How does your home-grown cigar leaf compare to commercial leaf?

[Wolffman]

I am curious as to how your home-grown cigar tobacco compares to stuff bought from WLT, etc. Obviously, these small grows are a lot different than the commercial operations. Mainly, I suppose, is the fermentation process. But then there is soil types and a host of other things that are different from a big operation.

 

[Radagast]

Obviously, these small grows are a lot different than the commercial operations. Mainly, I suppose, is the fermentation process. But then there is soil types and a host of other things that are different from a big operation.

Yes.
You're just going to have to grow some I guess..

 

[deluxestogie]

The same "variety" grown in Nicaragua is different from that grown in Honduras. Every locale contributes something. The greatest difference between home-grown and commercial is the consequence of the scale of the operation. Commercial producers are able to fill entire bales of tobacco with the very same grade of leaf. [A bag of flawless wrappers? No problem.] We, as home growers, always end up with all primings in all possible leaf grades. Our potential for producing the same quality is similar.

On the downside of commercial is the truly limited selection of varieties that are grown.

Florida Sumatra:

Long Red:

Besuki:

Vuelta Abajo:

Nostrano del Brenta:

Bahia:

Baldio Vera:

Corojo 99:

Retired Cuban varieties:

Timor:

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

And a few more:

Swarr-Hibshman:

Harrow Velvet:

Magnolia:

Hacienda del Cura:

True oscuro wrappers:

Machu Picchu Havana:

Big Gem:

Izmir Ozbas:

After commercial producers have aged their leaf for years, we just buy it. Unfortunately, if we grow leaf, those aging years pass no more quickly, and we just have to wait.

Bob