With the advent of tobacco in Europe in the 16th century, the culture quickly became popular, which contributed to plant breeding. Today, the article provides a detailed description of popular varieties for various uses, as well as varieties suitable for cultivation in our latitudes.
Description and characteristics of the main modern varieties
Today, about 100 varieties and varieties of smoking tobacco are known, and the basis for breeding work was given only by two parent varieties: “Virgin” and “Village”.
Did you know? The first tobacco plantation was laid by the Spaniards on the island of Santo Domingo in 1531.
For cigarettes
Commercially available varieties of tobacco for filling cigarettes are usually a mixture made from only 3-4 varieties. Each variety brings its own unique aroma and aftertaste to the mixture. Dani's Bali brand has a rich and sweet taste. For the mixtures, the best varieties of Virginia and Kentucky are used.
Popular blends:
Amsterdamer is a Dutch brand; Virginia and dark Kentucky varieties are used for blending. Raw materials are processed using Cavendish technology, that is, aromatized with spicy plants. It has a mild flavor and a lower than average strength; vanilla and caramel flavors are associated with the east. After ingestion, a slight tingling sensation is felt in the mouth. The most popular blends are “Blond” and “Original”.
Did you know? The era of cigarettes began at the beginning of the XVII century, in 1620 in Spain's Seville built the world's first factory for the processing of tobacco raw materials.
The Cherokee line is made from a mixture of high-quality Virginia varieties, spicy Oriental and Berley.
Popular blends:
For tube
One of the most popular pipe mixtures “Clan”, the recipe of which consists of 14 types of tobacco. Each of them undergoes a certain type of drying and fermentation, collecting the best taste and aromatic qualities in a blend.
Important! Smoking destroys the epithelium of the lungs, increasing the risk of oncology 10 times more than in non-smokers.
The most common mixtures:
"Ashton" is an English brand of mixtures, with traditional national quality. Blends are prepared on the basis of a mixture of the best varieties of Virginia, Latakia and Black Cavendish. The mixtures do not differ in strength; it is recommended to smoke from a pipe with a wide bowl.
Most popular blends:
For a hookah
Before considering popular brands, it is advisable to figure out which tobacco, more precisely, the hookah mixture is better, focusing on individual preferences.
Important! Nicotine constricts blood vessels, which can serve as sexual dysfunction in men, premature ejaculation.
There are several types of mixtures for hookah:
- flavored moussel - light flavored mixture, most often used. Its composition, in addition to the main ingredient, includes molasses (previously honey), fruit additives or spices, glycerin;
- unflavored moussel - prepared from a mixture of aromatic varieties of tobacco, with a minimum amount of sugar in the syrup;
- tombak - in fact, this is not a mixture, but several large tobacco leaves, soaked and fermented in a special way, with a removed central vein. When smoking with a sheet, the crown of the hookah is wrapped, placing the coals directly on the sheet;
- cock - finely ground mixture with syrup, often with spices.
The most famous brands for hookah:
"Al Fakher" UAE production. According to the description from the manufacturer, chemical flavors are not used. The raw materials are well soaked, carefully cut into a convenient form for a hookah, a pleasant dense smoke.
Top best:
- grapes;
- Strawberry;
- an Apple;
- cherry;
- mint;
- melon.
"Nakhla" Egyptian brand, stronger than the previous brand, with a larger cut of tobacco. In addition to natural flavors, honey is used in the manufacture. A homogeneous, slightly dry, but well-soaked mixture.
Tastes are saturated, aromatic, the best of them:
- double apple;
- Strawberry;
- cinnamon;
- lemon with mint;
- peach;
- Blueberries
- chocolate with mint.
"Fumari" American-made moussel, not strong, suitable for ladies. Well soaked, medium sliced, easily smoked.
The best tastes:
- ragweed;
- guava;
- mint with lemon;
- tangerine zest;
- tea with spices;
- prickly pear;
- chocolate mint ice cream;
- blueberry muffin.
