Shade grown Tobacco

Ashton CigarsDrew Estate CigarsNubDavidoff Cigars

Dec 19

You’ve been there before. We all have. You are walking into a cigar humidor to pick out a smoke or two. You notice a sign that says “Sun grown.” And somewhere nearby, it’s alternative the “Shade grown.” Let’s clear one thing up right off the bat, all tobacco is grown in the sun. You simply can’t grow the tobacco into what we all know and love as cigars without the sun.

Shade grown tobacco leaves are commonly grown with some kind of a barrier between them and the sun. Usually this is some kind of filter, originally cheesecloth, or tent, called a tapado in Spanish. This filter changes the tobacco leaf significantly and by default, your cigar experience.

Lighter Color

Shade grown tobacco tends to have a lighter color than its sun grown counterpart. The filter gives the leaf a thinner, smoother and less veiny look. This practice began in 1900 in the Connecticut Valley. This is why often times you see a Connecticut wrapped cigar and it has a lighter color, it’s really smooth and you might even think of it as less strong. Although, that is not always the case.

Flavor

Shade grown leaves will result in giving your cigar a creamy profile. You will also note that they tend to be more mild, mellow and smooth. I said “tend to be,” because that is a broad generalization. The binder and filler also play a key role in flavor and strength profiles.

Location

The process of growing tobacco leaves originated in the Connecticut Valley in 1900. This is where that famous, light look on a Connecticut wrapped cigar, comes from. The practice of growing shade grown tobacco leaves, also takes place in climates where shade and cloud cover are common. For instance, Ecuador. In fact, the mountainous, volcanic and constant cloud cover in Ecuador have started up a new term for much of the tobacco grown there, “cloud grown.” It’s a term gaining popularity.

Cigar Options

If you’re looking to try a shade grown cigar, here are a few to keep in mind. Nub Connecticut, Ashton ESG, Undercrown Shade (shown above) and the Davidoff Aniversario.