Criollo

Criollo means native seed. It's the old Cuban tobacco, and since the early 2000s it has made a comeback as a wrapper.

What it is

Criollo is thought to have been growing in Cuba when Columbus arrived. Sun-grown Criollo once went into every part of a Cuban cigar, until Corojo took over as the wrapper and Criollo moved mostly into the filler.

The modern leaf is usually Criollo '98, a Cuban hybrid bred to resist blue mold that can make wrapper grown under shade or in full sun. Once growers found that shade-grown Criollo made good wrapper, it took hold in Nicaragua, starting in the Jalapa Valley near the Honduran border, and the first of those cigars came out in 2001. Honduras grows it too.

What it tastes like

It depends on where it's grown. Jalapa Criollo is fairly sweet, Criollo from around Estelí is earthier and nuttier, and Honduran Criollo tends to be creamier and smoother. Some Criollo wrappers lean savory, mixing salty and sweet.

Cigars to know

Camacho Criollo uses a Honduran Criollo wrapper. La Gloria Cubana Criollo de Oro uses a hybrid of Criollo '98 and Pelo de Oro, grown in Mao in the Dominican Republic. Kristoff Criollo is wrapped in Nicaraguan Criollo.