Habano

Habano is the catch-all name for Cuban-seed wrapper grown outside Cuba. You'll usually see it with a country attached, as in Nicaraguan Habano or Ecuador Habano.

What it is

The seed comes from Cuba, and today it grows mainly in Ecuador and Nicaragua. The two main strains, Habano and Habano 2000, are both hybrids bred to resist the diseases that wiped out Corojo in the late 1990s. Habano 2000 is a cross of Corojo and a Cuban cigarette tobacco called Bell 61-10.

Ecuador is a newer home for it. One of the big growers there first planted Habano 2000 seed in 2001 and added Corojo '99 in 2009, and thick cloud cover shades the fields.

What it tastes like

Habano wrappers run medium to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tint. The flavor is spicy and rich, and chocolate comes up often, especially in Ecuadorian leaf.

Habano 2000 needs a full fermentation. For a while some makers rushed it onto cigars straight from the barn, and its reputation suffered.

Cigars to know

Oliva Serie V uses an Ecuador-grown wrapper from original Cuban seed. Tatuaje Havana VI pairs Ecuador Habano with Nicaraguan filler. My Father Le Bijou 1922 wears a dark Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro.