United States

The US grows two of the most important wrapper leaves in the world, and Tampa was once known as the cigar capital of the world.

Where it grows

The Connecticut River Valley, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, grows Connecticut Shade under cheesecloth tents that filter the sun and keep the leaf thin and pale. The same valley grows Connecticut Broadleaf in full sun, a thick, veiny leaf that becomes one of the classic maduro wrappers. Lancaster County in Pennsylvania grows broadleaf too, mostly for binder and filler.

Cigar City

Tampa's Ybor City was built around cigar factories starting in 1886 and earned the nickname Cigar City. J.C. Newman still rolls cigars there in its El Reloj factory, which dates to 1910.

Names you'll see

Connecticut Shade wraps many classic mild cigars, including the Macanudo Cafe. Connecticut Broadleaf covers maduros like the Liga Privada No. 9.