Kinds of tobacco

[canadianbeaver]

Here in rural Ontario, this is apple growing country. Must be 20 different varieties.

It makes sense that in Cuba or other growing regions there must be lots of varieties of tobacco too. Depending on the weather, soil type, topography, even family heritage, the kind of tobacco must vary.

When we buy a cigar, do we know what is in it?

[ajgagnon]

That's what criollo and broadleaf are all about. Besides the main categories, I think the strains are considered proprietary information.

[bradbrennan]

CB nice to see a topic from you! I'm guessing it's at least as varietal as coffee. Same seed grown in different regions, aged longer or shorter, everything changes the final result. So even if we know the seed type, what does that really tell us?! Some nc's are fairly open about it.

[garbandz]

Here in rural Ontario, this is apple growing country. Must be 20 different varieties.

It makes sense that in Cuba or other growing regions there must be lots of varieties of tobacco too. Depending on the weather, soil type, topography, even family heritage, the kind of tobacco must vary.

When we buy a cigar, do we know what is in it?

No...........glad I could clear that up.

Varieties = seed types

Kinds= different levels on the plant,different curing levels.

" weather, soil type, topography, even family heritage, the kind of tobacco must vary." These are random variables that affect tobacco,but I would not describe them as "kinds"

[PapaDisco]

And they're constantly developing new strains for bug resistance. Something like every 5 years. Have to do that so they don't spray insecticides on the leaves.

If one had a farm, it would be fun to plant some 'varietal' (to borrow from the wine industry) from 50 years ago and compare it with a current variety in use. I wonder if the really old varieties are seed banked somewhere?

[Smallclub]

When we buy a cigar, do we know what is in it?

Cigar tobacco is classified as "black tobacco".

When you buy a cigarette in North America, it contains "virginia" (lots of different varieties), or "burley", or even "oriental" or "turkish" (plus a load of chemical crap but that's an other issue ).

American Spirit makes cigarettes with "perique" tobacco, which is a burley undergoing a special treatment.

In Europe, cigarettes like Gitanes or Gauloises or Escudos are made with "brown tobacco", which is basically a toasted burley.

[earthson]

Cigar tobacco is classified as "black tobacco".

When you buy a cigarette in North America, it contains "virginia" (lots of different varieties), or "burley", or even "oriental" or "turkish" (plus a load of chemical crap but that's an other issue ).

American Spirit makes cigarettes with "perique" tobacco, which is a burley undergoing a special treatment.

In Europe, cigarettes like Gitanes or Gauloises or Escudos are made with "brown tobacco", which is basically a toasted burley.

Nicotiana tabacum

There is a persistent belief that tobacco responds to its native habitat more than many other plants (including other nightshades). While certain varietals (strains) may be planted, the plant will also reflect the terroir of its environment.

As the breeding process of tobacco is a proprietary secret, we are left to wonder what goes into producing that spicy Habano 2000 or chewy Connecticut Broadleaf. As the article linked above states, the tobacco itself is believed to be a hybrid of native Nicotianas as it has not been found truly growing wild - there has always been evidence of previous cultivation in areas where it is found unplanted.

I am have grown Nicotiana rustica as a hobby for several years. I sometimes wonder whether this leaf may not also be utilized in some cigars.

[Troels]

Cigar tobacco is classified as "black tobacco".

When you buy a cigarette in North America, it contains "virginia" (lots of different varieties), or "burley", or even "oriental" or "turkish" (plus a load of chemical crap but that's an other issue ).

American Spirit makes cigarettes with "perique" tobacco, which is a burley undergoing a special treatment.

In Europe, cigarettes like Gitanes or Gauloises or Escudos are made with "brown tobacco", which is basically a toasted burley.

Is Black tobacco then one kind of seed, while Virginia is an other?

[Smallclub]

Is Black tobacco then one kind of seed, while Virginia is an other?

Yes.

[cigcars]

Well Lisa all I know on the subject about the Havana tobacco is that the prime best region for their world famous cigars is in the Pinar del Rio section in the Vuelta Abajo region. Then there's the Vuelta Arriba section where they use the tobacco for their Jose`L. Piedras and other more affordable or regular "every day" smokes. There's a "Partido" region too but my knowledge kind of stops at that point about it! So there ya are - hope some help!

[canadianbeaver]

No...........glad I could clear that up.

Varieties = seed types

Kinds= different levels on the plant,different curing levels.

" weather, soil type, topography, even family heritage, the kind of tobacco must vary." These are random variables that affect tobacco,but I would not describe them as "kinds"

I understand the difference between variety and parts of a plant. I was am not talking about ligero etc. If we compare this to coffee, I am talking about Kenyan AAA vs Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Or a better scenario, robusta vs arabica. These two are very important since the quality, price and grading is different. To mix them could actually constitute fraud.

