Prilep Whole Leaf

[woodsroad]

I received an order of whole leaf Prilep the other day from wholeleaftobacco.com (Use coupon code "SpringFling" for 30% off!). I'm excited about putting this to work in some of my blends, the aroma is wonderful. Prilep is grown in Macedonia, primarily on small farms, and the product is very varied.

Women tending tobacco in Prilep

Leaf curing in the sun on a back street of Prilep
Here's a sample of what I received:

Note the differences in the vein configuration. This is a tobacco that is still grown is a very decentralized manner. Small farms, grown as a cash crop, producing leaf that is all over the map in terms of color, aroma and taste. I sorted out a couple of pounds and found 4 distinctly different tobaccos, all Prilep. Different mostly in the way they were processed, but also slight variations in the leaf itself. There were the large first priming leaves in a light yellow color, a mid-sized leaf that was also bright, but with a bit of red and a stronger aroma. Then there was a good bit of mid-sized red leaf, then finally very small top leaves, many still stuck together. These had all been in (tiny)hands together, picked later in the season. They are destined for Balkan blend.
One last link to a blog by a tourist on Macedonian tobacco, and another.
Take note that the usual selling price in Macedonia is around $6/kilo. But, of course, then it has to be shipped.

 

[papipeguy]

Yum-yum bring it on.

 

[woodsroad]

I'll shred some up for Monday's Pipe Club

 

[chlorophil7]

That's cool, I really like the photos! I'm planning on growing tobacco this year. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[woodsroad]

Where do you live? So much is reliant on the climate....

 

[mcitinner1]

He's in Nebraska Dan. Not sure where in the state.

 

[woodsroad]

Well, Nebraska isn't exactly renowned for it's Oriental tobaccos (is "Oriental" racist?), but maybe that's because nobody has tried growing them there.

 

[shanelktown]

Looks pretty awesome dan

 

[mcitinner1]

Quick check on Ag in Ne. 92% of the land is in farming of some kind. It has top 3 beef producing counties in US.
Hey Phil! I see you're online.

 

[chlorophil7]

Yep, I'm out of Nebraska. One of the type I will be growing is called Black Sea Samsun Turkish. I believe that would be classified as an Oriental, or would it just be called a Turkish?

 

[woodsroad]

After you grow, it will be call "Nebraska". If you want it to sound more exotic, spell it "Nbrska". Sounds more Macedonian or something.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Soil and climate drastically effect the characteristics of tobacco. You may end up with something entirely new! :mrgreen:

 

[mcitinner1]

Phil did your seeds come with any climate suggestions or say what the plants like?

 

[chlorophil7]

My seeds did not come with climate suggestions, but they did come with propagation information
I bought seeds from Seedman.com, and this is what they say on their website:
"Tobacco requires about 4-6 weeks to reach transplant size from the time you sow the seeds. Tobacco takes about 90-120 days to mature, depending on species. Tobacco can be grown in all 50 states in the USA. Tobacco is very easy to grow and has basically the same requirements in the garden as tomatoes. If you have ever had success growing tomatoes, well, tobacco is even easier."

 

[newbroom]

Please make up a bowl and give us a preliminary on how it 'works'. Nice looking and instant variety in one buy.

 

[jitterbugdude]

Generally speaking: tobacco takes 6 weeks minimun from seeding to transplant, 8 weeks is more the norm. Most tobacco will flower about 60 days after transplanting. Harvesting begins about 3 weeks later. Prilep seed is available. I think there is a fair amount of it floating around on the Fair Trade Tobacco Forum.
Tobacco doesn't "change" due to planting in a different geographic location. Virginia Brightleaf grown in Kansas is going to taste just like Virginia Brightleaf grown in Virginia. Adding excessive Nitrogen Fertilizer will increase the nicotine level and make curing a little more difficult but the taste will be the same.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yes, any tobacco can be grown anywhere, from Canada to the Equator, but with all due respect to Jitterbug, it is widely believed that environment does influence taste, as it also does with wines. Virginians grown in Canada are renown for their brightness, lighter color, and sharp citrusy tastes, and the same plant grown in Africa is darker, earthier. Maybe it's safer to say that it is less predictable as to how environment will affect the taste. Maybe its water, temperature, nutrition, or length of season, but there will be some difference. This is how we went from a few varieties to ads many as we do have, plants acclimating to environment to take advantage of the best the conditions have to offer.
Cool leaf you got there. I run mine through a paper shredder to get a ribbon cut of sorts. What's the flavor of this?

 

[northernneil]

I agree with cosmic. Here is a neat article written Richard Carleton Hacker discussing terroir and its correlation with tobacco (article is discussing cigars specifically).

 

[mcitinner1]

"I run mine through a paper shredder to get a ribbon cut of sorts."
I can hear my wife now, 'You want to do WHAT with the paper shredder?'
@NorthernNeil...Interesting article.

 

[sw0snuff3r]

I'm happy to see this thread and the information in it. I bought some Prilep seed to plant this year and it is my first Oriental tobacco. After reading about this tobaccos properties I was curious about what it could add to a snuff but now that I have taken up the pipe I will be smoking some as well. I am in Southwestern Ontario, we grow lots of Black tobacco locally and the area where the Canadian Virginia is primarily grown is only and hour or so down the road.
I haven't heard about paper shredders being used on the finished tobacco but apparently a hand-cranked pasta cutter works.