When it comes to selecting the perfect cigar, the wrapper plays a crucial role in the overall smoking experience. Among the wide array of wrapper types, the Colorado wrapper stands out for its distinctive appearance and balanced flavour profile.
Neither too light nor too dark, Colorado wrappers offer a harmonious blend of strength and smoothness, making them a favourite among both novice smokers and seasoned aficionados. Their rich, reddish-brown hue and complex taste notes of cedar, spice, and earthiness create a versatile smoking experience that appeals to a wide range of palates.
In this guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about Colorado cigar wrappers, from their unique colour and taste to the meticulous process of growing, harvesting, and curing the tobacco.
Whether you’re new to cigars or looking to expand your knowledge, understanding the characteristics of Colorado wrappers will help you appreciate the craftsmanship behind some of the world’s most beloved cigars.
A Colorado wrapper refers to a specific type of cigar wrapper leaf characterised by its distinct colour and balanced flavour profile. The term “Colorado” doesn’t relate to the U.S. state, but instead refers to the leaf’s hue within the cigar industry’s colour classification system.
Colorado wrappers fall in the middle of the colour spectrum, representing a perfect balance between lighter, milder wrappers and darker, more robust ones. They are often prized by cigar aficionados for offering a harmonious blend of strength, flavour, and aroma.
What Colour is a Colorado Wrapper?
The colour of a Colorado wrapper is a rich, reddish-brown, resembling the hue of polished mahogany or chestnut. It sits between the lighter Claro and the darker Maduro shades.
This reddish tint can vary slightly depending on the tobacco’s origin and curing process but generally maintains a warm, inviting tone. The appealing colour not only adds to the visual allure of the cigar but often hints at the balanced flavours within.
How Do Colorado Wrappers Taste?
Colorado wrappers offer a well-rounded flavour profile that balances sweetness, spice, and earthiness. Smokers often note subtle notes of cedar, nuts, and a gentle peppery finish.
Unlike the milder Claro wrappers or the bold Maduro varieties, Colorado wrappers strike a middle ground, providing a medium-bodied smoke that appeals to both novice and seasoned cigar enthusiasts. The complexity of the flavours allows for a nuanced smoking experience without overwhelming the palate.
What is Colorado Claro?
Colorado Claro is a variation of the standard Colorado wrapper, distinguished by its slightly lighter, reddish-tan hue. It sits between the Claro and Colorado shades on the cigar colour spectrum, offering a milder, more nuanced smoking experience compared to darker wrappers.
The flavour profile of Colorado Claro cigars tends to be smooth and creamy with subtle hints of cedar, nuts, and mild spice, making them an excellent choice for those who enjoy a medium-bodied cigar with a touch of complexity. The lighter colour is typically achieved through careful shade-growing techniques and precise fermentation processes.
What is Colorado Maduro?
Colorado Maduro is a darker variation of the Colorado wrapper, combining the rich, reddish undertones of Colorado with the deep, oily appearance typical of Maduro wrappers.
This hybrid colour results in a fuller-bodied cigar that offers a more robust flavour profile, often featuring notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and earthy spices, balanced by a slight natural sweetness.
The tobacco used for Colorado Maduro wrappers undergoes longer fermentation and ageing processes, which enhance its depth and complexity. These cigars appeal to smokers looking for a rich, satisfying experience without the overpowering strength of traditional Maduro cigars.
What Tobacco is Used for Colorado Wrappers?
Colorado is more a descriptor of colour rather than a specific type of tobacco. Various tobacco types can be used to create Colorado wrappers, but they are typically sourced from high-quality, carefully cultivated leaves known for their aesthetic appeal and flavour.
Popular varieties include Cuban-seed tobacco grown in regions like Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. The exact type of tobacco used can influence the specific flavour notes, but all Colorado wrappers share the signature balanced profile and reddish-brown appearance.
Where is Colorado Wrapper Tobacco Grown?
Colorado wrapper tobacco is predominantly grown in the rich, fertile soils of Central America and the Caribbean. Countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic are renowned for producing high-quality wrapper leaves suitable for Colorado classification.
