of preparation that continues afterwards. That is why a hanging leaf and a cigar kept in the humidor represent different stages.