Harvest and Processing of Homegrown Tobacco

In short: Tobacco is usually ready to harvest 8–12 weeks after planting, when the leaves turn a lighter yellowish-green and feel slightly sticky. Home growers mostly air-cure the leaves in a shaded, well-ventilated place at 18–29 °C for 4–8 weeks, then ferment them at around 38–43 °C for 4–6 weeks.

The tobacco plant is widespread throughout the world. It belongs to the nightshade family and originates from America. Thanks to a substance contained in its leaves, it is used in the form of cigarettes. The mentioned substance is called nicotine and it is a highly addictive component that forces smokers to repeatedly light up and inhale harmful substances into their lungs. Europe would not know tobacco, or would have remained ignorant for much longer, if Walter Raleigh had not brought it during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Tobacco History

The use of tobacco and pipe smoking is as old as humanity itself. The first mentions of successful inhalations date back to 500 BC. This credit belongs to the inhabitants of today's Mexico, or rather the Mayans of that time. Older records come from ancient India, more precisely in Vedic monuments, where the smoking of several plants is described. It can be assumed that one of the mentioned plants could have been tobacco. The main boom came with the discovery of the New World, where tobacco was widely used from north to south. Native Americans were absolutely obsessed with tobacco. Already in those inhospitable times, they chewed it, ate it, smoked it from pipes, and also snuffed it. The shrewd Portuguese were the first to take up its cultivation outside American borders. They flooded all of Europe with it and profited greatly from its success. Smoking was highly fashionable, but this social trend only broke through in the 16th century. Until then, it served scientific purposes and botanists. Initially, as could be expected, smoking was reserved only for the wealthy. Various paraphernalia and pipes cost considerable money. With the arrival of clay and wooden pipes, the entire industry established itself even in the poorest classes. It is interesting how long it took for traders to adapt to buyers' demands. Until the mid-19th century, people rolled tobacco into anything that came to hand, until the first industrially manufactured cigarette arrived and with it a fresh breath of the future.

Tobacco Cultivation in Brief

There are many types of tobacco, but only two are used for production purposes - Virginia and burley. America, respectively the USA, has long been a superpower in cultivation. In recent years, the industry has moved to China, India, Brazil, and also to some African countries.

Starting with Growing?

Seeds are soaked in water and then literally poured into pre-prepared beds. Once we sow, we leave the further process of seedling emergence entirely to the natural process. After approximately one month, the seedlings are transplanted to the field at a rate of 10,000 seeds per five square meters. Sowing is done once a year, always at the same time, taking into account the climatic conditions of the given location. Planting will be done at different times in Cuba and in the Czech Republic. Attention is paid to the height of the plant; if it exceeds a clearly defined limit, it would become devalued. Growers regulate the plant by topping the shoots.

Harvesting Ripe Tobacco

• Harvesting is one of the most important stages of the entire development and also the most pleasant. You can choose between several methods. All are proven and meet the strictest criteria.

• Air curing – once we harvest the leaves, we dry them naturally using air circulation in multi-story drying facilities. After drying, we obtain beautifully rich and brown tobacco leaves.

• Sun curing – leaves are placed under a shelter and then rearranged in an open space with direct sunlight. This primitive drying method is an ideal choice for oriental tobacco, which gains a fuller flavor this way.

• Fire curing – This variant uses burning tobacco stems, which gives the tobacco a specific aroma.

• Artificial drying – this is the most widely used and most popular electronic method overall. The principle is based on chambers with controlled drying. A higher sugar content remains in the leaves and the tobacco is overall of higher quality.

Tobacco Fermentation

This involves refining tobacco leaves. Without proper and professional fermentation, you simply cannot smoke. Proteins are removed from the tobacco through fermentation, while simultaneously reducing nicotine levels. Tobacco fermentation provides flavor and pleasant aroma. Tobacco fermentation can be done in two ways.

• Artificial fermentation – This fermentation is done in special tunnels and we further distinguish it according to the application of pressure and present temperature. Tobacco fermentation can proceed through so-called Cavendish fermentation, which means that pressure with heat acts on the finished mixture. The process consists of heating the tobacco to 100°C followed by cooling and soaking. Everything takes place within one hour. It is not uncommon for tobacco to be packed into large bales and left to ferment for 2-3 weeks.

• Natural fermentation – This uses a simple process where the tobacco is pressed, and the internal temperature of 50°C slowly steams the tobacco, causing it to ferment. This process takes up to 4 months, provided multiple layering, cooling, and repetition of the fermentation process are followed.

Happy growing..