The specific microclimates in these regions, combined with traditional farming methods, contribute to the unique characteristics of Colorado wrappers. Some premium versions are also cultivated in Ecuador, where cloud cover naturally filters sunlight, resulting in smoother, more elastic leaves.
How is Colorado Wrapper Tobacco Grown?
Tobacco destined for Colorado wrappers is typically grown under controlled conditions to ensure consistency in colour and texture.
Depending on the desired leaf characteristics, farmers may use shade-grown techniques, where tobacco plants are cultivated under large cloth canopies that diffuse sunlight, leading to thinner, more delicate leaves with a finer texture.
The soil composition, climate, and meticulous care during the growing season all play crucial roles in achieving the desired balance of colour and flavour.
How are Colorado Wrapper Leaves Harvested?
Harvesting Colorado wrapper leaves is a labour-intensive process that demands precision and timing. Leaves are picked by hand, usually from the middle section of the tobacco plant where they receive the ideal amount of sunlight and nutrients for the desired colour and flavour.
Harvesting is done in stages, ensuring that only the ripest leaves are selected at the optimal time. Care is taken to avoid damaging the leaves, as the wrapper is the most visible and delicate part of the cigar.
How are Colorado Wrapper Leaves Processed?
After harvesting, Colorado wrapper leaves undergo a multi-stage curing and fermentation process to develop their rich colour and balanced flavours.
Initially, the leaves are air-cured in barns, allowing them to dry slowly while maintaining their natural oils. This is followed by fermentation, where the leaves are stacked in piles and allowed to heat naturally, releasing ammonia and other impurities.
The fermentation process is closely monitored to prevent over-fermentation, which could darken the leaves too much. Finally, the leaves are aged for several months or even years to further refine their texture and flavour.
Examples of Cigars That Use Colorado Wrapper Leaves
Several well-known cigars feature Colorado wrappers, appealing to smokers who enjoy a balanced, medium-bodied experience.
Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Robustus II Cigar
The Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Robustus II Cigar features a Colorado Claro wrapper which has been aged for 10 years. It is a 5 ⅛ x 55 Robusto format and is the first vitola in their line that is round, rather than box pressed.
The Colorado Maduro wrapper, Dominican binder leaf and five filler tobaccos are rolled and then aged for eight months to allow the aromas to marry. This carefully curated blend creates a medium-bodied smoking indulgence with its rich creamy profile and pleasant notes of floral, cocoa and spice.
Casdagli Brothers of the Sabre Brave Robusto Cigar
The Casdagli Brothers of the Sabre Brave Robusto Cigar features a Colorado Claro wrapper from Ecuador. It offers a subtly creamy and nutty flavour, sweet aromas and a mild-medium-bodied strength. It is a 5″ x 50 Robusto format.
Take a look at our other Cigar Wrapper Guides to discover more about the different types of cigar wrapper leaves available to try!
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Oscuro
28 April 2022 by Ellie
Oscuro, meaning ‘dark’ in Spanish, is the darkest shade of wrapper you can get on a cigar. Even darker than the Maduro cigar wrapper, the Oscuro wrapper is almost black in colour. Here we take a closer look at the Oscuro cigar wrapper and how it impacts the flavour and smoke experience of cigars.
What is an Oscuro Cigar Wrapper?
‘Oscuro’ is not a type of tobacco but rather a method of making certain tobacco leaves rich and dark. An Oscuro wrapper will be almost black in colour and offer a rich, strong and unique flavour.
Tobacco types including Connecticut Broadleaf, Nicaraguan Habano, Mexican San Andres and Brazilian Mata Fina are all tobacco types that are suited to being turned into Oscuro wrappers.
How Are Oscuro Leaves Grown?
Oscuro leaves typically come from the very top of the plant – the part that gets the most sunlight. The longer these leaves remain exposed to the sunlight, the darker they become after the fermentation process.
Sometimes tobacco growers will leave the top leaves on the plant for up to 50% longer than the rest of the tobacco harvest to allow them to become darker. As they are left for longer, they essentially begin to cure while still attached to the plant.
How Are Oscuro Wrappers Cured?
Once the Oscuro leaves have been harvested, they go through an intense and long fermentation process that can last several years. This will be longer than almost every other type of cigar tobacco.
