Introduction of Tobacco

Tobacco

Tobacco is a fastidious plant that requires a proper soil and a moderate climate for cultivation. The appropriate temperature should not fall below 45° F for tobacco to be flourished. It is grown in the tropical climates in countries such as Cuba, Jamaica, India, Syria, Australia, Java, Egypt, Russia, Greece, Sumatra, Turkey, parts of United States of America, Philippines and Nepal (Janakpur) etc.
The yellowish Green leaves of the tobacco plat are harvested, wilted, dried and cured after which they are ready to be used by the cigarette or cigar manufactures. The consumption of tobaccos is in varieties of ways such as cigarette, cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, etc.

Tobacco Plant

Curing methods are of two types:

Fermentation Method
In this method, the curing is done by exposing the tobacco leaves to a temperature about 77° C for 3-4 weeks. The leaves develop a distinct flavor and turn down, glossy and pliable. They are then taken down to be stripped "First" are the name given to the finest and the brightest leaves, "Second" are those of slightly lower quality, "Lugs" is used for the remainder unsuitable for any smoking purpose. Incidentally, it is the second which forms the bulk of the tobacco production. The selected leaves are gathered into bundles which are piled on the floor. Heat is generated naturally in those mounds of raw tobacco, and to ensure fermentation, the piles are constantly turned over.

Non- Fermentation Method
In this process, the leaves are dried in the sun for about 4-5 days when the minimum temperature is between 18° C - 24° C and some moisture is also present in the air. The leaves turn light and yellow in color. After curing in the sun, the leaves are subjected to a higher temperature for a particular length of time to retain the color. To start with, they are subjected to a temperature of 37° C. This temperature is consistently raised to 82° C and is maintained for 4-8 hours. It is then decreased to 51° C, and retained for another 4-8 hours and is again slowly increased until it reaches 77° C. The tobacco is then considered as cured and the leaves retain their yellow color. Chewing tobacco is made by this cured process.

Dried Tobacco Leaves

History of Tobacco

The Indians of North and South America praised so highly that they made gift of it to their god. The practice of tobacco was first recorded in the Central America, where " The Mayas". a highly cultured people, flourished over 2000 years ago. The carving on the walls of their ruined temples shows religious rites which includes the blowing of tobacco smoke through a tube pipe in the direction of Sun. From the record and account passed down to us by the earlier explorers that we know that in their worship of Fires, Sun and other deities, the priest used to hold a despotic power over the people but claiming to be closely related to god, so the performances at the ceremonial rites or religious rites raise them all above from their followers.

Dry woods, leaves of aromatic plants particularly those of tobacco, which grew abundantly at the wild state of America were used for scared fire and when feeding this fire, the priest would normally inhale some of the smoke. In this way they could come to realize the wonderful taste of tobacco.

After discovering the new world "America" by Columbus in 1492, he brought some of the tobacco gifted by Red Indians to Spain. From Spain tobacco smoking is flourished into Europe. Roman Pane, a monk, who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage to the new world in 1493, is accredited with being the first man to bring tobacco seeds and plants to Europe.

Many years later in 1559, Francisco Hernandez, a personal physician of Philip II of Spain, brought back some of the tobacco plants for the king's inspection. In that following year, French Ambassador to Portugal, Jean Nicot, sent a gift of tobacco seeds to the queen mother of France. Jean Nicot is the man after whom the herb name was given the botanical name as NICOTINA.

Smoking in Europe first rose in England in 1565 or in early 16th century. There is a possible reason to continue this habit of smoking in Europe, especially in UK, was the reputed power of tobacco to combat to out break of Plague, which particularly attack England in hot time. It is said that during the great plague of 1565, the boys at Eton were required to smoke every morning in school under the supervision of the master and were soundly whipped if they failed to do so.

Varieties of Tobacco

There are different varieties of tobacco found according to their processing method and their strength. Basically there are four varieties of tobacco found, which can be used for chewing purpose, cigarette, cigars and for pipe tobacco.

1. Brown of Fermented Tobacco
2. Yellow or Non- Fermented Tobacco
3. Latakia
4. Perique

1. Brown or Fermented Tobacco
   This is done by fermentation method. In this method curing is done by exposing the tobacco leaves to the temperature of up to 77° C for three to five weeks. Then the tobacco leaves develop a distinctive flavor and become more pliable and thus can be stretched. In this way tobacco leaves obtain dark and heavy brown color.
2. Yellow or Non- fermented TobaccoThis is done by non- fermentation method, in this process leaves are dried in the sun about four to five days when the temperature is maximum of 18° C to 24° C and also some presence of moisture in air. The leaves of tobacco turn yellow in color and can be used as chewing tobacco.
3. Latakia Tobacco
   It is strong and dark variety made from the tobacco grown in the countries such as Syria. The tobacco is cured by the fire of Asiatic Oak, which turns it in to dark color.
4. Perique Tobacco
   It is similar variety like Latakia but grown in Louisiana. This variety is used to strengthened pipe tobacco.

Products of Tobacco

Cigar
Cigars are the most most expensive product of tobacco as they are only made from the finest and best quality tobacco leaves that have been cured slowly and fermented and made only from the matured leaves. These are made in cylindrical shape with help of wooden mold (Torpedor). The best tobacco leaves for the production of cigars are obtained from state of Cuba, Havana, in fact the name Havana itself is given for the cigar name. Other best cigars are from Jamaica and West Indies. The good quality cigars come from Mexico, Holland, Russia. Cigar should be stored at between 15° C to 20° C and should have the humidity in between 55% to 60%. The color of cigar varies from golden brown to dark brown in color. The hand made cigars are of good quality than machine made.

Quality of Cigar

• A cigar should be smooth, firm and even in touch.
• A god quality cigar produces a firm grayish ash which holds for a long period of time before falling off.

Parts of Cigar

Usually cigar is composed of three different parts.

1. Filler:
   Filler i the inner core of the cigar. This is usually made with the blends of imperfect leaves of different varieties of tobacco that are broken up. The strength of cigar depends upon the filler.
2. Binder:Binder is made up of single strong leaf of tobacco to hold the filler together. The filler and binder together is called " Bunch".
3. Wrapper:Wrapper is outer wrapping of the cigar. It is made of the finest tobacco leaf. It makes the cigar more presentable and aromatic.

Classification and Strength of Cigar

The strength of cigar depends upon the filler and wrapper as well as the curing at fermentation methods employed in making it. Cigars are usually classified according to the size, aroma and color.

Claro                                  CCC                         Light Golden Brown Color                         Mild   
Colorado Claro                   CC                          Dark Golden Brown Color                       Medium
Colorado                               C                            Dark Brown Color                                      Strong
Colorado Madurao            CM                           Very Dark Color                                Extra Strong
Madurao                              M                              Darkest Color                                       Strongest


Size of Cigar
The size of cigars varies according to their brands. Few brands and their sizes are:
Grand Corona                                                            5.5 inch ( 14.5 cm)
Petit Corona                                                                 5 inch ( 12.5 cm)
Lonsdale                                                                      6.5 inch ( 16.5 cm)


Storage

• A cedar wood case is preferred to any other kind of box, as its porous nature allows cigars to breathe.
• Cigars should be stored in a humidor so that they do not lose their aroma and become dry or crumbly. The hand made cigars are of good quality than machine made.   
• The ideal temperature of storing cigars is in between 18° C to  32° C.

Brand Name:
Havana Brands: Romeo-y-Julieta, Bock-y- Cia, Henry Clay, Cabana
Jamaican Brands: La Tropicana, La Invicita, Harry's Jamaica
Other Brands: Churchills, Margaritas, Lonsdales.  

Service of Cigar

• Cigar should be offered in their own boxes to allow the customer to choose his/ her one selection (Cedar wood boxes).
• A cigar cutter and a box of cigar smoker's matches which are longer and burn slower than the normal matches should be presented to the guest.
• The band of the cigar should be removed before smoking.
• If the cigar is not cut, a clean "V" cut should be made from the  rounded end with cigar cutter to allow the smoke to be drawn easily through the flue.
• A cigar should not be pierced as it blocks the flow of air and the smoke gets a tar smell.
• A cigar should be lit by a match only, as fumes of the cigarette lighter may affect its taste.

       

Cigarette
Cigarette is the product made from finest quality of tobacco leaves, which is rolled in special tissue paper, may have the filter or not. While processing the tobacco for the cigarette, the leaves are dried to dehydrate the moisture contain in it. The dried leaves are shredded by machine, rolled and allowed to mature. The leaves turn brown and pliable then machine rolls the tobacco in special tissue paper and then cut it into required size. The cigarettes are dried for 24 hours and then mechanically packed.

Quality of Cigarettes
Cigarettes made from Virginian tobacco are considered to be the best while Turkish cigarettes are the most aromatic and expensive. Egyptian and Russian cigarettes are best appreciated after a meal due to the strong tobacco used in them.

Parts of Cigarette 
Usually cigarettes consist of three different parts:

1. Wrapper
   These are the special tissue paper in which tobacco leaves are either wrapped either by machine or sometimes by hand. These are usually found white in color but some of the brands are there which are having colorful wrapper.
2. Filler
   Filler is referred as the tobacco leaves which are dried, cured and mature to develop a distinctive flavor and become pliable, usually dark in color.
3. Filter
   Filter is also called as cigarette tips. Cork tips are common in the west. It is obtained from the bark of the querque tree.

Types of Cigarette

Basically there are three major and famous types of cigarettes found

Virginian

These cigarettes are made from the Virginian tobacco. These cigarettes are considered to be the best one and can be smoke any time of the day. The famous brands are 555, Rothmans, Surya etc.

Turkish

These are made from the aromatic tobacco and having more aroma and considered as most expensive cigarettes of the world. The famous brands are camel, etc.

Russian/ Egyptian

These are strong cigarettes made from the strongest tobacco. These cigarettes are appreciated after the meal or during the sorbet course in French classical menu due to the strong tobacco. The famous brands are Mapka, Prima, etc.

Service of Cigarettes

The common steps have to be taken in to consideration while serving the cigarette to the guest.

• cigarette should be always served in (quarter plate/ side plate) with a doily paper as an under liner.
• The packet should be opened and a couple of cigarettes should be partially pulled out from the packet.
• A box of matches should be placed beside the packet of cigarette.
• A waiter should light the cigarette for the guest and extinguish the lit match by a swift downward swish of the hand.
• A waiter should keep a close look to exchange the dirty ashtray and place the clean one.

Storage

• The ideal temperature for storing cigarettes is between 18° C - 32° C.

Pipe Tobacco

These are special ones and the blends of different tobacco leaves. The blending of the various mixtures is in hands of experts who know the exact proportion in which stronger tobaccos like Latakia and Perique should be blended with lighter tobacco.

The pipe tobacco factory is large and airy building. The cured leaves are spread out on the floor in a lightly compressed mass, they are too dry for the immediate use. Bundles of tobacco are separated and put in steam heated chambers in which the temperature is raised between 120° F to 160° F. Then the stalks and mid ribs are removed either by hands or machines. The stripped leaves are left in ordinary heaps for about 24 hours during which they become thoroughly impregnated with additional moisture which renders them supple and usable.

When the different brands have been made up, the leaves are placed in a machine which compresses them in a form of hard cake. They are then shredded finely or coarsely with knives or cutting machines. Any excess moisture is removed by panning or staving- a different process, which brings out the aroma. After panning the tobacco is spread out on trays to enable it to cool down to the temperature of the air following, which tests are carried out to ensure that the moisture content does not exceed the legal limit of 32%. Most of the today's pipe mixtures are composed almost entirely of Empire Tobacco, the Rhodesian leaves being mainly flavored.

    ☺ Thank You !! ☺