As part of their quality control, cigar factories employ a team to test a random selection of each Torcedor's (Cigar roller) production, so every week the work of each torcedor will have been blind tested.

A Catador will only smoke a small portion of each cigar, and will score each cigar on a scale From "Poor" to "Excellent" on the following:

• Appearance and construction
• Aroma
• Burn
• Draw
• Consistency
• Strength
• Flavour
• Quality

In any single session, they will test between 3 and 5 cigars and only drink unsweetened black tea between each cigar tested. The majority of the tests take place in mornings only.

References

• Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Havana Cigars, 3rd Ed.(2005), Richard B. Perelman ISBN 1-893273-06-7.
• Cultivating a tradition of perfection : an enthusiast's guide to Habanos, 1st Ed.(2002), writing: Mark Brutton, ISBN 0-9508573-2-7.
• "The Cigar Companion", Bati, Anwer (1997, Reprinted: 1998-2000, 2003), ISBN 1-84092-413-6