Corojo is a type of tobacco, primarily used in the making of wrappers for cigars. The variety was originally grown in the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba but is today grown exclusively in the Jamastran valley of Honduras and in the United States in Western Kentucky.
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Corojo was originally developed and grown by Diego Rodriguez at his farm or vega, Santa Ines del Corojo and takes its name from the farm, which was located near the town of San Luis y Martinez in the vicinity of Pinar del Rio, Cuba.Daniel Maria Rodriguez,son of Diego Rodriguez, later perfected the variety Corojo and developed the "Worlds Best Wrapper" until the Communist revelotion of Fidel Castro caused the family to leave the country forever. Diego Rodriguez & Daniel Rodriguez, sons of Daniel Maria Rodriguez later grew the Corojo variety in Tallahassee, Florida and in Nicaragua. Diego Rodriguez has two sons, Diego Daniel Rodriguez and Daniel Jose Rodriguez. Daniel Rodriguez also has two sons, Daniel Antonio Rodriguez and Diego Rene Rodriguez.[1]
Corojo was used extensively as a wrapper for many years on Cuban cigars, with the tobacco's spicy "punch" becoming a commonly associated trademark of the country's tobacco products.[1] Indeed, between the 1930s and the 1990s all Cuban cigars, regardless of brand or factory, made use of Corojo wrappers.[1] However, the variety's susceptibility to various diseases, including blue mold and black shank disease caused Cuban agronomists to search for a more hearty and reliable alternative.[2]
Cuban genetic engineers ultimately developed various hybrid forms that would not only be disease-resistant, but would also display excellent wrapper qualities.[2] Today no pure Corojo is grown in Cuba, the last harvest taking place there during the 1996/97 agricultural year.[1]
Today, both hybrid and pure strains of Corojo are used in the production of cigars. Most of the pure Corojo leaf is currently grown in Honduras' Jamastran Valley, while the hybrid varieties are more widely grown and used.[2]
Recently, pure Corojo seed has been propagated in Western Kentucky as the F1 generation Kenbano tobacco in 2007.[2] Currently the so-called "Kenbano" tobacco seed is being raised for future production of hand-made cigar blends.[2]