Different tobacco growing regions

Many countries grow tobacco on their soil. But depending on how rich that soil is, and on sunshine and ambient humidity, the taste of the tobacco leaf can vary. Here are a few growing regions, sorted by continent, and what sets them apart.

The Americas

Two varieties of tobacco grow in North America: Connecticut Shade, which produces a fairly mild to medium smoke, and Connecticut Broadleaf, which is darker.

Central and South America grow other varieties still, among them:

• Mexico: Sumatra-Seed is the leaf of choice for filler and binder. Mexican cigars use only local tobacco.
• Dominican Republic: close to Cuban tobacco, the leaves remain milder, very flavourful and are used in complex blends.
• Cuba: the finest tobaccos according to aficionados. The leaves are powerful and sturdy, and their spicy flavours give cigars a distinctive character.
• Ecuador: after Cuba, Ecuadorian leaves have the strongest reputation. They are found in the wrapper and the filler.
• Honduras and Nicaragua: the aromas of tobacco from these two countries are increasingly cited by those who look for full-bodied, aromatic cigars.

Africa

Cameroon is becoming a major tobacco producer. Derived from Sumatra tobacco imported from Indonesia, Cameroonian tobacco is often used for full-bodied fillers or for wrappers.

Further north, Morocco is now trying to compete on the market with local tobacco. Fairly flavourful, it is used to produce local or mild cigars.

Asia

Tobacco from Sumatra or Java, in Indonesia, also has a strong reputation in Asia. Neutral in taste, the leaves go into mild cigars.

The Philippines likewise use their own leaves for all their cigars, which have fairly mild aromas. The strain is a hybrid, but a flavourful one.