The tobacco leaf has a central vein whose treatment is part of the preparation for rolling. Stripping, or destemming, makes it possible to work the material according to the function it will serve.

Cigar Aficionado describes the complete removal of the vein in wrapper and binder leaves, and a partial removal in the preparation of filler. It also notes that there are manual procedures and machines intended for this task.

Stripping makes it possible to observe a preparation that is summed up in the final object. Its extent changes according to the function of the leaf. In a demonstration, looking at which vein is removed and which material is kept helps to follow that preliminary work before the leaves are brought together in the bunch.