Toscano Toscanello Rosso

Toscano Toscanello Rosso Cigars -Taste, Shape & History

Toscano are strong, intense cigars with a high nicotine proportion. Typically, the aromas and scents released when smoked are full, intense and savory. The varieties marketed may be marked by strength, sweetness and flavor. In the Toscano range, Toscano ExtraVecchio is said to be strong and determined. The Toscano production is characterized by calmness, purity and persistence of flavor. Toscano Garibaldi uses Kentucky leaves with higher sugar content in its production and its aroma tastes sweet, gentle and vigorous, suitable for beginner smokers.

Toscano Cigars History

In 1818, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand III, founded a tobacco factory that manufactured Toscano cigars. A bale of Kentucky tobacco leaves that had been drying in the open were caught in an unexpected downpour of rain. The wet tobacco started to ferment in the summer heat. It was decided that, instead of being thrown away, the fermented tobacco should be used to produce cigars to be sold in Florence. It gained popularity amongst Italians and thereafter became a regular production. Today, Toscano brand cigars are manufactured by “Manifatture Sigaro” Toscano SPA located in Lucca and Cava de’ Tirreni.

The Toscano Shape

The Toscano cigar has a characteristic elliptical shape with truncated ends that have a smaller diameter than the central part (belly). The diameter of the cigar varies depending on the type of Toscano, from 13€“16.5 mm.

The lengths of various Toscano cigars are somewhat similar, ranging from 155€“163 mm. The only exception is the Toscano “Il Moro” with notable a maximum thickness of 20 mm and a length of 230 mm.

Typically, the Toscano cigar has an uneven, sometimes lumpy, surface, with noticeable ribs of the wrapping leaves. By the absence of a sub-band, and its processing not requiring shaping, these irregularities in structure are more evident in hand-rolled cigars and are not seen as defects, but the Toscano cigar identity.

Characteristics

Traditionally, they are not smoked as a whole, but cut in the middle. They are considered dry cigars or cheroots which means they do not have to be stored in a humidor. It is very much different from the Caribbean cigars which will dry up and crack if not stored in a humidor. The Kentucky tobacco is not hygroscopic after undergoing special fermentation and can be stored for years at room temperature without losing its quality. Ideally, the Toscano cigar should have an internal humidity between 12% and 14%, and a storage humidity of between 65% and 70%.