TOBACCO

Cured leaves of several species of

Nicotiana, used usually after aging and
processing for the purpose of smoking,
chewing, snuffing and extraction of
nicotine.
Nicotine and related alcaloids of
tobacco form habit.

HISTORY

First cultivated by the Indians of north and

south America when Christopher Columbus
and other early explorers arrived in America.
As per Indians it was Supposed to have
medicinal properties.
The genus Nicotiana was Named after the
French ambassador at Lisbon named Jean
Nicot.
Later the seed of N. tabacum was sent to
queen of France named Catherine de
Medicis.
From Europe tobacco was taken by
Portuguese and Spanish sailors to the other
parts of the world.

COMPOSITION

Nicotine, the compound occurs in various

proportions combined with organic acids
(malic, citric).
Factors which decide the nicotine content of
tobacco are:
The species, variety
The environment in which the plant is grown,
primarily the soil and climate
Curing and handling methods employed
The position on the plant from which the
leaves are taken.

VARIETIES

LATAKIA
Strong and spicy
Made from plants grown in northern Cyria,
Cyprus and other eastern countries
Cured by the fire of the Asiatic oak, which
turns it into a dark shade. Sometimes cow
dung or camel dung is used as fuel for the
fire. Therefore it has a rich and heavy taste
with aroma having smoky characteristic.
Should not exceed 40-50% as excess tend to
make it dry and harsh.
E.g. Early Morning, Red Rapperee

PERIQUE
A red burley type
Grown and processed in Lousiana, new
orleans
Used to increase the strength of pipe mixture
Blended with virginia
E.g. Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture
PIPE TOBACCO
Virginia is the most popular type used in pipe
tobacco
Mild in nature and has the highest level of
sugar which gives it a light taste after blending.
E.g. Dunhill, Marlin Flake

CIGARETTE TOBACCO
Virginian Rhodesian leaves are used
separately or in blended mixtures.
BURLEY
Popular variety
Contains no sugar
Dry and aromatic
Easily absorbs flavourings
Burns slowly
E.g. Old English, Half and Half

ORIENTAL
Tobacco from Turkey, Balkans and Russia
Sour, dry and dusty type of aroma
E.g. Cavella, Bursa, Samsun
Used in making Egyptian, Russian and Arabic
cigarettes
KENTUCKY
Specially treated burley tobacco
Produced in Kentucky
Fire cured
High nicotine content
Unique flavour

CAVENDISH
Mainly made from Virginia and
sometimes from burley
Comes in variety of flavours like
chocolate, vanilla, rum, coconut, etc.

PROCESSING

The cured leaves are spread out on the floor

in a lightly compressed mass as they are too
dry for immediate use.
Bundles of tobacco are separated and put in
steam heated chambers with the temperature
ranging from 120-140 F.
Stalks and midribs are removed by hand or
machine.
The stripped leaves are left in ordinary heaps
for about 24 hours during which they get
additional moisture which renders them
supple and usable.

Blending of mixtures: by an expert

Usually stronger tobaccos like Latiaka and
Perique are blended with lighter ones like pipe
tobacco.
When different brands have been made, the
leaves are compressed in the form of a hard
cake.
Shredded finally or coarsely with knives and
Shredding machine.
Any excess moisture is removed by panning or
stoving-a process which brings out aroma.
Spread out evenly on trays it to cool down to the
temperature of air.
Testing is done to ensure the moisture content
does not exceed the legal limit i.e. 32%.

CIGAR

Originated in Dominican Republic as the

climatic condition were suitable to grow
tobacco.
It requires tropical sun, rich and moist soil.
COMPOSITION
Consist of three parts
FILLER
The inner core that forms the body and
shape of the cigar.
BINDER
The leaf in which the filler is wrapped to form
cigar bunch.

TYPES

100% hand made

Hand-rolled
Machine made

WRAPPER
The outer covering of cigar which consists of
a ribbon leaf rolled spirally around the cigar
bunch.
Should be strong, elastic and silky in texture
and of even colour, good flavour and burning
properties.
The most expensive leaf is used in cigars,
contributes 25-30% to taste and aroma.

PROCESSING

The cured leaf is fermented before use

in cigar in order to reduce the content of
harsh and bitter compounds and to
develop mild aromatic properties of the
leaf.
Wrapper leaves are tied on bundle of
40-50 leaves.
Heat is generated in bulk which aids in
fermentation.

BRANDING AND PACKAGING

The band is placed on the cigar or printed

on the protective covering which is usually
cellophane.
This preserves the natural humidostatic
condition of cigar and is accomplished by
machine at the rate of 30000 cigars daily
with band, cellophane tinfoil or any other
combination of similar wrapping.

SIZE & SHAPE

Depends on 2 factors as they influence the

cigar taste
64 rings- 1 inch
1ring- 1/64
CORONA- a straight shape cigar with
rounded top about 5.5 inches long.
PETIT CORONA OR CORONA CHICAabout 5 inches long
TRES PETIT CORONA- about 4.25 inches
HALF A CORONA- about 3.75 inches long
LONSDALE- same shape as corona about
6.5 inches long.

COLOUR

Shade of the wrapper leaf

CCC- Claro, light, tan
CC- Colorado-Claro, Natural Mid
brown
C- Colorado- Dark
CM- Colarado Maduro, Dark brown
M- Maduro, Exceptionally Dark brown
OSCURO- Black

CIGARETTES

A paper wrapped roll of finely cut tobacco.

Produced by a special kind of inferior kind
of tobacco produced in and around
Virginia tobacco which is less fermented,
less aromatic, flue cured, light coloured.
Available in different length and tax excise
depends on the size of the cigarette rather
than the brand.

TYPES

NONFILTER: shorter than common cigarettes

due to absence of filter (2.75 inches)
KINGS: average filtered cigarettes containing
more tar and nicotine(3.5 inches)
LENGHTS: has longer filter than kings
100S: longer filter(3.25 inches)
MENTHOLS: comprises menthol, spearmint
and peppermint oil and gives sensation of
refreshment (3.75 inches)

CLOVES: a blend of tobacco and clove with high

quality tobacco, packed tighter than normal
cigarettes, has no filter, burns slowly (3.5 inches)
BIDIS: Indian version of cigarettes hand
wrapped. Nubbed on one end and bound with a
thin strip on other end.
HERBAL CIGARETTES: contain no tobacco but
herbs like ginseng, marshmallow, mint and
passion flower.
HOOKAH : oriental tobacco pipe with a long tube
passing through water for cooling the smoke as it
is drawn through. The tobacco is a grounded
mixture of dried fruit pulp, flavoured molasses,
and fresh tobacco leaves.

STORAGE

Tobacco improves with aging.

Kept at a moist place and at even temperature
Cigarettes and cigars are best kept in glass case
with humidifier.
Cigars remain best in their own cedar boxes as
it has unique quality of releasing moisture when
needed and absorbing when not required.
Mild fragrance of cedar wood mingles well with
cigar.
Never place cigars near items which release its
flavours or fragrance or absorb the flavour and
fragrance of surrounding.
Ideal temperature : 16-18C & relative humidity:
65-70%.

Prentice Hall 2003

Chapter 4

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