[canadianbeaver]

Was once doing a bit of research on weed, I don't even smoke the stuff, just curious. You can buy the seeds online out of British Columbia, Canada, no problem. The number of varieties of pot is staggering. The seed prices are PER SEED, and one site had a range from approx 75-500$ FOR 10.

Each had a photo. From this I gather tobacco must be the same. There must be a reason and it must be boldness, performance and conditions under which the plant grows. Club's description of Black, Brown etc must be right on the money for difference of use, but sub sets with these categories must be more like my apple comparison, no?

[Smallclub]

Each had a photo. From this I gather tobacco must be the same. There must be a reason and it must be boldness, performance and conditions under which the plant grows. Club's description of Black, Brown etc must be right on the money for difference of use, but sub sets with these categories must be more like my apple comparison, no?

…err… yes!

In the Balkan/Greece/Turkey area only, there are about a dozen of different "oriental" tobaccos (Smyrna, Yenidje, Sokhoum, Samsun, Drama, Katerini, etc.)

[bradbrennan]

Well if it's weed you wanna grow...I have a friend that could teach you all you need

[Ryan]

I have a book at home that I got in Havana, "El Tabaco Cubano". It lists about 50 different strains of black tobacco used in cigars. It mentions Pele d'Oro in the foreward but then doesn't list it in the main section with the others. Not too much information given on each type, there is a list for each with details such as, avg. height, number of leaves, susceptibility to diseases etc. Most of the types, I'd doubt of anybody outside Cuba has heard of them.

[canadianbeaver]

I have a book at home that I got in Havana, "El Tabaco Cubano". It lists about 50 different strains of black tobacco used in cigars. It mentions Pele d'Oro in the foreward but then doesn't list it in the main section with the others. Not too much information given on each type, there is a list for each with details such as, avg. height, number of leaves, susceptibility to diseases etc. Most of the types, I'd doubt of anybody outside Cuba has heard of them.

This is exactly what I am talking about, Ryan. Thanks. The weed thing was the closest I could think of because it was leaves.

So if we are smoking different kinds of tobacco, not just Connecticut wrappers, I wonder of they mix them up? Change them per vitola? Is that what makes them different? I always wondered if the cigars were the same leaves, just different sizes.

[Smallclub]

So if we are smoking different kinds of tobacco, not just Connecticut wrappers, I wonder of they mix them up? Change them per vitola? Is that what makes them different? I always wondered if the cigars were the same leaves, just different sizes.

If you smoke only cigars, you smoke only one "type" of tobacco: black tobacco.

Concerning habanos: http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/info-production.aspx#Tobacco

As for NC cigars, the composition is stated by the manufacturer, it's written on the boxes, on the vendor's websites, in reviews, etc.

(ligero from country X, binder from Y, filler from Z, wrapper from W, and so on)

[laficion]

I have a book at home that I got in Havana, "El Tabaco Cubano". It lists about 50 different strains of black tobacco used in cigars. It mentions Pele d'Oro in the foreward but then doesn't list it in the main section with the others. Not too much information given on each type, there is a list for each with details such as, avg. height, number of leaves, susceptibility to diseases etc. Most of the types, I'd doubt of anybody outside Cuba has heard of them.

I know a few that would be Interested In knowing, (like me also). Can you post or tell us a few from your book Andy ?

[Ryan]

I'll take a few pictures of the book tonight and post them up.

[canadianbeaver]

If you smoke only cigars, you smoke only one "type" of tobacco: black tobacco.

Concerning habanos: http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/info-production.aspx#Tobacco

As for NC cigars, the composition is stated by the manufacturer, it's written on the boxes, on the vendor's websites, in reviews, etc.

(ligero from country X, binder from Y, filler from Z, wrapper from W, and so on)

I understand about the type, SC. Black. Got it.

"The Vuelta Arriba region contains the Remedios tobacco-growing areas, which is the source of all types of leaf for José L Piedra. The soil and climate have their own distinctive character, but methods of cultivation used here are the same as in other regions."

So if one region is much different from the other, what do you think would happen if one kind was more prominent in a cigar than another?

[Dbone]

Maybe this is why they all taste the same ? except for PL

[Ryan]

Forgot about this, here are some images of pages from that book. Sorry about the quality, uploading from a phone.

[laficion]

Very interesting, thank you so much Andy for sharing this with us .

[Smallclub]

Cool. Ryan, what's the ISBN of the book (if there's any)? Thanks!

[champ]

In Europe, cigarettes like Gitanes or Gauloises or Escudos are made with "brown tobacco", which is basically a toasted burley. Thanks very interesting.I wondered why they tatsted and smell different. .