Exploring the Rich History and Flavor Profile of Connecticut Shade Tobacco

Most discussions of the tobacco used in premium cigars do not include farms in the United States. However, there is still some tobacco used in premium cigars grown in different parts of the United States - such as Florida, Kentucky, and Lousiana.

One type of tobacco used as premium cigar wrappers still comes from the United States: Connecticut Shade. Interestingly, Foundation Cigars, a premium cigar manufacturer, is headquartered in Connecticut.

According to Tobacconist Univerity "all contemporary cigar tobacco varietals originated from a handful of seed families, consumers will be most familiar with these types: Broadleaf, Central Aftrican (or Cameroon), Connecticut, Habano, Sumatra, Piloto Cubano, and Olor Dominicano."  

Finding Connecticut Shade tobacco actually grown in Connecticut is quite challenging! A 1999 CA article documented some of the problems faced by tobacco farmers in Connecticut. More recently, CRA highlighted the last Connecticut farmer growing Connecticut Shade tobacco in their CRA Newsletter.

Bailey's carries the Foundation Charer Oak Connecticut Shade with wrappers from the Connecticut River Valley and the JC Newman Brick House Double Connecticut with wrapper and binder from the United States. You can even still buy your own Connecticut Shade tobacco seeds!

Stop in, light up your favorite Connecticut Shade premium cigar, and tell us about your garden!

Photos by David Yellen