The fermenting process involves naturally introducing heat and moisture to the cigar. The Oscuro leaves will be left for shorter periods of time at a lower heat than would typically be seen with a Maduro wrapper.
After the leaves have been fermented, they will be barrel or bale aged, which helps them to develop an even darker colour.
What Do Oscuro Wrappers Taste Like?
The resulting tobacco creates a wrapper leaf that is thick, rich and sweet in flavour. They have a distinctive and pronounced flavour. Oscuro wrappers offer a stronger smoke experience.
Oscuro Cigars at Havana House
As the process for creating Oscuro wrappers is so lengthy and complex, cigars that use this wrapper type are often quite rare to find. But luckily, here at Havana House, we have a range of Oscuro cigars on offer, so you can sample this unique cigar type for yourself! These are a few we recommend:
E.P. Carrillo Seleccion Oscuro Piramides
The Oscuro Piramides from E.P. Carrillo offers a bold smoke, featuring a silky Mexican San Andres Oscuro wrapper, aged Nicaraguan long fillers and an Ecuadorian binder.
The Fellow Craft Toro Cigar from Hiram & Solomon features a Habano Oscuro wrapper, Indonesian Sumatra leaf binder and Nicaraguan Habano seed leaves in the filler. When smoking this fiery blend, you’ll be rewarded with a medium body and black pepper and earthy notes, with hints of sweetness from milk chocolate and stone fruit notes.
The Hiram & Solomon Fellow Craft range also features a Robusto cigar with an Oscuro wrapper.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto
Awarded Cigar of the Year in 2015 by Cigar Aficionado, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto is one of the best Oscuro cigars you can smoke. It is full-bodied flavour with a medium-full strength, in a Petit Robusto format, measuring 4.5″x50.
Featuring a Habano Oscuro wrapper grown in Ecuador, plus Nicaraguan long-fillers, the My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto exudes a unique and satisfying array of robust flavours.
A.J. Fernandez Viva La Vida Robusto
The Viva La Vida Robusto features 100% Nicaraguan puros tobacco, with an Oscuro 2000 wrapper covering a Corojo binder and Criollo filler, all sourced from the AJ Fernandez farms in Nicaragua. Together this offers a medium to full strength blend. As a Robusto size, the cigar measures 5″ x 54.
If you’d like to try a powerful but balanced strong cigar, then you should certainly look to add an Oscuro cigar to your humidor. Browse our full range of cigars online at Havana House.
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Candela
18 November 2021 by Ellie
Once upon a time, candela cigars were the most smoked cigars in the U.S. In fact, they were so popular in the States, that they were named as American Market Selection and were even smoked by the likes of JFK.
In recent years, the candela has had something of a comeback with top quality brands such as Illusione, La Flor Dominicana and Arturo Fuente having their own candela’s. With their comeback on the rise, we’ve chosen the candela wrapper as the next focus for our Cigar Wrapper Guide series.
What Are Candela Cigar Wrappers?
When you think of a classic cigar, you likely imagine something like the Montecristo No.4 Cigar with a brown tobacco leaf wrapper and filler tobacco. This is where the candelas really stand out because a candela cigar is green.
Yes. Green.
Between the 1950’s and 70’s, billions of cigars were smoked across the U.S. and at that time, the vast majority of them would have been candelas. In fact, they were so popular that the term ‘American Market Selection’ (AMS) was coined by major importers of Cuban cigars to designate green or candela wrappers.
Why Are Candela Wrappers Green?
In order to maintain the gorgeous green of a candela wrapper, the usually long process of curing is cut down to as little as three days. During this heat-curing process, the chlorophyll in the leaves is fixed in place, giving the wrapper that lovely green shade.
Where Do Candela Wrappers Come From?
Candela cigars (also called Double claro) originated in Cuba in the 1940s in response to the demand for milder cigars from the U.S. In order to meet this demand, tobacco manufacturers would free the lighter tobacco in order to keep it green. This was followed by a quick fire-cure that would make the leaf even greener.
This quicker curing process means that candela cigars are particularly popular with cigar manufacturers, since the cigars make it to their customers far quicker.
