It’s easy to notice and enjoy the earthy, sweet aromas wafting through a smoke shop that stocks a decent selection of cigars and fine tobacco. It’s hard to resist the natural, alluring, and simply enjoyable smell of rolled leaves filled with sweet-smelling tobacco, even if you’re not a smoker. But how much do you know about tobacco or cigars? In this article, we’ll take a quick look at tobacco and how it’s processed to make cigars and other quality products from this fascinating plant.
How People Started Using Tobacco
Tobacco is a species of the Nicotiana genus, primarily Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica. These plants’ leaves contain nicotine, an alkaloid that stimulates your brain. For centuries, tobacco has been used for ceremonial, medicinal, and recreational purposes.
Tobacco use can be traced back to indigenous cultures in the Americas. Native American tribes first cultivated and used tobacco thousands of years ago. Indigenous people discovered that tobacco leaves could be dried, cured, smoked, chewed, or used in rituals.
Tobacco was introduced to Europeans who sailed to the Americas. As tobacco smoking spread and became more accessible, different consumption methods emerged. Usually, people smoke tobacco as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe tobacco. Another type is smokeless tobacco, which is chewed to activate nicotine and thrown away.
The Different Tobacco Types, Blends, and Varieties
Tobacco comes in different varieties, with varying species, cultivation methods, curing processes, and uses:
Nicotiana tabacum
Most commercial tobacco products are made from Nicotiana tabacum, the most widely cultivated tobacco species. It comes in many varieties, each with its own taste and nicotine content. Flavor and aroma vary depending on where it’s grown.
Nicotiana rustica
Nicotiana rustica usually has more nicotine than Nicotiana tabacum and a more robust flavor. You’ll find it in traditional and specialty tobacco products, mainly grown in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas.
Burley tobacco
Burley tobacco is air-cured and has a mild, nutty flavor with a light to medium brown color. It’s primarily grown in the United States and used in pipe tobacco, cigarette blends, and chewing tobacco.
Virginia tobacco
There’s nothing sweeter or milder than Virginia tobacco, a type with bright-leaf leaves. Generally flue-cured or air-cured, it’s used in cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco.
Turkish tobacco
Turkish tobacco is a sun-cured variety grown mainly in Eastern Mediterranean regions. Its rich, spicy, and aromatic flavor makes it stand out. It’s often used in pipe tobacco blends and certain cigarette brands.
These are just a few examples of tobacco’s many varieties and the ones you’ll see the most. Tobacco varieties all have their own unique qualities, which will affect the taste, aroma, and overall smoking experience.
How the Tobacco Process Works
Harvesting and processing tobacco involves several essential aspects that affect the final product’s quality and characteristics. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the entire process from seed to cigar.
- Cultivation
Growing tobacco plants requires specific climates and soil conditions. Planting tobacco seeds, preparing the soil, and nurturing them until they’re mature are all part of the cultivation process. Water, nutrients, and pest control all must be carefully managed. - Harvesting
The leaves of tobacco plants are harvested when they mature. The harvest timing depends on the tobacco type that’s being grown and what you’re trying to achieve. The lower leaves usually get harvested first, followed by the upper leaves as they mature. - Leaf Selection
Skilled workers pick the leaves based on maturity and quality during harvest. In the end, only the best leaves are processed, so leaves that are too young or damaged are thrown out. - Curing
Curing tobacco leaves after harvesting removes moisture, enhances flavor, helps stabilize the leaves, and prevents them from going bad. Air-curing, flue-curing, and suncuring all produce different flavors. - Fermentation
Some tobacco types go through fermentation, especially those for premium cigars and certain pipe tobaccos. After the curing process, tobacco leaves are stacked in containers or piles. The heat during fermentation changes the tobacco’s chemical makeup, improving its aroma, flavor, and smoothness. - Aging
Tobacco can be aged after fermentation for flavor development and to reduce harshness. The aging process mellows and undergoes subtle changes in taste and smell. Depending on the type of flavor profile you’re looking for, you can take a few months to several years. - Blending
Blending tobacco is the art of combining different tobacco varieties and grades to create a specific flavor. Mixers carefully blend tobacco to give a particular brand or product a distinctive taste, strength, and aroma. - Shredding or Cutting
After the tobacco has been aged and blended, it’s processed into smaller pieces. The leaves are shredded, sliced, or cut for uniform texture and size. This step ensures consistent burning and optimal flavor release when smoking or consuming. - Flavoring and Additives
Additional flavorings or additives may be introduced during processing depending on the intended product. Flavorings add to the taste or aroma of tobacco by using natural extracts or artificial ingredients. You can add different additives, such as humectants to keep it moist, preservatives to make it last longer, or other substances to make it burn better or last longer. - Manufacturing
After it’s processed, it’s made into cigarettes, cigars, pipe, and chewing tobacco. There are different manufacturing techniques depending on the product. Cigarettes, for example, are rolled into cylindrical shapes and wrapped in paper. Cigars are rolled into a tightly packed bundle and wrapped in tobacco leaf wrappers. Chewing and pipe tobacco are prepared differently and involve cutting or grinding tobacco leaves into different forms.
Where to Buy Quality Tobacco in Florida
Now you know more about the tobacco plant and the process of making cigars and other fine tobacco. So, what’s next? It’s time to visit one of World of Smoke and Vape’s many locations across Florida to check out our selection of fine cigars and tobacco products!