Key Things To Know About Shade-Grown Cigars
If you start looking at quality, high-end cigars, you will soon notice a number of them that are marketed as "shade-grown" cigars. This is common with better-known brands like Drew Estate cigars. Shade-grown cigars can be a nice thing to try if you are looking for a new cigar experience to expand your palate. However, there are a few things to know about these cigars.
It's the wrapper that is grown in the shade
When you see a cigar advertised as being "shade grown," that generally only refers to the wrapper of the cigar. The ground or shredded tobacco used on the inside of the cigar is not typically shade grown. However, this doesn't make a huge difference in the flavor of the cigar. Much of the cigar's flavor comes from the outer wrapper, so using shade-grown tobacco leaves to wrap the cigar gives it a very different flavor, even if the same insides are used.
Shade-grown tobacco is grown in a tent
You may picture shade-grown tobacco being planted under trees or in the shade of a building. But actually, the cigar industry has created a better way of growing in the shade. They use a special tent to cover the tobacco plants. This tent lets air flow around the leaves, and it does let the plant get some sun so it keeps growing. However, the tent greatly reduces the amount of sunlight the plant receives. The tents used for this purpose are typically made from thin canvas, similar to cheesecloth.
Shade-grown cigars have a sweeter flavor
Before buying a shade-grown cigar, you of course will want to know what the cigar will taste like. Typically, the main difference is that shade-grown tobacco is sweeter and milder than tobacco grown in the sun. Some people may try a shade-grown cigar and decide it's a bit mild for their taste, but you're unlikely to try the cigar and decide it's too potent. As such, shade-grown cigars are a good choice for newer cigar smokers and for those who only smoke on occasion.
If you see a good cigar company offering shade-grown cigars, it's a good idea to buy one. Now that you know what shade-grown really means, how the tobacco is shaded, and what flavors you can expect, you're prepared to enjoy this type of cigar to the fullest — or gift it to someone else so they can do the same.