How Are Candela Cigars Made?
The typical tobacco used in cigar making is hung in a curing barn for 30 to 45 days (or more depending on the desired finish) to dry. In this time, the leaf turns from green to the recognisable brown we see in most cigars. For candelas, the curing process needs to be sped up in order to lock in that green colouring.
This is done by sealing the barn and cranking up the heat far hotter than usual. The temperature in a barn curing candela wrappers can reach highs of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. By exposing the leaf to such extreme heat, the dried leaf becomes crispy and fragile. The leaves then need to be carefully rehydrated in order to make them supple enough to use as wrappers.
What Do Candela Cigars Taste Like?
It was originally said that those first candela cigars were far milder than darker leaves and also sweet, tasting like pineapple. Following the Cuban Embargo, cigar makers tried to make candelas with Dominican tobacco instead, but they were said to taste sour.
Nowadays, candela cigars are still mild and are said to taste herbal, grassy and even creamy to smoke.
What Are The Best Candela Cigars?
Candela cigars may not be to everyone’s taste; Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has even admitted when he was 18 having lit up his first candela only for the cigar to make him sick. That said, if you’re looking to see if the grass really is greener on the other side, why not check out our top picks for candela cigars.
2012 by Oscar Toro Barber Pole Cigar
This cigar can’t technically be called a full candela cigar, but we’ve decided to allow it on account of its magnificent appearance. The 2012 by Oscar Barber Pole features a barber pole wrapper made of both a candela and maduro wrapper combined.
This cigar offers smooth tasting notes of caramel, coffee and even red pepper thanks to the unique blend of binder and filler beneath it’s eye-catching wrapper.
Rocky Patel The Edge Candela
Rocky Patel is a big name when it comes to premium cigars, so we shouldn’t be surprised that they’ve made an addition to their already popular line, The Edge, with a candela option. The Rocky Patel The Edge Candela cigar offers a distinct but sweet profile with tasting notes of green tea, hay, and a lovely buttery finish.
Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan Shamrock
2021 marks the third year that the Shamrock has been released and with only 1500 boxes available, cigar aficionados across the world are chomping at the bit to get their hands on a box of these beauties.
While they may not be to everyone’s liking, there’s no denying that a candela cigar would make a striking addition to any cigar lover’s collection. If you’re looking to buy premium Cuban cigars online, then why not browse our range here?
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Maduro Wrappers
25 May 2021 by Ellie
In this instalment of our cigar wrapper guide series, we’re going to be taking a more in-depth look into the classic Maduro cigar.
When it comes to cigars, there are countless ways for us to categorise them, from size to brand and even colour and taste. But perhaps the easiest way to separate our favourite smokes is by the wrapper leaf itself.
That’s because wrapper leaves tend to fall into two separate classifications: Natural and Maduro. These are often noted by colour, with Natural being on the golden blonde or tan side and Maduro stretching to near-black.
Of course, these are two very broad classifications that can be split by leaves grown in particular regions and so on.
Right now, we’re going to be focusing on the Maduro wrapper.
What is a Maduro Wrapper?
From Spanish, Maduro translates to ‘mature’ or ‘ripe’. This is a good thing to note because Maduro refers more to the wrapper’s fermentation process than anything else when it comes to cigars.
Maduro wrappers are darker and maturer than other forms of wrapper tobacco.
What Colour Are Maduro Cigars?
As we’ve mentioned above, Maduro wrappers are more on the dark side, ranging from brown – such as Colorado Maduro, otherwise know as dark natural – all the way to the almost-black Oscuro Maduro, which translates to ‘dark’.
How dark the wrapper gets depends on the intensity of the fermentation process. To withstand this process, Maduro wrappers tend to be made of much thicker leaves. This creates a much oilier wrapper and seams that are more noticeable on the roll.
Maduro wrapper leaves also tend to be harvested from the top two-third of the tobacco plant where the leaves receive far more sun exposure.
How Do Maduro Cigars Taste?
Maduro wrappers tend to taste rich and sweet, with noted flavours ranging from chocolate to peppery.
But much like a classic Royce, all cigars are a sum of their parts. That is to say, the flavour of a cigar is affected by everything that went into making it.
