We had this at the old place and it was a very popular, educational thread. Mostly for the Newb, even the veteran can learn that something he's been doing for years isn't optimal.

Have fun with this one.

I'll start.

Q: What is "toasting" and what good is it?

A: Toasting is the practice of gently applying heat to the foot of the cigar, prior to actually, "lighting". By holding the flame slightly away and beneath the foot, a "char" is achieved, which serves to both pre-warm the tobacco as well as provide a layer of "protection" against scorching the tobacco during lighting. Scorching is our greatest adversary during lighting and should be avoided at all cost. Once the foot tobacco is scorched, it permeates and ruins the entire cigar.