Prior to the Corojo ’98 or ’99 varietals, this was the plant used for wrappers in Cuba. Historically, all premium Habanos (Cuban cigars) made for export are produced with wrapper leaf called El Corojo. It is a special strain of tobacco developed in the 1920s and ’30s (or 40′s depending on which article you read) at the famous estate of El Corojo in Cuba’s premier growing region, the Vuelta Abajo.
Originally named after a palm tree growing on the property, El Corojo is located a few miles from the town of San Luis y Martinez in the heart of the Vuelta Abajo (taken from this article)It is grown under large cheesecloth tents called tapados, as is all shade-grown wrapper tobacco. The shade helps protect the leaves from direct sunlight, giving them a more even color and texture (Excerpt from this article). If you want to get really confused on El Corojo and Corojo ’98 and Habano 2000, etc, read this. El Corojo was replaced in Cuba and other parts by more disease-resistant strains in 1997. Here’s a nice reflection on the now “extinct” strain.
