Walk into any cigar shop and you will hear the word "body" everywhere. It is the most useful thing to grasp before you buy, and the one most people get wrong.

It is about strength, not taste

Body is how heavy or powerful a cigar feels as you smoke it. It has nothing to do with flavor: a cigar can be gentle in body yet full of taste, cedar, cocoa, coffee, while another hits hard with a simple profile. Keep the two apart and everything gets clearer.

Mild, medium, full

• Mild. Smooth, low in nicotine, easy on the palate. The place to start, and a fine morning smoke.
• Medium. More depth and character, still comfortable. This is where most smokers live.
• Full. Powerful, with a real nicotine kick. For experienced palates, slowly, and never on an empty stomach.

One tip to begin: pick something lighter than you think you want. You can always go bigger; going too strong too soon tends to end the afternoon early.

Finding it on our shelves

Every cigar carries a small row of bars: the more filled, the stronger the smoke. An honest shortcut. One look and you know how it will feel.

And if you are still torn, that is what we are here for. Tell us how strong you like it and we will put the right one in your hand.