Patriotguy
Well-Known Member
I was just curious how the altitude influences the growth or flavor properties of tobacco or if it has any real impact or not.
how does altitude influence the properties of tobacco?
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During the 1930s, Raymond Stadleman (then working as an "Agricultural Explorer" for the USDA) collected tobacco seed of a Havana-type tobacco cultivated on the upper slopes of Huana Picchu (adjacent to Machu Picchu). Stadelman described it as having a distinct, "white blossom". I have grown out that seed here in southwest Virginia. It produces a lovely Havana-type leaf, similar to Vuelta Abajo leaf, but displays rich, pink blossoms. [Since it had no actual name--only a number assigned by ARS-GRIN, I named it "Machu Picchu Havana".]
While hiking the crest of Roan Mountain in North Carolina, I discovered a fat, thornless blackberry. I considered taking a root of it home. Another hiker said that he had done that some years earlier, and that once it was growing at a lower altitude, it always produced thorns.
So altitude affects a number of plant traits. How does it affect tobacco flavor/aroma? That is difficult to assess. Some of the nicest cigar leaf grown in Ecuador is grown at or near the cloud forests--high altitude, but nearly constant humidity and cloud. I believe the Peruvian cigar leaf that WLT sells is a variety similar to Machu Picchu. My Machu Picchu has a "warmer" more "rounded" aroma, when compared to the "Peru" leaf, which seems to have a less complex flavor profile. Is that altitude? Is that cultural practices? Is that differences in curing conditions? I don't know.
My general impression is that period of direct sun exposure, average growing temperature and soil fertility/hydration, as well as curing conditions, are the primary determinants of what kind of finished tobacco you get.
Bob
While hiking the crest of Roan Mountain in North Carolina, I discovered a fat, thornless blackberry. I considered taking a root of it home. Another hiker said that he had done that some years earlier, and that once it was growing at a lower altitude, it always produced thorns.
So altitude affects a number of plant traits. How does it affect tobacco flavor/aroma? That is difficult to assess. Some of the nicest cigar leaf grown in Ecuador is grown at or near the cloud forests--high altitude, but nearly constant humidity and cloud. I believe the Peruvian cigar leaf that WLT sells is a variety similar to Machu Picchu. My Machu Picchu has a "warmer" more "rounded" aroma, when compared to the "Peru" leaf, which seems to have a less complex flavor profile. Is that altitude? Is that cultural practices? Is that differences in curing conditions? I don't know.
My general impression is that period of direct sun exposure, average growing temperature and soil fertility/hydration, as well as curing conditions, are the primary determinants of what kind of finished tobacco you get.
Bob
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