The Tobacco Used for Maduro Cigars
It’s typical for Maduro’s to use much heartier tobacco. This is because heartier tobacco is likely to fare better throughout the intense process.
Where is Maduro Wrapper Tobacco Grown?
Where the tobacco is grown can also have a significant impact. This is because soil and climate are two factors that profoundly affect the taste of a cigar.
How Is Maduro Wrapper Tobacco Grown?
As we mentioned above, with Maduro wrappers, the plant gets full exposure to the sun. This is achieved by removing the flowers from the top of the plant.
As such, the plant will focus all of its energy on the leaves instead. The plant produces more natural oils and sugars that are paramount to a Maduro’s typically sweet taste.
How Are Maduro Wrappers Harvested?
As with the tobacco used, the leaves for the wrappers need to withstand the heavy fermenting process. So, the thicker, the better!
The leaves are typically taken from the top two-thirds of the plant. These leaves tend to have a more intense flavour and strength than the more mellow leaves that come from further down the stalk.
How Are Maduro Wrappers Processed?
The fermenting process involves naturally introducing heat and moisture to the cigar. This is a time-consuming process that can take years for certain types of cigars.
As such, a lot of patience and skill is required to ferment a Maduro cigar correctly.
How Strong are Maduro Cigars?
Darker doesn’t mean stronger! This is a common misconception, and new cigar smokers tend to shy away from Marudo’s based on colour alone.
The fact is, the same factors that affect the taste of a cigar also apply to strength.
Since Marudo wrappers are naturally sweet, they can take the edge off a blend that seems strong in a Natural wrapper.
How Much do Marudo Cigars Cost?
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing this by now, but it varies.
A lot is taken into account when pricing cigars. This includes, but is not limited to:
Our advice is to always do your research before making any purchases to avoid disappointment.
Maduro cigars offer a and flavorful smoke that pair wonderfully with old cognacs. It is worth noting that Maduro cigars are slow-burning cigars and, as such, may not be the best choice for beginners.
Are you interested in trying a Maduro cigar? Find these and a range of other cigars in our store today!
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Sumatra Wrappers
23 April 2021 by Ellie
As part of our cigar wrapper guide series, we’ve been taking a look at some of the most popular types of tobacco that are used to create the wrappers on our favourite smokes!
Here we are exploring the wonderful Sumatra wrapper and discovering how it is grown, developed and used to make some of the best cigars on the market.
What Are Sumatra Wrappers?
Sumatra wrappers come from tobacco made on the island of Sumatra. Sumatra tobacco is also known as black tobacco, and when it is used as a wrapper leaf, it imparts mild and sweet flavour and aroma when smoking.
Cigars with Sumatra wrappers are said to have notes of cinnamon and earthiness, with floral hints and a sweet aftertaste.
Where Are Sumatra Wrappers Grown?
While the name might seem to give you a hint, Sumatra tobacco does not have to be grown in Sumatra to be qualified as a Sumatra wrapper.
Although it originated in Sumatra, the Sumatra tobacco seed is now grown in a number of cigar-producing countries around the world, including Ecuador, Nicaragua and Honduras.
Due to different environments, soil conditions and growing techniques, the same tobacco can produce different flavours and smoking experiences depending on where it is grown.
Ecuador Sumatra
It is often considered that Sumatra tobacco grown in Ecuador, known as Ecuador Sumatra, is the best version of Sumatra tobacco. In fact, most premium cigars that use Sumatra tobacco will use Ecuador Sumatra.
Ecuador Sumatra is different from Indonesian Sumatra tobacco, as it is a crossbreed between the Sumatra varietal and the Cubana tobacco varietal that originated in Cuba.
Tobacco plantations started growing in Ecuador following the nationalisation of the cigar industry in Cuba, when cigar industry leaders fled Cuba. Ecuador Sumatra was created in 1967 by blending the two varietals into one delicious tobacco.
What’s the Difference Between Indonesian and Ecuadorian Sumatra Tobacco?
Indonesian Sumatra is milder and less flavourful. This tobacco is usually used for bargain smokes.
