From time to time, one will come across a cigar which has a loose wrapper. This will inevitably result in the loss of some of the filler leaf and can cause a sort of chain reaction where the rest of the wrapper begins to come apart. The situation can be easily remedied.

First, forget any notions one may be harboring about wetting the wrapper with one’s tongue and sticking it back together in that fashion. This will not work. A glue must be used to stick the wrapper back together. The appropriate glue is available at just about any grocery store.

Before heading off to the store, however, make certain the problem can’t be fixed with a quick snip. Many cigar lighters have clippers attached. If the cigar isn’t unraveled too far back down the barrel, just snip off the faulty portion and enjoy the rest. This can save quite a bit of time but, if the wrapper is damaged farther down the barrel, one needs to make repairs rather than wasting all that cigar!

Pectin is sold as a powder, usually in the canning section of the grocery store. This glue is natural and there is no reason to worry about it flavoring the tobacco when it is used for the repair. One must never use any other type of glue. Even “non-toxic” glues can become very toxic when they combust and will certainly flavor the tobacco in a very undesirable way, to say nothing of the health risks of smoking something so unnatural.

To fix the cigar, mix the pectin with water until it takes on a tacky quality. Get a bit on the fingertips and apply it to the wrapper on the damaged spot. One will have to hold the wrapper in place for a few moments to allow the glue to set. Pull the fingers away gently to ensure that the wrapper is not sticking to the pectin on one’s fingertips. Examine the cigar before lighting it to make certain that it is sealed correctly and then light it as one would any other cigar. One may wish to let it sit for a while first to make certain that the glue is dried.