Toscani (cigar)

The Toscani (singular: Toscano) are originally cigars made in Tuscany , Italy , whose special design from heat-fermented Kentucky tobacco is based on a long tradition, which has its roots in Switzerland in particular , but is also known in Austria and Italy .

history

The exact origin of Toscano is obscure. There is only evidence that the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand III. , founded a tobacco factory in Florence in 1818 , which sold Toscani. A few years earlier, one day in the Florence area, a large amount of Kentucky tobacco was soaked in a thunderstorm and fermented in the summer heat that followed. Since this tobacco was viewed as inferior quality, it was used to roll cheap cigars, which soon enjoyed great popularity among the population, which is why regular production developed. Today the Toscani are produced by the Sigaro Toscano SpA Manifatture in Lucca and Cava de 'Tirreni . Until 2004, tobacco processing was controlled by the Monopoli di Stato .

Manufacturing

The Toscano is not actually a cigar, as the Kentucky used for it is a pipe tobacco . This undergoes a special type of fermentation in which it is moistened and dried over a charcoal fire, which results in a high level of alkaloids ( nicotine ). Traditional tobacco grown in Italy is used for the filler, while the binder is mostly imported from the USA . In recent years, however, Toscani cigars have also come onto the market, which have been supplemented with tobacco from other countries (such as the "Senesi"). The stripped tobacco leaves are then processed wet, whereby a binder is not first wrapped around the filler tobacco, as is usual with Caribbean cigars, and then the wrapper is rolled over it. The cover sheet of the Toscani is firm enough to hold the tobacco insert, it is attached with a tasteless glue made from corn starch. After production, the cigars are air-dried in a ripening store, depending on the duration of this ripening, different qualities result. Most Toscani are made by machine or with a high proportion of machines, but there are also completely hand-rolled specimens such as the "Originals" or the "Il Moro". All Toscani have a typical elliptical shape, which one would call a “Perfecto” for a Caribbean cigar, and are between 150 mm and 160 mm long. Deviations of a few millimeters are nothing unusual and seem to be intentional. The Toscano “Il Moro”, which has an average length of 230 mm, is an exception. There are also some varieties that have already been cut by half (“Toscanelli”) and are therefore ready to smoke. They are also available flavored with grappa, aniseed ( anice ) and espresso ( caffé ), vanilla ( vaniglia ) and fondente ( dark chocolate).

particularities

The Toscani are very strong, spicy cigars with a high nicotine content. Traditionally they are not smoked as a whole, but broken or cut up in the middle. They fall under the category of so-called dry cigars, i. In other words, unlike the very sensitive Caribbean tobacco, they do not have to be stored in a moist environment. The Kentucky tobacco, which is no longer hygroscopic after the special fermentation, can be stored for years at room temperature without any loss of quality.

Trivia

The Toscani are ubiquitous in Italy, which, like grappa, has almost the status of a cultural asset

It is often said that you should smoke a Toscano a day - the first half in the morning, the second in the afternoon

The saying alludes to the strength of the nicotine that you need three men to smoke a Toscano, one to smoke and two to hold it.

The Toscanelli were the favorite cigars of mountaineer Anderl Heckmair , the first to climb the Eiger north face . He also smoked them during the first ascent.

Toscano is mentioned in the stories of Giovannino Guareschi as Father Don Camillo's favorite cigar .

Web links

Manifatture Sigaro Toscano SpA website also available in English or Japanese.
200 years Toscano anniversary of the Italian cigar manufacturer