|
Cuba
& Cigars
Varieties
Types
of tobacco plants cultivated in Cuba and their characteristics
The
type of tobacco is defined according to the industrial use of the
leaves elaborating raw material for pure, dark and light cigars
and for tobacco-pipe. In this document we will make special reference
to the leaves required for the elaboration of cigars, because with
them the famous Habanos are elaborated.
A cigar
is conformed by three types of leaves with different characteristics
and therefore they complete very particular functions, this leaves
receive the following names: wrapper, binder and fillers.
Tobacco
for wrappers is cultivated under an awning that receives the name
of cheese cloth with the purpose of reducing solar radiation between
a 27 and 32 percent. A cover of good quality should complete the
following requirements:
-Fine
leaves of velvet texture.
-More than 40 cm of longitude and width bigger than 20 cm.
-Poor development of the nerviations.
-Leaves without mechanical damages and without being affected by
plagues or illnesses.
-High contents of essential oils or resin that facilitate appropriate
elasticity.
-Clear and uniform colors.
-Very good combustibility.
Now
then, if a wrapper also has the requirements mentioned above and
also has these others, then we are in presence of the best wrapper
allover the world, the Cuban one.
- Appropriate
contents of nicotine.
- Satisfactory flavor.
- Particular and pleasant aroma.
- Appropriate contents of nitrogenous substances.
The
leaves for binder are obtained preferably from sun grown tobacco
although certain leaves of shade grown tobacco that are not classified
as wrappers are also used with this end. The leaves dedicated to
this end should have the following requirements:
- Porous
leaves that allow an appropriate circulation of the air.
- Leaves from the central or inferior area of the stem.
- Appropriate contents of nitrogenous substances.
- Appropriate aroma.
- Little development of the nerviations.
- Satisfactory elasticity.
- Very good combustibility.
The
leaves for fillers have as fundamental function to give the intrinsic
characteristics of a cigar, this type of tobacco is cultivated at
full solar exposition because the first thing is that the leaves
should be produced with high chemical composition. Next we relate
the most excellent qualities in tobacco used for fillers in Pinar
del Rio.
- Relatively
high contents of nicotine.
- Strong and substantial flavor.
- Characteristic aroma of the area of production.
- Appropriate contents of essential oils and resins.
- Low fragility and satisfactory elasticity.
- Very good combustibility.
Origin
and characteristics of the different varieties
`Habana
92 '
The
variety `Habana 92 ' is product of a crossing between the variety
`Corojo ' of Cuban origin and the Polish variety ' R x T ' from
which it inherits the resistance to the Blue Mold (Peronospora tabacina
Adam).
Cultivated
in the sun it presents a height with inflorescence between 160 and
170 cm, with a variable number of useful leaves which according
to the soil where be cultivated can have from 14 to 18 cm. The maximum
width of these leaves can be between 20 and 25 cm, with an average
longitude of 40-45 cm. The leaves are also characterized by their
brilliant green color and to be very narrow in their base. The average
potential of yield of this variety in the harvest is around 500
quintals per chivalries and in the sun, with only a good cutting
of the leaves of the second cutting, in the brown soils can average
about 800. It is resistant to the Blue Mold, the Blackish Paw (Phytophthora
parasitica var. nicotianae), the Environmental and Tolerant Necrosis
and the Orobanche Ramosa L.
`Habana
2000 '
This
variety is derived from a crossing between the variety `Corojo '
and a non commercial variety of Cuban dark tobacco, the `Habana
2.1.1 ', from which is derived its resistance to the Gray Mold.
The ' Havana 2000 ' in the sun reaches an average height with inflorescence
between 170 and 180 cm, with 14-16 leaves per plant.
Although
in very rich soils it can develop up to 18 leaves per plant, the
average distance between the leaves is of 7 cm and the length and
width of the biggest leaves oscillate between 48-52 cm and 24-28
cm, respectively. It possesses an average potential of agricultural
yield, of about 500 quintals when it is cultivated in the sun and
it is harvested in leaves and of about 750 net quintals when it
is cultivated in the sun and it is harvested cutting the stem with
two leaves. Cultivated in the sun and harvested in leaves, it presents
a high yield of binder. It is highly resistant to the Blackish Paw,
the Blue Mold and moderately resistant to the environmental necrosis.
It is recommended for cultivation under cloth.
`Criollo
98 '
It
is originated from a crossing between the varieties ' Havana 92'
and `Habana P.R'. Cultivated in the sun it produces from 14 to 16
useful leaves per plant and it reaches an average height with inflorescence
from 150-160 cm, given this small height because it possesses an
average distance between nodes of only 5 cm, aspect that distinguishes
it from the rest of the Cuban varieties of dark tobacco. The biggest
leaf presents an average longitude of 48-52 cm and a width of 24-28
cm. Its average potential yield cultivated in the sun and strung
is of about 500 quintals per chivalries and in the sun en palo of
800 net quintals per chivalry. It is resistant to the Blue Mold,
the Blackish Paw and the Tobacco Mosaic Virus and moderately resistant
to the Environmental Necrosis. It is recommended for cultivation
under cloth, in the sun being strung and in the sun en palo. Cultivated
in the sun being strung it has high yield of binder.
`Corojo
99 '
It
is sister of the variety `Criollo 98 ', that is to say, it was originated
from the same crossing between the varieties ' Havana 92' and `Habana
P.R'. Cultivated in the sun it presents a height with an average
inflorescence, of 160-170 cm, with 14-16 useful leaves per plant.
The dimensions of the biggest leaf are between 48 and 52 cm for
the longitude and 24-28 cm for the width. The average distance between
the leaves, is of about 7 cm. Its agricultural potential yield is
of about 500 quintal per chivalries, with a high percent of binder
when it is cultivated in the sun being strung. It is resistant to
the Blue Mold, the Blackish Paw and the Tobacco Mosaic Virus and
the Environmental Necrosis. It is recommended for cultivation under
cloth, in the sun being strung.
Other
varieties of dark tobacco cultivated in Cuba
`Habana
Vuelta Arriba'
It was obtained from a crossing between the variety
`Corojo ' and the Australian variety `GA-955 ', from which it inherited
the resistance against the Blue Moss. It presents an average height
with inflorescence between 180 and 190 cm, with a number of useful
leaves per plant from 14 to 16 and a distance between them of 8
cm. The dimensions of the biggest leaves are of 43-48 cm (longitude)
and of 28-30 cm (width). Its average potential of yield if cultivated
in the sun (strung) is of some 550 quintals/chivalry and cultivated
in the sun (en palo), about 900 net quintals per chivalry. It is
resistant to the Blue Mold, the Blackish Paw, and the Tobacco Mosaic
virus and moderately resistant to the Environmental Necrosis and
the Rhizoctonia solani. It is recommended for the cultivation of
sun grown (strung) and sun grown (en palo) tobacco
Variety
`Sancti-Spfritus 96'
It is a result of the crossing between the variety
"Pelo de Oro" and the Polish variety "R x T",
from which it inherits its resistance against the Blue Moss. It
presents an average height with inflorescence of 145-155 cm, with
12-14 useful leaves per plant and a distance between nodes of 8
cm. Its average potential of yield is of about 800 net quintals
per chivalry, due to its high yield in capaduras. It is resistant
to the Blue Mold, the Blackish Paw and the Environmental Necrosis.
It is recommended for cultivation in the sun (en palo).
Back
to Cigars Home >>
Links
& Sources:
|
