Seco sits in the middle of the plant. It is the leaf many blenders count on for smell and for a middle register that is neither combustion-only nor all strength. Compared with volado it has more flavor; compared with ligero it burns more willingly.
The word means “dry” in Spanish, which is a name, not a moisture spec. Seco still goes through the same barn and the same fermentation as the rest of the crop. It is often a large share of a milder cigar and a supporting share of a full one.
If a blend feels hollow — smoke without a center — the seco is one of the first places a blender looks. If it feels harsh, the problem may be ligero that was not ready, not seco that was too loud.