Friday, December 05 2008
I am curious about the Connecticut wrapper. What I've read about them reveals that they come from U.S. seed but are grown now in many countries. Are there any known differences in flavor or strength noted in the varying regions of the world that cigar enthusiasts should know? Are there any more popular for certain characteristics? How did the Connecticut wrapper become so popular with the makers? I would appreciate hearing the history of its use worldwide.
- Steven Lyons in Cassville, Mo.
Like Cuban-seed tobacco, Connecticut-seed tobacco is grown in other countries, but the most popular strain grown outside the U.S. for premium cigars comes from Ecuador. Ecuador's ever-present cloud cover acts as a natural shade tent in lieu of a tapado, a large cheesecloth tent used to keep the leaves from getting too much sun; otherwise the leaves would darken and thicken. As a result, the Ecuadorian leaf is smoother in appearance - having fewer veins - and has a little more flavor, but when properly cured, both strains are mild in taste. The U.S. Connecticut plant is also a little more delicate and somewhat sweeter in flavor and aroma.
To answer your question with regard to the tobacco's popularity and history, I asked Richard Perelman of CigarCyclopedia.com to see if he could elaborate on this.
"In Colonial times, tobacco was already an important crop, and was the key to creating a sustainable economy in Virginia in the 1600s. As settlers looked for crops to plant that would be salable, tobacco was one of the most practical - it grew quickly and could be planted densely in a small amount of land - and one of the most prized in England and elsewhere in Europe, mostly for snuff and for use in pipes.
It grew well in Connecticut and has been harvested ever since. The use of shade-grown leaf on cigars stems from its elegant color, thinness (as compared to Virginia tobaccos) and taste, usually with a note of spice. Broadleaf (sun grown) is easier to grow and is thicker, but still thin enough to be combustible in cigars. And of course it is often quite sweet, which everyone seems to like.
I believe you might get more from the historical societies in Connecticut. From what I have read, it's really a simple case of commerce, based on the success of tobacco in Virginia."
- R.P.
So I took Richard's advice, and on the latter point he is correct. The following is an excerpt from an article titled, "Windsor: A Sense of History" I found at the Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum website.
"Historically, Windsor's economy has been dominated by two pursuits: tobacco farming and brick making (since 1675). In its heyday, there were more than 40 brickyards in Windsor. The last one disappeared in the 1960's. The first tobacco crop was planted in 1640 with seeds brought to Connecticut from the Virginia tobacco plantations."
Here's some additional historical information on Connecticut-grown tobacco from the website's "About the Museum" page:
"From Portland, CT northward along the Connecticut River Valley on to Massachusetts and the lower tip of Vermont, the soils, climate and the know how of the farmers produced a tobacco that was excellent for the manufacture of cigars. The settlers from Europe found the natives using tobacco in pipes. Smoking leaves rolled up into a cigar was brought to New England from the Caribbean by General Israel Putnam about 1763.
Since the early 1800's farmers in this area have grown tobacco for the two outside layers of cigars - the binder and the wrapper. A type called Shoestring, then Broadleaf and Havana Seed supplied the leaf. In the late 1800's a fine grained type imported from Sumatra began to replace the wrapper from the valley. Researchers matched Sumatran leaf by making shade tents of cloth to cut sunlight and raise humidity. The first tent was put up on River Street in Windsor in 1900.
From that beginning to the present, shade grown leaf from the valley has been recognized as the finest cigar wrapper in the world. The growing of this crop had a very strong effect on the economics of the valley towns. It brought in millions of dollars and provided a source of work for thousands of young people fourteen or more years old."
~ G.K. £
See also: The Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library website.
Above photo source: ConnecticutMuseumQuest
