Easy-to-care soft oriental tobacco Oriental
Modern cigarettes contain a huge number of additives: for combustion, self-extinguishing, aromatic, etc. They may not even contain tobacco at all, but consist of waste from the pulp and paper industry, impregnated with “syrups” and flavorings. Therefore, connoisseurs strive to smoke their own tobacco, which has a unique taste and smell.
In this article we will talk about the Oriental (Eastern) variety - unpretentious and soft tobacco, the conditions for its cultivation and methods of preparation for smoking.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Tobacco variety Oriental (Eastern) comes from the Eastern Mediterranean. It is distinguished by its softness when smoking and rich aroma.
In general, the concept of “oriental tobacco”, or oriental, unites several dozen varieties.
Characteristics
Plants reach a height of 1-1.2 m. The leaves are medium-sized with a small vein, from 5 to 20 cm, round or lancet in shape. Productivity - up to 40 leaves per bush.
The nicotine content is low and amounts to 0.5-1.5%. For comparison, Virginia tobacco, which is part of almost all pipe and cigarette blends, contains 1-3.5% nicotine. The sugar content in the leaves is lower than that of other popular varieties.
Feature of this tobacco consists of a protective film on the leaves containing a large amount of essential oils.
This is interesting:
Taste and aroma qualities
Tobacco strength is low, when smoking there is no tingling sensation on the tongue.The taste is soft, sweet and sour. The aroma is orientally spicy, musky, with notes of incense and cedar.
Advantages and disadvantages of the oriental tobacco group
Adaptability to hot and dry climates allows you to grow oriental varieties in areas with similar conditions in our country.
Disadvantages include saturation sugars and aromatic substances, which when smoking can cause discomfort. For connoisseurs of strong tobacco, oriental varieties may seem too soft.
Growing regions
Oriental tobacco is grown in Turkey, Greece, the Balkan countries and Cyprus. Each region develops a special composition of aromatic substances, so tobacco varieties are often named after the area where they are grown.
Greek varieties
Variety Basma (Basma) is considered the most aromatic tobacco in the world. When smoked, the taste is sweet and mild. Nicotine content is about 1%.
Dubek (Dubek) - a variety of Basma. Grown in Macedonia. The leaf is very aromatic and sweet.
Yenji's (Yeniji) red-brown leaves. The taste is strong, distinct, and there is practically no aroma.
Turkish varieties
Izmir (Izmir) is one of the most famous oriental tobacco varieties. Very sweet and has a light aroma. Used for preparing tobacco mixtures.
Samsun-Maden (Samsun-Maden) is considered by the Turks to be the best tobacco. It is grown only on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The leaf has a very thin and delicate structure.
Grown in Balkan countries
In the former Yugoslavia they grow varieties Yakka and Prilep. These are varieties of Basma, but with a more delicate taste and aroma.
Bulgaria is famous for tobacco Jebel with a pleasant soft aroma.
Growing and care
Growing tobacco on your own plot is no more difficult than growing tomatoes.
Where to plant
Sandy loam soils are suitable for growing Oriental tobacco. with a slightly acidic reaction (5.5-6.5 pH). It is not recommended to apply nitrogenous fertilizers; tobacco grows more aromatic and soft in poor soil.
The optimal temperature for growth is 20-25ºС. The culture tolerates short-term temperature drops of up to 2ºC.
Important! The plant is demanding of sunlight; the beds should be located in well-lit areas.
Planting seedlings
The crop is grown only by seedlings. For planting, use soil from the garden (preferably from under cucumbers) with the addition of a small amount of sand and peat. The soil is poured into a box in a layer of 4-5 cm, lightly compacted and watered. Tobacco seeds are evenly scattered on top and sprinkled with a layer of soil 2-3 mm high.
Before emergence, the boxes are covered with film. and put it in a warm place. Shoots appear in 6-15 days. Then the film is removed and the seedlings are placed on the windowsill. For normal growth of seedlings, a temperature of 18-20ºС is required. Water moderately no more than once a week, preferably with a spray bottle.
After 2-3 true leaves appear carry out a pick.
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Transplantation into the ground
Seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of April - beginning of May. Optimal planting pattern: row spacing - 60 cm, distance between bushes - 30 cm.
Watering after planting should be done no more than once a week.. After a month, you should increase the amount of moisture, as the bush is actively growing green mass.During this period, water 3-4 times a week, 10 liters per 1 m². After another month, watering is reduced to a minimum and watered if the soil noticeably dries out.
Advice. It is not recommended to plant tobacco after tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes.
Topping and pinching
When flowers appear, they are broken off (they are finishing). Then the top is pinched - completely broken off with 1-2 small leaves.
Excess side shoots are broken off as they grow to 10-15 cm.
Feeding
Fertilizers are applied to the soil three times:
- Phosphate - before landing.
- Nitrate - three weeks after landing.
- Potash - 40 days after planting.
Harvesting
Harvesting begins 6-8 weeks after planting in the ground, the beginning of collection coincides with the beginning of flowering. The leaves are cut off after they have stopped growing and have lightened a little. The collection is carried out in 5-6 terms. The lower leaves are cut off at intervals of 4-5 days, leaves from the upper tiers - every 10-15 days.
Processing Features
Preparing tobacco leaves for storage and smoking consists of drying and fermentation.
Drying
After harvesting, the leaves are strung on a cord so that they do not touch each other. Hang in a shaded area without drafts and keep for 2-3 days. During the languishing period, the leaves lose chlorophyll and become light yellow.
The main drying is carried out in the sun within 20-25 days.
Important! When drying, do not allow precipitation to get on the leaves. A properly dried sheet is dry, but elastic and does not break.
Fermentation
This procedure improves the tobacco taste, reduces the strength and amount of resins.
The easiest way is to leave the leaf for 2-3 years. The fermentation process is ongoing, and over time the smoking properties of tobacco only improve.To speed up the fermentation, it is carried out at 50-55ºС and humidity 60-70%. At home, the procedure can be carried out in the oven.
Procedure:
- If the leaves are too dry, lightly spray them with water from a spray bottle on both sides.
- Place the leaves in piles, cover with film and leave for a day.
- Remove the midrib from each leaf and cut into strips about 2 mm wide.
- Fill three-liter glass jars 2/3 full and screw the lids on tightly.
- Place the jars in the oven for 5-7 days, setting the temperature to 50-55ºC.
- Remove tobacco from jars and dry to normal smoking humidity.
Note! Store tobacco in an airtight container.
Reviews
Reviews from tobacco lovers are mixed, because people have preferences for different characteristics of that culture.
Vladimir, Belgorod: “I grew the Oriental (Eastern) variety. The result was satisfactory; the tobacco was soft and aromatic. This variety has one drawback - it is not productive. It’s difficult to get seeds.”.
Alexey, Zaporozhye: “I planted it in 2017 as an experiment. The aroma is unusual, but the strength is zero. The smell from the garden in the evenings is powerful and at the same time delicate, you can just sit next to it and enjoy it.”.
Conclusion
Oriental tobacco has a mild taste and spicy musky aroma. Even a beginner can easily obtain a harvest of this variety on his own plot.
Successful cultivation requires light sandy loam soil, sunlight, warmth and moderate watering. Tobacco is cultivated only by seedlings, otherwise the leaf will not have time to gain strength and aroma during the short summer. Leaves begin to be collected 6-8 weeks after planting in the ground. Collection is carried out in several stages.To obtain optimal smoking qualities, the leaf is sun-dried followed by fermentation.