The Life, Death, and Rebirth of Cuba’s Most Historic Tobacco

[El Presidente]

 

 

 

The Life, Death, and Rebirth of Cuba’s Most Historic Tobacco

Cuban cigars have long been famous around the world for their quality. The Caribbean island’s combination of perfect growing conditions and unique tobacco genetics coalesce into a product that - at its best - can cost thousands of dollars for a single box. While having the right methods to properly dry, cure, and process tobacco into a world-class cigar is essential in creating this product, it all starts with having a superior plant to work with. And as it turns out, all modern Cuban tobacco varieties are descended from a single ancestor: an ancient landrace known as ‘Criollo.’ 

Across Latin America, the term criollo in reference to tobacco denotes ‘native’: varieties that were cultivated and held sacred by indigenous people for thousands of years, and which have survived into modern times. Each country or region has its own ‘Criollo’ tobacco variety. Cuba’s ‘Criollo’, however, is truly special. Not only is it an heirloom that was cultivated by the indigenous Taíno, but it has survived centuries of colonization and come to define the standard for quality in a multi-billion dollar industry.

 

Tobacco fields in Viñales. Source.

 

Prior to European contact, the Taíno in Cuba cultivated native tobacco called kohiba, which they utilized extensively for ceremonial purposes. For indigenous peoples, tobacco is perhaps the most widely revered ceremonial plant in the Americas. In Cuba, it was a centerpiece of many rituals - both in inducing visionary journeys, and as a sacred offering to spirits, deities, or ancestors. The Taíno have lived in the Greater Antilles for at least 2,000 years, and by the late 15th century had created a burgeoning civilization. Prior to contact, their population in the Caribbean likely numbered in the millions. But that was soon to change.

 

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[avaldes]

Would be very interesting if the Cubans embraced a similar experiment. I would love to taste the old Bolivar/Partagas/Monte flavors again.

[bassistheplace]

cool story

[Tstew75]

Awesome article, thanks @El Presidente

[WLC]

Cool article. Thanks for sharing it.

[j4ke7thed4wg]

Very cool. Should we try to organize a group to get some seeds, plant them and see what happens?

Might be interesting to see what we can produce.

[JohnnyO]

The use of the letter K in the Taino language is almost non-existent. The more recognized word for tobacco is cohoba which means "to chew" as Tainos originally chewed the leaves. Later the Tainos snuffed the leaf in a powder form, smoking was traditionally reserved for Behiques (once again no "K") ritual use, but the term cohoba remained. The letter K was more common in the Jivaro Indians of South America who also used tobacco in "kusupani", their version of a modern day Bar Mitzvah. John

[ha_banos]

Bloody Europeans!