Color Sorting
One of the final steps in the cigar production process, color sorting is done by specialized workers operating in brightly lit areas of a cigar factory. They spread out cigars on a stark black or bright white table and examine color, arranging boxes of cigars with cigars of very similar color. The process requires a keen eye for color, as there may be as many as 20 slight color variations. A sorter may also reject cigars if they have any visible flaws, such as cracks or blemishes.