"Tangiers" - US products, one of the strongest mixtures. After smoking, there is a tobacco taste with a slight bitterness that does not interrupt too much aroma.
The best tastes:
- orange soda;
- ololo (mix of cola with mint);
- Indian peach;
- peppermint;
- spicy cherries;
- cantaloupe;
- tea with raspberries.
The most fragrant varieties of tobacco
The leader in the tobacco industry, one of the most sought after varieties is Virginia tobacco. They appreciate it for its special aroma with fruity notes. Depending on the variety variety, the leaves of the plant are colored from lemon to brown. The variety contains a large number of sugars, which gives a sweet aftertaste. The amount of nicotine in a percentage of 1-3%.
Burley It has a nutty flavor and aroma, but the lack of sugars makes it bitter. Usually, raw materials are not used in pure form, composing in various blends. Variety advantage in susceptibility to soaking in various sauces. Nicotine in the composition in an amount up to 3.5%. The leaves of the plant can be red, gray or brown.
"Latakia" According to consumer reviews, it is impossible to confuse with another type of tobacco. Spicy rich aroma, somewhat reminiscent of incense. The variety is popular in English mixtures, despite the small amount of nicotine - 0.2%, the strength is achieved by the presence of resins and acids.
Dubek - Oriental variety with a sweet aftertaste, pleasant specific aroma. Dubek is often used in various blends for both cigarettes and hookah. Grown in the countries of the Mediterranean, Turkey and the Crimea. It is noteworthy that under adverse growing conditions, a special aroma inherent only to this variety is absent or weakly expressed.
"Classic Turkish" grown not only in Turkey, almost all over the world. Very popular in hookah mixes. Not too strong, but nevertheless attracts with a sweet aroma and taste with hints of chocolate.
Samsun It has a high content of essential oils in the foliage, which gives it a strong spicy smell. It is used in English and Dutch mixtures, perfectly complementing and shading other less fragrant varieties. Suitable for cigarettes, pipes and smoking hookah. It is also used as a monofiller.
Herzegovina Flor - oriental appearance, moderately strong, fragrant, with a mild taste. Universal in application. According to one version of the origin of the variety, it comes from a small town in Herzegovina, where it was considered the most elite, accessible only to high society.
Varieties of tobacco for growing at home
Before embarking on tobacco cultivation, it is advisable to find out what species are and what their characteristics are.
Early
The advantage in growing early crop varieties is that after harvesting there is more time for natural drying and fermentation.
Best early varieties:
Later
Late-ripening varieties are suitable for cultivation in regions with a protracted spring.
Popular varieties:
Conditions for growing tobacco at home
The culture is often grown in seedlings, the duration of transplanting seedlings on open ground the age of the bushes is 40-45 days. Soil from the autumn is fertilized with organic matter, introducing manure of 4 kg / m². When sowing seedlings, the seeds are not buried, but pressed into moist soil.
Germinate at a temperature of + 25 ... + 28 ° C, watered at this time in moderation. Bushes with a size of 15-17 cm are planted in open ground when the soil has warmed up to + 10 ° C to a depth of 10-12 cm. The site should be illuminated, with the location of groundwater below two meters from the surface.
Caring for the crop consists of the usual procedures for garden plants:
- Watering - 2-3 per season, 6-8 liters of water for each bush.
- Top dressing - the first procedure is carried out 10 days after planting with a nitrogen compound (urea, ammonium nitrate, bird droppings). The following two dressings are carried out with an interval of 14 days, potassium-phosphorus compounds.
- Pasynkovaniye and Bridging - as they grow, the lateral shoots are removed, during the flowering of the top of the stems.
- Weeding and cultivation - the soil must be clean from weeds, and the root system is enriched with oxygen. After watering, a crust should not form on the surface of the soil.
After harvesting, the plants with the largest leaf are left for seed propagation. Tobacco is distinguished by a variety of varieties, different aromas and tastes, quality of strength and processing, slicing. In the abundance of mixtures and blends, each smoker will be able to find his own brand.
