Alex Svenson
10-07-2008, 05:51 PM
In my time in cigars, both as a hobiest and as a career, I have come to many conclusions about cigars. One of my biggest revelations is that, due mostly in part to marketing, things appear waayyyyyyy more complicated than they really are. Take Habano seeds for example. It was nearly 50 years ago that Carlos Torano brought some of the first Cuban seeds to the Dominican Republic after the Cuban Embargo. These seeds were true Pelo de Oro and today, you read about literally dozens of types of Cuban seeds and tobaccos. I think it is a high time to set the facts strait on Cuban Seed tobacco and hopefully clear the air on this confusing subject.
During the mid 20th century and coincidentally, relatively around the same time as the Cuban embargo, plants grown in Cuba and in other parts of the world from Cuban seeds became increasingly susceptible to disease. You may have heard of these nasty little killers called “Black Shank” and “Blue Mold”. By the 1970’s, Cuban seeds had spread all over Latin and South America and issues with sick plants began to spiral as farmers would lose entire crops in a matter of days once the signs of disease set in. The increased severity lead to initiatives by the agronomists in Cuba and all over the world to begin development of new, genetically engineered seeds that had a natural resistance to known diseases that effect tobacco plants. In the interim, research was also being done on pesticides and fertilizers that helped combat these crop killers.
While many purists stuck to their Pelo de Oro seeds, new technological advancements and the fruits of new technology were making way for genetically enhanced seeds that not only proved more resistant to disease, but also yielded larger leaves and healthier plants. By the turn of the 21st century, there were literally dozens of varietes from H2000, Criollo, Criollo 98, Corojo, Corojo 99 and a host of lesser known variations. Suddenly, Cuban seed tobacco was no longer simply “Habano”, it had taken the form super seeds with complex names that were being sold to farmers in tobacco growing nations throughout the world. In fact, today a market exists for just tobacco seeds that is quite profitable.
While the obvious advantagesof these brave new seeds were welcomed as they increased yield for farmers, cigar smokers were inundated as brands touted their new “Habano XYZ” as the best Cuban wrapper on the market. The smoking public was quickly made to believe that the flavor and appearance of these leaves was vastly different from one another. The truth is that after nearly 10 years the results are in and the differences between these “varieties” was negligible. In fact, the market is finally going back to reclaim the word Habano. I for one could not be happier.
The bottom line is this folks – “ Habano seed is Habano seed.” People talk about Corojo, Criollo and use fancy numbers, when at the end of the day, I don’t know a single person that can truly look at or smoke a leaf of tobacco and tell the difference. On my many visits to Nestor Plasencia’s tobacco facilities (nesto Plasencia is the largest grower of Cuban seed premium tobacco in the world) throughout Latin America, the workers and managers routinely simply refer to the materials as Habano.
So what matters when you are looking at Habano leaf you ask? Like any other seed, the region it is grown in plays the biggest role. From the key regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador, the flavor and appearance is largely dependent on the climate and soil. It is not limited by simply country either as many tobacco growing nations have several regions. In fact, between Nicaragua and Honduras alone you have Jalapa, Esteli, Somoto, Pueblo Nuevo, Ometepe, Condega, Jalapa, Copan, Talanga and San Agustin to name just a few. These specific areas impart a certain fingerprint on Habano seed leaves and the unique characteristis can be both seen and tasted.
During the mid 20th century and coincidentally, relatively around the same time as the Cuban embargo, plants grown in Cuba and in other parts of the world from Cuban seeds became increasingly susceptible to disease. You may have heard of these nasty little killers called “Black Shank” and “Blue Mold”. By the 1970’s, Cuban seeds had spread all over Latin and South America and issues with sick plants began to spiral as farmers would lose entire crops in a matter of days once the signs of disease set in. The increased severity lead to initiatives by the agronomists in Cuba and all over the world to begin development of new, genetically engineered seeds that had a natural resistance to known diseases that effect tobacco plants. In the interim, research was also being done on pesticides and fertilizers that helped combat these crop killers.
While many purists stuck to their Pelo de Oro seeds, new technological advancements and the fruits of new technology were making way for genetically enhanced seeds that not only proved more resistant to disease, but also yielded larger leaves and healthier plants. By the turn of the 21st century, there were literally dozens of varietes from H2000, Criollo, Criollo 98, Corojo, Corojo 99 and a host of lesser known variations. Suddenly, Cuban seed tobacco was no longer simply “Habano”, it had taken the form super seeds with complex names that were being sold to farmers in tobacco growing nations throughout the world. In fact, today a market exists for just tobacco seeds that is quite profitable.
While the obvious advantagesof these brave new seeds were welcomed as they increased yield for farmers, cigar smokers were inundated as brands touted their new “Habano XYZ” as the best Cuban wrapper on the market. The smoking public was quickly made to believe that the flavor and appearance of these leaves was vastly different from one another. The truth is that after nearly 10 years the results are in and the differences between these “varieties” was negligible. In fact, the market is finally going back to reclaim the word Habano. I for one could not be happier.
The bottom line is this folks – “ Habano seed is Habano seed.” People talk about Corojo, Criollo and use fancy numbers, when at the end of the day, I don’t know a single person that can truly look at or smoke a leaf of tobacco and tell the difference. On my many visits to Nestor Plasencia’s tobacco facilities (nesto Plasencia is the largest grower of Cuban seed premium tobacco in the world) throughout Latin America, the workers and managers routinely simply refer to the materials as Habano.
So what matters when you are looking at Habano leaf you ask? Like any other seed, the region it is grown in plays the biggest role. From the key regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador, the flavor and appearance is largely dependent on the climate and soil. It is not limited by simply country either as many tobacco growing nations have several regions. In fact, between Nicaragua and Honduras alone you have Jalapa, Esteli, Somoto, Pueblo Nuevo, Ometepe, Condega, Jalapa, Copan, Talanga and San Agustin to name just a few. These specific areas impart a certain fingerprint on Habano seed leaves and the unique characteristis can be both seen and tasted.