Using Connecticut tobacco in cigars is a tradition that goes back a long way, but the modern cigar industry has spawned a very popular sibling: Ecuador Connecticut tobacco.
A wealth of popular cigars are wrapped in Ecuador Connecticut leaf, including the Nub Connecticut, Avo Classic, Perdomo 20th Anniversary Connecticut, Davidoff Signature No. 2, Drew Estate Undercrown Shade, Camacho Connecticut, and lots more. There are also chart-toppers like Cigar Aficionado’s #10 cigar of the year, the 95-point Henry Clay War Hawk.
But if it’s Connecticut, how is it also Ecuador? What gives?
Well, it all goes back to how Connecticut tobacco is grown. There are two main types of Connecticut leaf out there: broadleaf (which is turned into Maduro) and shade. Connecticut shade is grown under partial cover, which keeps the leaf from taking too much sun, and which results in the qualities we’ve all come to know and love: that mild creamy, toasty, cedary profile that Connecticut shade-grown tobacco gives us time and time again. But this type of tobacco is grown in the Connecticut River Valley. Ecuador Connecticut, as you might expect, is grown in Ecuador.
Why? Glad you asked!
Ecuador features some naturally shady growing regions, where the frequent partial cloud cover results in a leaf with similar properties to that grown under shade in Connecticut. Connecticut seed tobacco is planted in Ecuador, cultivated, and comes out quite nice, with similar properties to that grown stateside.
There are two other huge advantages that business-minded types might already be able to guess. Growing in Ecuador is a lot cheaper than growing in America. And transporting tobacco from Ecuador to locations in Latin America like Nicaragua where so many cigar-making facilities are can also be quicker and more cost-effective. So Ecuador Connecticut tobacco makes sense financially while also delivering a similar smoking experience to genuine Connecticut leaf.
As you probably know, Ecuador Connecticut is primarily used as a wrapper leaf. These leaves typically are harvested from the bottom of the tobacco plant stalk, where the leaves grow larger and more sturdy. This makes them easier to work with when wrapping a blend. They also need to be blemish-free so that the ultimate cigar product will be beautiful and delicious. Ecuador Connecticut wrappers fit the bill from every perspective. But, we’ll be a bit biased and say that there’s always going to be a place for true blue homegrown Connecticut tobacco raised right here in the USA.
Please browse our selection of Ecuador Connecticut wrapper cigars at your leisure.