Ecuadorian Sumatra is richer, with a bolder flavour profile. It can be medium-full bodied with a punchy, spicy flavour, making for a complex smoke.
Sumatra Wrapper Cigars to Try
Today, you can get cigars with Indonesian Sumatra wrappers or Ecuador Sumatra wrappers. Most of the Sumatra wrapper leaf used comes from Ecuador now, with premium cigars making use of Ecuador Sumatra.
Indonesian Sumatra Wrapper Cigars
J Cortes Sumatran Corona Tubos Cigar
The J Cortes Sumatran Corona Tubos Cigar is a great example of how Indonesian Sumatra tobacco is used in cigars. At £6.25, this cigar is pretty affordable in comparison to some premium brands.
Unlike most premium cigars, the J Cortes is machine-made and will come pre-cut and ready to smoke.
The Sumatran wrapper offers the cigar a light, mellow flavour and subtle aroma, making it a good choice for novice cigar smokers who are not yet accustomed to the strength of some cigars.
Woermann Navigator Christopher Columbus Sumatra Blend Cigars
If you find that you enjoy the milder taste and cheaper price of Sumatra wrapper cigars, then you can find full boxes of these smokes for less than some single premium sticks!
The Woermann Navigator Christopher Columbus Sumatra Blend Cigars come in a box of 10 for £49.95. These are machine-made shortfiller cigars that come pre-cut and ready for smoking.
As with many Sumatra cigars, these are mild but well-balanced in taste.
Ecuador Sumatra Wrapper Cigars
Rocky Patel Royale Torpedo Cigar
Using a Sumatra wrapper from Ecuador, the Rocky Patel Royale Torpedo is much fuller in flavour, offering a medium-full bodied and complex smoke.
Alongside the Ecuador Sumatra wrapper in this cigar are two binders, Shade-Grown Connecticut and Connecticut Broadleaf, as well as Nicaraguan filler tobacco, making for an exceptional smoke packed full of flavour.
In 2014, the Rocky Patel Royale Torpedo Cigar was ranked at number five in the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 Cigars of 2014.
Ashton VSG Virgin Sun Grown Robusto Cigar
The Ashton VSG Virgin Sun Grown Robusto Cigar is crafted using high-grade Ecuador Sumatra tobacco as the wrapper.
Paired with five-year-aged Dominican tobaccos, the cigar is bold and balanced. As you smoke, notes of dark chocolate, espresso and cedar will emerge, creating a powerful and complex experience.
Not sure which cigar is for you? Check out our full range of cigars online in the UK and discover your favourite smoke!
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Corojo Wrappers
20 April 2021 by Ellie
Cigars are crafted to be enjoyed, the craftsmanship qualities of a cigar are impressive, every fine detail serves a delicious purpose- including the wrapper.
If you are intending on purchasing a cigar that has been entwined in a Corojo wrapper, then look no further. Here at Havana House, we not only pride ourselves on our extensive selection of cigars but also our articles and advice!
Do Cigar Wrappers Affect The Taste?
Cigar wrappers are not only decorative features to the cigar, they also help to pronounce the flavours as you draw. When you puff, the oils from the cigar will be absorbed into the saliva, adding to how you experience its personality.
Any given wrapper will provide some sort of flavour, the main reason behind this is due to it being located on the outside of the cigar. The wrapper is more exposed to air which will bring out the added flavour.
A wrapper will usually account for around 60-90% of the cigars general flavour. So next time you find yourself browsing through cigars, we suggest you pay particular attention to the wrapper.
For example, if you’re interested in a much milder flavour, you’ll probably take more interest in a mild leaf wrapper such as the Connecticut Shade, as opposed to a robust leaf wrapper like the Corojo.
What is a Corojo Wrapper?
Corojo is a type of tobacco that is primarily used to wrap cigars. Originally the variety was grown in the Vuelta Abajo regions of Cuba, but it is now cultivated in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras as well as Kentucky, America.
There are around 50 kinds of wrapper leaves that originate from four main wrapper leaf types, these are:
Connecticut
Corojo
Habano
Maduro
What do Corojo Wrappers Taste Like?
