Quick Summary

• San Andrés is an indigenous Mexican tobacco, grown in the volcanic soils of the San Andrés Tuxtla Valley, prized for its thick, oily leaves.
• The native varietal (Negro San Andrés) is versatile — used as a natural wrapper, binder, or fully fermented into Maduro.
• Flavor profile: dark chocolate, damp earth, black pepper, and subtle mineral sweetness; body ranges from medium to full.
• Extended fermentation turns the leaf deep brown-black, concentrating natural sugars without added flavoring.
• Compared with Connecticut Broadleaf it is earthier and spicier; sweeter and less pepper-sharp than Habano Maduro.

What is San Andrés tobacco?

San Andrés tobacco comes from Negro San Andrés — an indigenous varietal cultivated for centuries in the humid, mineral-rich basin near Mexico’s Gulf Coast. The leaf’s natural thickness and oil content make it highly adaptable: it can remain a lighter “natural” wrapper, serve as binder or filler, or undergo prolonged high-heat fermentation to become a dark, sweet Maduro wrapper.

Growing region and cultivation details

San Andrés Tuxtla Valley lies atop volcanic ash deposits, giving the soil high mineral content and excellent water retention. Constant humidity and warm temperatures allow farmers to space plants widely and leave them in the field longer, building sugar and thickness ideal for premium cigar production.

Natural vs. Maduro applications

• Natural San Andrés: Harvested earlier and fermented at lower temperatures; color stays medium-brown, flavors lean nutty with mild cocoa.
• Maduro San Andrés: Harvested late, stacked in pilón piles that reach 120 – 135 °F, darkening the leaf to deep espresso-brown or near-black and adding chocolate-earth sweetness.

Flavor and smoking experience

Whether natural or Maduro, San Andrés delivers dense smoke with notes of dark chocolate, earthy minerality, mild black pepper, and a gentle sweetness. High oil content yields a slow, cool burn and sturdy ash.

Explore more wrappers in our Tobacco Encyclopedia.

Shop all of our Mexican San Andres Wrapped Cigars.

San Andrés vs. other popular wrappers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Andrés tobacco artificially flavored?

No — its sweetness develops naturally during fermentation; no external flavoring is added.

Why does San Andrés sometimes taste “mineral” or “gritty”?

The volcanic soil imparts subtle mineral notes that many smokers describe as a pleasant earthiness.

Are natural and Maduro San Andrés wildly different?

They share a common earthy base, but Maduro versions are darker, sweeter, and often slightly stronger due to higher-temperature fermentation.

Well-known cigars that use San Andrés wrappers?

Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro, RoMa Craft Neanderthal, Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 Tuxtla, and Crowned Heads Juarez.

Ideal beverage pairings?

Espresso, añejo tequila, or barrel-aged stout complement San Andrés’ chocolate-earth profile.