Tobacco Plantation: The Roots of Tobacco

The sale of tobacco products generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue each year. It’s hardly surprising, then, that there are countless production sites and places for tobacco cultivation. Those who think of premium cigars likely envision a tobacco plantation in Cuba, Brazil, or similar tropical locations. Yet, there are even a few tobacco plantations in Germany.

In fact, the cultivation, processing, and production of tobacco and tobacco products occur in many different countries across all continents. Local climatic conditions greatly influence the tobacco itself. Therefore, origin is crucial for the quality of cigars, cigarettes, and pipe, roll-your-own, or snuff tobacco. Of course, longstanding traditions and expertise play an important role.

Tobacco Cultivation on Plantations

Today, the most significant tobacco-growing regions are in Central and South America: Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. However, Indonesia and China are also increasingly cultivating tobacco for various tobacco products.

Moreover, it’s even possible and perfectly legal to grow your own tobacco in Germany privately. Anyone who tries this will quickly realize how fascinating the tobacco plant is—and how labor-intensive its processing can be.

It’s well-known that the most famous and beloved cigars have long come from Cuba and other Central and South American countries, due to the specific needs of tobacco plants. The ideal conditions for tobacco cultivation can be described as tropical:

• daily high temperatures averaging 27°C
• plenty of sun, but also adequate cloud cover for protection
• high humidity
• moderate rainfall
• sandy, nutrient-rich soil

Depending on how well these conditions are met and especially the intensity of sunlight, two different cultivation techniques for tobacco are used:

• Tabaco del sol, or sun-grown tobacco, is tobacco that ripens extensively under direct sunlight. Additionally, the flowers are removed early, so nutrients are more concentrated in the leaves. The continuous sun exposure gives the leaves a unique chemical composition, making them somewhat less combustible while often enhancing flavor and darkening the color.
• Tabaco tapado, or shade-grown tobacco, refers to tobacco cultivated with light shade. The sun protection is provided by fabric coverings—known as tela tapados—stretched over the fields. This reduces sunlight exposure by up to 35 percent while retaining more warmth. Consequently, the leaves develop specific characteristics: they become larger, thinner, more elastic, with fewer and finer veins, making them more combustible but somewhat less aromatic.

The choice of location (soil quality and sunlight intensity) and the cultivation technique are crucial criteria for the later use of the tobacco leaves. For example, wrapper leaves for cigars benefit from larger leaves with minimal veining and high elasticity. For fillers, more flavor and volume in the leaf are preferred, with stronger leaves containing higher nicotine content being used depending on the cigar type.

Traditions and History

When looking closely at the ideal conditions for tobacco cultivation, it becomes clear that the island of Cuba is perfectly suited for it. It’s well known that the cultivation, processing, and consumption of tobacco originated in the Americas—long before Europeans arrived.

Once that time came, tobacco quickly spread, with settlers adopting the Indigenous people's knowledge of plant cultivation and care. Smoking, as a form of consumption, was also adopted.

As numerous colonies were established in the New World, large quantities of tobacco began arriving in Europe. As early as 1612, European settlers established tobacco plantations in Virginia. Soon, quality-conscious tobacco consumers demanded only the best, making Cuban tobacco and cigars the gold standard.

To this day, Cuban tobacco plantations are centers of traditional craftsmanship. Virtually no machinery is used; handcrafting remains a mark of quality, setting a standard for many renowned cigar and tobacco brands. The mass production of cigarette and tobacco packs today, however, is machine-operated in large production facilities following the import of raw tobacco.

Types of Tobacco on Plantations

Botanically, tobacco belongs to the Nicotiana plant genus, which includes around 75 species. However, only two are truly cultivated for consumption: the less common rustic tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) and primarily Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Among Virginia tobacco, various types are distinguished. The most commonly used are:

• Virginia tobacco, which produces a somewhat sweet flavor when smoked.
• Burley tobacco, which is more spicy, slightly bitter, and has a woody character.
• Oriental tobacco, which is slightly sweet, with a heavier, grassy aroma.
• Java tobacco, which provides a mild, lightly spicy flavor.

Beyond cultivation techniques, the specific leaves of the plant are essential for tobacco’s intended use. Volado leaves at the lower part of the plant have a finer aroma and are the most combustible. Seco leaves yield the richest aroma. Ligero leaves at the top are the strongest in flavor.

Depending on the desired strength or whether the leaves are for use as cigar filler, binder, or wrapper, specific types of tobacco and their respective leaves are selected.

Harvesting and Processing Tobacco on Plantations

It takes about 70 to 120 days after planting for the first tobacco leaves to be harvested. Initially, only the lowest two to three leaves are picked, typically by hand—even by tobacco farmers in Germany. Maturity is indicated when the leaf turns light green to slightly yellow with a whitish rib. Every five to seven days, the remaining leaves are harvested.

Next comes the drying of the leaves. This is usually done naturally in barns over two to three months or more rapidly using hot air in just a few days.

The process of fermentation follows, essentially a form of tobacco curing to make the leaves ready for consumption. Fermentation begins naturally and can be controlled through various methods—either mechanically or traditionally through specific storage techniques.

Tobacco Plantations in Germany

Tobacco cultivation has existed in Germany for over 400 years, with the first plantations established not long after those in the American colonies. Due to the climate, tobacco here is considered a specialty crop and occupies only a few thousand hectares.

Germany’s largest tobacco plantations are in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. In 2022 alone, they produced a total of 3,700 tons of tobacco, generating approximately 22 million euros in revenue. German farmers are part of the Federal Association of German Tobacco Growers, while processing companies are members of the Association of the German Smoking Tobacco Industry.

One of the world’s largest tobacco companies is also part of Germany’s tobacco industry. British American Tobacco introduced brands like Lucky Strike and Pall Mall and produces the popular Canuma rolling tobacco.

Quality Control and Tobacco Products

Of course, regulations exist for the cultivation and processing of tobacco in all countries, including strict quality controls. In Europe, for example, tobacco plantations are monitored by agencies also responsible for food inspection, limiting the use of a few approved additives.

On the plantations, tobacco farmers conduct their own quality checks, continuously assessing the plant quality. This applies to both German tobacco farmers and those in Cuba or elsewhere. Cuban cigars, in particular, are crafted with meticulous care, prioritizing qualities like large, undamaged leaves with fine leaf texture.