Cuban Seed/Leaf Changes Over the Years


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Good evening gents, we were discussing the Boli Finos on another cigar site which sees considerably less traffic than this one and the subject of a blend change around 2008 came up. I could not find anything official on the subject but do recall reading about seed/leaf varietal additions and changes circa '98 and 2007. Again I spent some time searching around various online publications, blogs, books I have at home etc. and couldnt find where I read that. Another gracious botl purported that there was only one seed/leaf change and that occurred in 1995. That is contrary to my own recollection. 

Id like to pool the collective wisdom of the FoH community to add some clarity to the discussion. What blend changes, and/or seed changes are you aware of that Habanos SA has made over the last 30 years?

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I am interested in this also.  I only know of the change in the 90's.

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2 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

...Habanos 2000 was strained to produce Capero No. 1 and Criollo 2006 and then Corojo 2012 (which was used successfully on Robainas plantation this past season). 

My understanding is that there are 4 strains being used currently.  Lifecyscle of a strain is  5-7 years with new strains being introduced progressively. 

Not aware of this at all, great info. Very happy that the experimentation with strains apparently continues. I think it's essential for continued improvements, which I think have certainly had a linear upward trend overall since 2002 despite some dips every 3-5 years. The lifecycle span of 5-7 years you mentioned seems to fit quite well with the peaks in quality since 2002. 03-04, 07-08, 13-15. Let's hope for further refinements.

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Thanks for taking the time to reply. I know myself and others find this information very helpful. 

So we have:
Up until ~1992 El Corojo
1995 (blend changes to ration remaining El Corojo ligero)
~1996-1998 Criollo 98 & 99 developed and used with remaining El Corojo
2000 Habana 2000 (curing changes implemented)
??? Capero No. 1 (strained from Habana 2000)
2006 Criollo 2006
2012 Corojo 2012 

2015 -   In Pinar, varieties of Criollo, Criollo 98 and Corojo 2006, and Habana 92 planted. article 

Habana 2000, Habana 92, Criollo 99, Criollo 2006, Corojo 2006 and Corojo 2012 are current strains being blended into Cuban cigars as of 2016.

 

Official statements from Tabacuba would obv be more helpful than trying to piece together the mystery from farm visits, blogs etc. What of the Cuban Black/Shade Grown Negro? The Partagas EL 2014 Seleccion Privada certainly tasted like Corojo leaf imo and the timing would also line up with Corojo grown in 2012 (EL 2 yr aging). 

 

I know it s a lot of questions, but its definitely a healthy and worthwhile discussion so far. So finally, would anyone care to comment on Boli Finos post ~2008? 

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There was an excellent article in CA about one year ago. Unfortunately, it seems not to be online anymore (perhaps someone can dig this up, it had been posted here before). It was an interview with Eumelio Espino, the man in charge and the main responsible for the development of the new strains in response to the tobacco disease issues. There is also info to be found in the publications of Adriano Rius, I think.

I haven't the time at the moment to check, but from mind, according to Espino, the 1994 harvest had been the last utilizing the old strains. Which had then been replaced almost completely by the new hybrids in the following season. Thus, from my understanding (acc. to the general aging regime), in terms of the finished product, Corojo for wrappers would have been replaced by 1995/96 with Habana 2000, Criollo for binder and filler around 96/97, 1998 latest, with Habana 92 (perhaps with the exception of Cohiba).

As Rob sais, there is ongoing research and development in tobacco strains. Not sure whether that indeed follows a fixed 5-7 year cycle, but there certainly was no halt after Habana 2000 and Habana 92 (they went back to naming them Criollo and Corojo...;), counting up to 2010 and 2012 etc.).

I must say I don't buy too much into the idea of that purportedly strong influence of the first Corojo replacement. With all the discussion on the original Corojo, what seems to be always forgotten is that the tobacco strain originally used for filler and binder had changed too, when Habana 92 had replaced the original Criollo. Ok, that woud lead us again to the old debate of the effect of the wrapper leaf on cigar taste....

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