Corojo is slightly darker in colour as opposed to a Connecticut wrapper. It is recognised for its pepper and spice. Its flavours are a common favourite among cigar smokers because of its robust flavour that can produce a unique and zesty aroma.
If you’re new to smoking, then it might be worth noting that Corojo wrappers are often tougher in comparison to other leaf wrappers and won’t smoke as easily. Instead, they will provide you with a slower smoking experience.
The History of The Corojo Wrapper
Corojo is a famed leaf of Cuba’s finest cigars that were created between the 1930s and 1990s. To this day its variants are still increasingly sought after due to the robust and complex flavour of the wrapper.
The Origins of The Corojo Wrapper
The leaf was developed during the 1930s by Diego Rodriguez at his farm in Vuelta Abajo, one of Cuba’s famed tobacco-growing regions. With the use of selective cross-breeding, the Corojo seeds were produced from Criollo seeds.
The Corojo Name Origins
The leaf’s name comes from the Santa Ines del Corojo Vega, also known as the ‘El Corojo’ plantation. The name and logo of the plantation were derived from a palm tree that Rodriguez found growing on the tobacco farm.
Rodriguez aimed to create a superior-quality wrapper for Cuban cigars. He had been working with this in mind since the early 1920s.
The result of the long years he invested into his goal was a plant that produced eight to nine pairs of leaves with fine lines for veins. When ripened the leaves turned to a dark brown and uniform colour. It was shortly recognised for its distinctively smooth but sweet, spicy and peppery flavour profile.
The Last of The Corojo Wrappers
Sadly, the leaf was susceptible to blue mould and black shank, as well as various other tobacco diseases. By the 1990s, growing Corojo and Criollo seeds came to a halt. The seeds have been replaced and crossbred with other plants that are much more resilient.
When these new leaves were compared to the characteristics of the original Corojo leaves, they were found to be every bit as successful in terms of colour, elasticity, flavour and aroma.
Hybrid Corojo Wrappers
Today Corojo still exists, but only in the form of hybrid varieties that are grown in an array of different countries. Here we have listed a few of our favourites for you to try.
Honduran Corojo
This leaf is sweet and spicy, carrying complexity in every puff. An enticing example of how strong and flavourful the Corojo wrapper is the Camacho Corojo, it perfectly demonstrates its strength and delicious flavours.
If you would like to taste a full-bodied and spicy cigar, we would recommend our Camacho Corojo Robusto. Its filler is completely Honduran and offers tons of earthy and peppery notes, along with an elongated and leathery finish.
Habano 200
Habano 200 was created by crossing Corojo with a milder Cuban tobacco. This hybrid is much more resistant to disease, as it was developed after Corojo was impacted by blue mould. The leaf is thicker than the Connecticut shade but is not as thick as the Broadleaf.
The hybrid is grown in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Honduras. The Honduran wrapper is rich and creamy, whereas the Nicaraguan wrappers are much richer and fuller-bodied.
Mexican San Andres Corojo
This leaf is distinctive because of its dark reddish-brown hue, which will usually offer a nutty flavour to the cigar.
We hope this has provided you with all the information you were looking for about Corojo wrappers. If you would like to know something specific about Corojo wrappers then please feel free to contact a member of our team who will be happy to help.
You can find other information and advice about cigars on our blog, such as our Cigar Wrapper guide about Connecticut wrappers. If you find yourself craving the taste of a complex and robust cigar then we highly recommend you take a look at our selection of Corojo cigars here, at Havana House.
Cigar Wrapper Guide: Connecticut Wrappers
2 February 2021 by Ellie
Cigars are most commonly associated with South and Central America – with countries like Cuba and the Dominican Republic springing to mind when we consider where tobacco is grown.
However, one of the main varieties of tobacco that is used in cigars actually comes from North America. The Connecticut Shade is a popular tobacco grown in the Connecticut River Valley. It is commonly used as the wrapper leaf for cigars.
We take a closer look at this type of tobacco and how it is used in the cigars we love!
Growing Tobacco in Connecticut
While tobacco normally thrives best growing near the equator, the Connecticut River Valley is a fertile area that has provided excellent tobacco-growing soil for hundreds of years.
