TOBACCO CROPS EXPLAINED
This time of year, it’s not unusual to see what looks like a barn on fire. Before you call 911, consider that what you are really seeing is one of the steps in preparing tobacco leaves for market.
Our area of Tennessee is known for the production of tobacco. If you remember your lessons about \”cash crops\” in elementary school, tobacco would be a great example for Sango. We have a rich history surrounding it, and many farmers in the Sango area continue the tradition of tobacco farming.
There are two types of tobacco commonly grown here:
1) Burley Tobacco typically has light to dark green and yellow coloring. It is cut and hung in barns to air-cure for up to two months. Burley Tobacco is mainly used in cigarettes and cigars.
2) Dark Tobacco typically has medium to dark brown coloring. When cut, the leaves are hung in a barn and fire-cured. The fire is actually deliberate and very controlled. The type of wood used in the curing process can effect the overall end flavor of the leaf. Hickory and oak hardwoods are predominantly used for this process, but each generation of tobacco family has passed down unique and sometimes secretive firing techniques. Dark Tobacco is used for the production of snuff, chewing tobacco, and pipe blends. 98% of U.S. produced Dark Tobacco is grown in Tennessee and Kentucky.
So, next time you wake up to the smells of firing tobacco in the fall, consider that you are experiencing something very unique to our area. Take a moment to think on the past generations that farmed tobacco for their livelihood. Tobacco farming is undoubtedly a core piece of history for the Sango area.
(SOURCE: Girard, Greg, and The Power of Personality. “Dark Fire-Cured Tobacco.” Tobacconist Magazine, 21 Nov. 2017, https://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/dark-fire-cured-tobacco/.)