The History of Connecticut Tobacco

[Starscream]

Some more cigar history for you guys here at CA. Enjoy!





History and Facts on Connecticut Tobacco

Connecticut tobacco comes from the area from Portland, CT northward following the Connecticut River Valley on to Massachusetts and the lower tip of Vermont. This area contains proper soil, rich in nutrients necessary for tobacco farming, perfect climate, and a know-how passed down through the ages by farmers, all of which contribute to the production of tobacco that is excellent for cigar manufacturing. Tobacco was used in Connecticut prior to English settlements. Natives were using tobacco in pipes already, but it was not until around 1763 that cigars were brought to New England by General Israel Putnam.

Tobacco is grown in many regions in North America, but Connecticut produces the only tobacco that most deem worthy of use for cigar manufacturing. Early colonies, such as Virginia relied heavily on tobacco crops as their main source of income. But no other region can compete w/ the area in the Connecticut River Valley, as their soil and climate that create an original quality of tobacco that can be used especially for wrappers in cigar manufacturing. Virginia, Kentucky, and other Southern states have not preserved their soil as the Connecticut River Valley has. Even areas in upper Connecticut and Massachusetts do not enjoy the same successes as this area has. Cattle and plenty of pasture have been critical to the success of the fertile soil in this region. Fertilizers have had little success; it is only the manure of livestock which replenishes the soil allowing for proper conditions.

The wealth that tobacco crop brought to Connecticut was great. The crop has aided greatly to the buildup of wealth of certain cities, such as Hartford. The export of this tobacco in the 19th century was remarkable. It was exported to Cuba and used for wrapper in their finest cigars and exported back. It was exported to Hamburg and made into the finest cigars sold in Germany.

Tobacco has been produced here by colonists since the mid 18th century, but it was not until the early 19th century that it was produced for the outer layers of a cigar, the binder and wrapper. Styles produced were Shoestring, Broadleaf, and Havana seed provided the leaf. In the late 19th century, a fine grain from Sumatra started to replace the wrapper from this valley. In order to stay in production, researchers attempted to match this Sumatra leaf by making shade tents to block sunlight and raise humidity. The first tent was put up on River Street in Windsor in 1900. From that point on to the present, Connecticut Shade wrapper was considered by some to be the finest wrapper in the world.


Sources:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...B667838F669FDE

http://www.tobaccohistsoc.org/about.htm

[shilala]

Cool article. I had no idea shade wrapper dated back that far.

[Skywalker]

Another nice history lesson Andy!!!

[sofaman]

Great read Thanks for posting this

[gnukfu]

Thanks for the info! I drive past many of those fields on the way to work every day....it's so tempting to walk into one of the drying barns on days when they have them open and the tobacco is hanging there.

[RichardW]

Nice thread -- anyone have photos?

[G G]

Interesting reading. Thanks for posting.

Another great read, Andy. Thanks again and keep them coming

[Jay Hemingway]

nice post!

i always found it very interesting that many cigar companies used tobacco grown in CT for thier wrappers. i would never had thought of CT as being known for their tobacco, until becoming a cigar smoker.