Variations
of Tobacco
Flu-Cured Tobacco- This original variety in which the strains of flu-cured tobacco are derived is called Virginia Orinoco because of its origin in the state of Virginia. The Orinoco variety is known to be the oldest in existence. It can be distinguished from other varieties because of its wide spacing of the leaves on the stalk. The White-Stem Orinoco seems to be the best for cigarette production.
White Burley Varieties- This variety of tobacco
was discovered in Brown County, Ohio in 1864. The characteristic
that distinguishes this variety from others is the presence of a
creamy colored stalk and leaf midrib which is the large visible stem
running down the center of
the large leaves.
Southern Maryland Varieties- This variety is the
second oldest to be grown in the United States. The cured leaf of
this variety of tobacco is exceptionally light, dry, thin, low in
nicotine compared to other varieties, and has good burning
qualities.
Fire-Cured and Dark Air-Cured Varieties-
This variety of tobacco is different from the others in the fact
that the leaves are dark colored, thick, heavy, oily, and strong
mostly as a result of different soil types and production methods.
Cigar Tobacco Varieties- As the name pretty much
spells out, this variety of tobacco is
primarily used for cigar
production. This variety contains three classes of leaves on the
plant used in making cigars including: wrapper, binder, and filler.
The wrapper comes from the lower leaves while the binder comes from
the leaves right above the wrapper, and the filler comes from the
upper leaves.
Foreign Varieties- There are a large amount of varieties grown around the world which differ dramatically from the varieties grown in the United States. Each variety has its own special interest and is modified and gown to satisfy that interest in particular.
Criollo varieties- One of the early Cuban
varieties of tobacco that originated around Columbus’ era.
This type of tobacco is primarily used in the production of cigars.
Oriental varieties- Oriental variety is a variety of tobacco grown across seas that is coined the name “Turkish tobacco” and is sun-cured, highly aromatic, and small leafed. Today this variety is used for pipe and cigarette tobacco.
Perique varieties- Created by a farmer called
Pierre Chenet in 1824 by his technique of pressure-fermentation.
This tobacco is known as the “truffle of pipe tobacco” and so its
primary use is for pipe tobacco hence the name.
Wild Tobacco- Wild tobacco grows and is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and areas of South America. The botanical name for wild tobacco is Nicotiana rustica.
Now that we know the various variations that tobacco comes in,
lets look at the ways that this herb acquires nutrition by clicking
here.
Logan Van Hoof, April 2011