Tobacco growing in Cuba

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Tobacco growing and cigar production in Cuba form a continuous production chain .

Cultivation

There are four main growing areas for tobacco in Cuba. These are on the one hand the Vuelta Abajo , Semi Vuelta, Partido and the Vuelto Arriba (again subdivided into Remedios and Oriente ). The Vuelta Abajo region has always been the region with the best climatic conditions. These four main tobacco growing areas have emerged since the tobacco plant was cultivated and have not changed or relocated. The total tobacco growing area in Cuba is 16,400 hectares (2011). Two types of tobacco plants are cultivated in Cuba : the Corojo plant and the Criollo plant. The difference between the plants is in the taste. While the not so intense tasting Corojo plant is used almost exclusively for cover, filler and dividing sheets due to its size, the top part (ligero) of the stronger and more intense Criollo plant is used for the inner part of a cigar. The criollo plant is the most original tobacco plant in Cuba. The tobacco plant belongs to the nightshade family . Only those leaves of the plant that have flowers are used for tobacco production. The growing season begins in June / July with the cultivation and digging of the soil. This is used to supply oxygen and promote the uptake of nutrients by the soil. Since suitable machines are not manufactured in Cuba and these are difficult to transport to the island of Cuba, the method of plowing by oxen, which has been tried and tested for centuries, is used. The seeds and fertilizers are provided by the state. At the beginning of September you start to grow the seeds until they are about 20 cm tall. Then they are placed in rows on the field. After 45 to 50 days, the plants are between one and two meters high. When growing tobacco plants, it is important to constantly remove the flowers.

harvest

The harvest of the tobacco leaves begins in January and takes several weeks because there are several passes and not everything can be harvested in one day. Each tobacco leaf is carefully checked during harvest. The size and maturity are important. This assessment of the tobacco leaves can be carried out up to 150 times. The basic stock of tobacco plants per farmer is between 25,000 and 40,000 plants.

Drying

The harvested leaves are sewn into bundles with threads and hung on wooden poles. Many traditions have shown that it is best if the roof is made of palm leaves. The palm leaves allow perfect gas exchange. It is also important that the temperature and humidity in the drying huts for tobacco leaves are regulated. Small wooden windows are attached for this. After 45 to 60 days, the drying process changes the leaf. It loses volume and takes on a golden brown color from green to yellow. Here, too, the tobacco leaves are checked daily by experts and put around 6 times on average.

fermentation

Fermentation is essential for a good quality cigar . Foreign substances are exuded from the tobacco leaves. It is divided into two fermentation steps. The tobacco leaves are brought to the nearest fermentation houses in large bales. There the leaves are sorted into different qualities in advance by a trained eye. The midrib of the leaf is carefully removed and then they are stacked in piles. In this step the tobacco develops its aroma. It is important here that the tobacco is shifted several times in order to prevent rot and spoilage of the goods. From the fermentation production stage, everything is under state control and is no longer in private hands. The second fermentation of the tobacco leaves is used for refinement. Unwanted substances such as tar , ammonia and too much nicotine are exuded when the air humidity is high. This fermentation step takes about two to 12 days.

storage

As the last step before processing into a cigar, the tobacco leaves are wrapped in palm fronds and stored for up to 3 years. Similar to whiskey, this storage serves to further develop the aroma. The longer the tobacco is stored, the better the quality. With tobacco, however, one has to make sure that it is not “stored dead”. Eventually it loses its aroma and is too dry to use. A trained eye and a trained nose can recognize the perfect degree of ripeness from the appearance and smell of the tobacco.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kulke E. / FINITE W. / Suwała L .; Kuba report on the main excursion in 2013; Institute of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin; Berlin; P. 33 2013
  2. ↑ MANSO; Seedtime in Pinar del Rio tobacco nurseries; 2011 http://www.cubaheadlines.com/2011/09/16/33719/seedtime_in_pinar_del_rio_tobacco_nurseries.html
  3. ↑ KULKE E.; Cuba: on tour; Heidelberg 2011 ISBN 3827425964
  4. ↑ KLIMA AU KULKE E .; Cuba - Report on the main economic and geographic excursion 1999; Geographical Institute Humboldt University Berlin; Tobacco; Berlin ; Pp. 33-37 2000
  5. ↑ ibid.
  6. ↑ ibid.
  7. ↑ KOCZY M.; Everything about the processing of Cuban cigars; 2014 http://www.kubanischezigarren.net/alles-uber-die-verarbeitung-kubanischer-zigarren/
  8. ↑ KLIMA AU KULKE E .; Cuba - Report on the main economic and geographical excursion 1999; Geographical Institute Humboldt University Berlin; Tobacco; Berlin ; Pp. 33-37 2000
  9. ↑ ibid.
  10. ↑ of Nine JEHLE; Sauce, re-ferment and store tobacco leaves; 2015 http://www.tabakanbau.de/de/poolinfo.php?id=8317