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OUR TOBACCO
Unique in the World
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Our cigars are handcrafted from
tobacco like no other ... grown from Cuban seed strains that
were thought to be long gone and forgotten. |
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Cuba's
Golden Age of Tobacco died when Castro diverted the efforts
of farmers and agronomists from tobacco, to meet Russia's demand
for sugar. Today, his agronomists and farmers have had to start
all over, trying to bring together Cuba's disheveled seed
program. |
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I began work as a graduate
agronomical engineer in 1967, specializing in the
genetic improvement of tobacco. As a project leader in the R
& D department for 20 years, I worked in every area of activity
for the world's largest cigar company. I followed that with 20
years as an agronomical consultant to the industry, traveling to
over 20 countries. Realizing the treasured pre-Castro Cuban
strains were fast disappearing, I began acquiring a bank of over
40 genetically pure pre-Castro Cuban seed varieties. They
include these and other legendary, genetically-pure pre-Castro
Cuban seed names: |
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| Rezago 11 |
Pinar del Río |
Partido |
Vuelta Abajo |
| Semi-Vuelta |
San Luis |
Remedios |
San Juan y Martínez |
| Oriente |
Pelo de Angel |
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Other genetically-pure seeds I
obtained from other countries, originally derived from Cuban
seeds, include: |
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Cola de Gallo |
Yavis |
Simmaba |
Besuki |
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Java |
Cameroon |
Vizcaya |
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Another, the most unique and
intriguing strain I located, is a seed the Indians in the
Caribbean Basin traded with Indians from Cuba 300-500 years ago.
These tribes still grow tobacco from these seeds, which they
have maintained for generations. |
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This seed bank exists nowhere else in the
world. |
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These seeds were not spirited out of Cuba under
the cloak of darkness. My sources for this rare genetical
material were industry-respected tobacco producers and
geneticists, whom I met and worked with during my 20 years of
consulting. These colleagues and associates included genetic
researchers at Cuban Land, the prestigious agricultural research
institution that operated in Cuba until Castro disbanded it. |
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In 2003, as director of
Tabacos de la Cordillera, I began developing new strains,
cross-breeding these ancestral seeds to elevate their qualities
even more. Only the rigorous, consistent application of
scientific protocols ... by someone trained and experienced in
genetic sciences ... can obtain the desired results: tobacco
that is robust and healthy enough to resist diseases of roots,
stalks, and leaves, whether airborne or introduced through soil
or by pests. Plants that adapt themselves to the soil and
weather conditions in Costa Rica. Plants with middle upper
leaves that point skyward, rather than laying out flat, to drain
off moisture, preventing the magnifying-glass effect of sun on
raindrops. Large leaves with "rectangular" shape that provides
enough wrapper for large cigars. Silky leaves with fine and
regularly-spaced veins, and elasticity for problem-free wrapper
application. Most plants are used for our commercial tobacco,
others for evaluation of their cross-bred characteristics, some
for replenishment of our genetic stock. My studies and
experience aided me in selecting a perfect microclimate and
Cuba-like rust-red soil, ideal conditions for tobacco. |
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Habano #34 |
Habano #91 |
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I also took the opportunity to apply natural
growing and pest-control measures, like the Ancestral Central
American Indians, who first discovered and
cultivated tobacco naturally. For over 2,000 years, they
have followed ancient principles in the natural cycles of
farming. In addition, the counsel of many knowledgeable people
in this field of study taught me the proper ecological
procedures to follow in controlling pests naturally. Many
insects, for example, are beneficial ... to eradicate them with
a "shotgun" approach to eliminating insect pests would diminish
the plants' vigor. Another example is knowing the egg-laying and
hatching cycles of the horn worm, which enables us to apply the
proper amount and type of treatment, at the specific time these
pests are most vulnerable. |
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A formal education in scientific methodology, an
experienced eye, fastidious record-keeping, and patience are
what bring you these remarkable tobaccos pictured below. All
have their origins in 100% genetically pure Golden Age Cuban
seed. These genetical treasures are the foundation of our
present day crops. |
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Habano #34
Habano #50
Habano #9315
Habano #98
Habano #235 |
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"Ancestral
Cuban seeds grow the world's finest cigars™" |
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