Tobacco is grown along the Connecticut River from East Haddam up through Massachusetts and New Hampshire and into Vermont. The soil here is silty due to the conditions left by the glaciers that once covered this area.
Shade Grown Tobacco for Cigars
The Connecticut tobacco is usually shade-grown, using a cheesecloth or nylon netting to help protect the leaves from the sun’s rays and damaging winds. Shade grown tobacco has many benefits, with the leaves produced being thinner, larger, more flexible and more uniform in size. This makes shade grown tobacco leaves particularly good as wrapper leaves for cigars – which is what the Connecticut Shade is often used as.
Shade grown tobacco plants also tend to grow far bigger than those grown exposed to the elements. This means that you can produce a lot more tobacco with this growing method.
As well as providing larger leaves, the uniformity of the leaf size helps to give the cigar a much smoother smoke, making the experience more pleasant. You will typically find that shade grown tobacco leaves are far less oily and coarse than those grown in the sun.
Types of Tobacco Grown in Connecticut
Tobacco was first grown in Connecticut in 1640 in the town of Windsor. At first, the tobacco grown there was much rougher looking than it is today and was primarily used for the binder and wrapper of cigars.
Today, these rugged leaves are known as Connecticut Broadleaf, and they are still grown in the area. The Connecticut Broadleaf is grown in direct sunlight, which makes the leaves tougher and more rough-looking.
Connecticut Broadleaf was the only type of tobacco grown in Connecticut until 1900 when the Connecticut Shade was first grown!
Since then, the Connecticut Shade has become the more popular tobacco crop, due to the improved quality of these leaves.
Why is Shade Grown Tobacco Used for Cigars?
Around 1900, tobacco farmers in Connecticut were losing out on business due to the growing competition from Sumatran tobacco. At the time, the tobacco grown in Sumatra was better than the Connecticut Broadleaf, and cigar manufacturers began to use their tobacco instead.
Fearing for their livelihood, farmers in the Connecticut River Valley began planting seeds of the Sumatran tobacco. However, their initial attempts to grow the plant were unsuccessful, as the leaves became scorched by the sun.
To overcome this issue, the farmers constructed tents made from cheesecloth over the growing tobacco to help prevent damage from direct sunlight.
The shade growing method was so successful that many of the other tobacco seed varietals grown in Connecticut also started to be planted under shade.
The result of growing tobacco under shade is thin leaves, with barely-noticeable veins and a more refined shape. Following the ageing curing process, the resulting leaf is a perfect golden-brown colour that is very appealing to smoke.
Where is Tobacco Shade Grown?
Following the success of shade growing tobacco in Connecticut, many other tobacco growing regions decided to follow suit.
Now, countries including the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Nicaragua all produce some tobaccos under shade.
Connecticut-seed tobaccos are also grown in a number of other tobacco-producing regions.
However, for a tobacco to be considered ‘Connecticut Shade’, it has to be planted and grown in the Connecticut River Valley.
How Much Connecticut Shade Tobacco is Grown?
Currently, around 2,000 acres of the Connecticut River Valley is used to grow tobacco. This is a sharp decline from almost a century ago when 30,000 acres were used for the crop in the 1930s. However, with cigar smoking being much less popular now than then, it is only natural to see less land being used.
Connecticut Shade Remains Popular With Manufacturers and Smokers
Despite a drop in the number of people smoking cigars, the quality of the cigars being smoked today has certainly seen an increase. Connecticut Shade is very much still in demand – both from cigar manufacturers and cigar smokers.
Connecticut wrappers offer a refined flavour and hint of sweetness that cannot be matched by other tobaccos. This is one of many reasons that they are used as the wrapper for premium cigars. Connecticut Shade leaves are used by a large number of top cigar brands, including Montecristo, Arturo Fuente andAshton Cigars.
Connecticut wrappers are used in premium cigars, as production costs are higher than most other types of tobacco. Due to being grown in the United States, labour costs are higher than most tobacco farms in Central and South America, while the growing season is much shorter than these locations.
Have you tried a cigar that uses Connecticut tobacco before? If you want to try a cigar made using a Connecticut Shade wrapper, then why not try out some of these options below:
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