As you aficionados know, the main ingredient of your beloved Cuban Cigars is tobacco. It is one of the most profitable plants in the world! Just think about the many cigar aficionados who smoke it almost daily, including us. So, sit back and educate yourself on some interesting facts on our beloved plant; it is full of interesting facts about its history, physiology and anatomy. Now, let's jump into 6 interesting facts about tobacco!
1# THERE IS MORE THAN ONE METHOD TO CONSUMING TOBACCO
As most of you know, tobacco can be consumed with many different methods. This includes smoking, chewing, inhalation. Depending on your preferred method of ingesting the tobacco, you can easily purchase many of these products online or in shops like our Cuban Cigar Shop. As you would expect, the most popular way of consuming tobacco is through smoking; this means cigars, cigarettes, hookahs and pipes – each having their unique method. Of course, our favourite tobacco product to smoke are cigars! But remember, when smoking a cigar, it is essential to perfect The Art of Lighting a Cigar, so if you do decide to opt for the smoking method, make sure you are doing it sufficiently to get the most out of your tobacco. Interestingly, probably the most indigenous and primitive method of ingesting is the chewing method - this method is considered to be one of the oldest ways of consuming tobacco. Both North and South Americas chewed tobacco leaves long before the arrival of Europeans, and the purpose of chewing is to manually release the flavour and nicotine.
2# IT CONTAINS THE SUBSTANCE 'NICOTINE'
The discovery of the substance 'Nicotine' was made and named after by Jean Nicot in 1560, the French ambassador in Portugal who tried to present the medicinal properties of tobacco to the French king. Nicotine is a stimulant and colourless alkaloid chemical – once inhaled, the nicotine travels to the brain quickly and stimulates chemical reactions, influencing a feeling of energy and relaxation. The primary neurotransmitter responsible for this reaction is Dopamine, which allows the feelings of euphoria. An interesting fact about nicotine is that it is the tobacco plant's evolutionary defence mechanism, making insects sick when they eat the plant. Nicotine is one of the reasons Why Cigars Should Be Smoked Slowly because if smoked to quickly, it will give you a 'nicotine kick' that may leave a strong or dissatisfying aftertaste to the smoker.
Above: Vuelta Abajo Region of Cuba
3# TOBACCO LEAVES CHANGE FLAVOUR DEPENDING ON HOW THEY'RE CULTIVATED
Tobacco leaves are cultivated in many regions around the world, from North America, South America and even the Asian continent. We specialise in cigars made from Cuban tobacco, this means that many of our smokes are cultivated in regions like Vuelta Abajo to create cigars like the Partagas Presidentes Cigar or the Juan López Punto 55 Cigar. Those made in this region have been reported to be more full-flavoured and robust, due to the higher concentration of nitrates in the soil.
4# IN MANY COUNTRIES, IT IS USED FOR MEDICINAL AND SPIRITUAL PURPOSES
For a long time, tobacco has been used in the Americas for multiple purposes, such as physical and spiritual wellbeing. For instance, it was used as a painkiller for earache, toothache and some tribes even mixed it with multiple herbs to help cure colds. Some populations may regard the plant as a gift from the Creator, by smoking tobacco, it can help carry thoughts and prayers up to the heavens. Once the tobacco reached the new world, the astronomer Thomas Harriot explained that tobacco "openeth all the pores and passages of the body", and were the reason why the indigenous people of the Americas were "notably preserved in health," he said this in 1585.
5# THE NUMBER ONE ENEMY OF TOBACCO ARE BEETLES
The 'Cigar Beetle', or Lasioderma Serricorne, is the ultimate pest to tobacco plants and cigars. The worst thing that could happen to you, a cigar aficionado, is to find holes in your cigars once you open the box or to find your cigar collection infested with these horrid little creatures. This is the reason why many cigar manufacturers fumigate their warehouses and take the extra measure to get rid of the weevils. To prevent cigar beetles invading your whole Cohiba cigar collection, we advise you do a thorough check of your brand new cigars to ensure you're clear of any uninvited guests.
Above: Tobacco Leaf
6# TOBACCO PLANTS PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF SEEDS
One tobacco flower produces about 3000 very tiny seeds, and depending on the species of tobacco – it can even make between 10,000 to 20,000 seeds per gram! That is a lot of potential tobacco plants that can be cultivated. However, to properly grow the plant, the grower has to prepare the soil and plant the tobacco, and once the seedlings start sprouting – they could transplant the tobacco into trays if needed. We hope that you found these 'tobacco' facts interesting! After all, it is the key ingredient to our favourite cigars.
For more exciting information about cigars, read the Cuban Cigar Blog:
· What makes Cuban Cigars So Special?
· Why You Should Pair Cigars with Champagne
· How to Hold a Cigar: 5 Different Methods