Connecticut Shade leaf is among the most sought after of tobaccos, beloved for creating a rich, creamy smoke that offers a complex, yet mellow experience. The name Connecticut Shade can be the source of much confusion for cigar smokers, as "Connecticut '' has become an industry shorthand for the process of growing cigar leaf in shade tents, which don't necessarily have to be located in the Connecticut river valley.

The process is named after the practice of erecting tents made of cheesecloth or a synthetic alternative, protecting the tobacco from the sun, and promoting a lighter complexion and mellower body, once cured and fermented. Farmers in Connecticut first began growing tobacco in the shade in the early 20th century in an effort to keep up with competition from Sumatran leaf, which had begun to eclipse traditional Connecticut Broadleaf.

At first, the farmers attempted to grow Sumatran seed tobaccos, but the crop failed as the leaves were scorched by the sun. Noting the cooler, shadier growing conditions of Sumatra, farmers covered their plants in cheesecloth, and shade-grown tobacco was born. Over the years, the seed varietals used for Connecticut Shade have diverged from their Sumatran origins, creating a unique cultivar that has influenced the desired outcomes of shade-grown tobacco. Today, "Connecticut Shade'' can be produced anywhere, having more to do with how the leaf is processed than its terroir, similarly to how fire-cured tobacco is colloquially referred to as "Dark-Fired Kentucky" no matter where it comes from.

For those interested in exploring the unique possibilities of shade-grown wrappers, we've compiled a list of 10 of our most popular Connecticut Shade cigars that can serve as an introduction for new cigar smokers, or a roadmap to more shade-grown bliss for the initiated.

10. Romeo y Julieta: Reserva Real Churchill

Founded in Cuba in 1875, Romeo y Julieta is regarded as among the finest cigar manufacturers in the world, and their longtime excellence is well represented in their Reserva Real Churchill. Composed of a wrapper of shade-grown leaf from Ecuador, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, this cigar offers plenty of sweet, woodsy, flavor.

9. Montecristo: White Series Especial No. 3

Another historic Cuban brand, Montecristo has made premium cigars since 1935. Their White Series Especial No.3 comprises an Ecuadorian shade-grown wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a filer blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan leaf, making for a rich, medium-bodied smoke.

8. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Sobremesa Brûlée Blue

Founded by Steve Saka in 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust have quickly become a favorite among cigar connoisseurs. Among Dunbarton's most beloved creations, the Sobremesa Brûlée Bue features an Ecuadorian shade-grown wrapper with a Mexican San Andres binder and fillers of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobacco, all aged for a year before being rolled, resulting in an exquisite smoking experience.

7. Dapper: La Madrina Shade Belicoso

Translated from the Spanish as "The Godmother," Dapper's La Madrina Shade Belicoso is named in honor Yolanda Garfias Woo, who was instrumental in spreading awareness about the Día de los Muertos festival. Offered in a variety of vitolas and sub-blends, this iteration of La Madrina is composed of an Ecuadorian shade-grown wrapper, Mexican San Andres binder, and a filler blend of Pennsylvania Broadleaf, and Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. One of Dapper's most full-bodied cigars, this potent blend offers a powerfully complex smoking experience.

6. Arturo Fuente: Chateau King T

The Chateau King Tubo by Arturo Fuente pairs a shade-grown wrapper from the Connecticut River Valley to binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, creating a rich, medium-bodied and earthy smoke, presented in an easy to transport Tubo.

5. Hoyo de Monterrey: Excalibur No. 3 English Claro

Founded by Estelo Padron, Hoyo de Monterrey was the first company to produce Cuban-style cigars outside of the island nation, kickstarting the entire Honduran cigar industry. The Excalibur No.3 English Claro is composed of a shade-grown wrapper from the Connecticut river valley, American binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua, offering a mild, creamy smoke.

4. Black Label Trading Company: Deliverance Porcelain Robusto

Founded by artist, sommelier, and Range Rover enthusiast James Brown, Black Label Trading Company employs painstaking attention to detail for each cigar they produce, earning the appreciation of cigar connoisseurs everywhere. The Deliverance Porcelain Robusto is one such cigar, comprising an Ecuadorian shade-grown wrapper, Nicaraguan Habano binder, and fillers from Pennsylvania and Nicaragua. This unique blend creates a full-bodied yet mellow smoking experience that's made it one of our most popular options for Connecticut-wrapped cigars.

3. Rocky Patel: The Edge Connecticut Torpedo

Upon its release in 2004, The Edge was one of Rocky Patel's most powerful and full-bodied cigars. Since then, the line has expanded to include a variety of different wrappers, including the Connecticut Torpedo, composed of The Edge's base blend of a Nicaraguan binder with fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua and the addition of a Honduran shade-grown wrapper. A more medium-bodied variation of the lauded original blend, this cigar showcases the complexity and smoothness that Connecticut can offer.

2. AJ Fernandez: New World Connecticut Robusto

The fruit of a collaboration between Abdel Fernandez and his father, Ismael, the New World Connecticut features a blend of tobaccos from all over the Americas, with a wrapper of shade-grown leaf from Connecticut, a Mexican San Andres binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and Brazil, creating a mild-bodied, creamy smoking experience.

1. Drew Estate: Undercrown Shade Robusto

The Undercrown Shade Robusto is a unique reinvention of the brand's celebrated Undercrown Maduro line, trading the eponymous wrapper for one of Ecuadorian shade-grown leaf, perfectly complemented by a Sumatran binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The Undercrown Shade Robusto exemplifies the mild-bodied creamy smoke that fans of the leaf expect, with piquant notes of nuts and vanilla.

Whether one is new to Connecticut Shade or a dedicated fan of the unique leaf, the cigars above present plenty of options to explore and expand the palate according to the preferences of fellow smokers here at Smokingpipes. What are some of your favorite cigars that feature Connecticut shade? Let us know below.