Ecuador
A country in South America that has become a prized source for wrapper tobacco. Tobaco is grown outside of Guayaquil, near the foothills of the Andes mountains. The ecosystem creates a near continuous cover of clouds, delivering the same effect as shade without the infrastructure or investment. Traditionally, Connecticut seed (yielding light, golden brown tobacco) and Sumatra seed (stronger, darker, oily tobacco) have been grown in Ecuador. In recent years Habano seed (dark, oily and very flavorful) has been introduced by Oliva Tobacco Co. of Tampa, Florida, with fine results.