Aegen Region is located in the west part of the country: bounded by Aegean Sea (Ege Denizi) on the west; Marmara Region on the north; Mediterranean Region on the south & southwest; and the Central Anatolia Region on the east.
This regions climatic and soil conditions are exceptional for oriental tobacco farming. Already this region has largest tobacco production area in Turkey. Aegean tobacco mostly known as Izmir in global markets. In this region, the most outstanding issue is obtaining uniform and standart tobaccos. There is no other strains grown in Aegean Region, just Izmir and it's sub-strains.
Izmir strain represents all specifications of the oriental tobaccoss which are;
- small sized leaves
- fine texture
- vivid colors vary from yellow to orange (and brown)
- mild smoke
- distinctive taste and nice flavor
Izmir tobacco has "zenepsiz" stalkless basma type small leaves. The leaf size is wanted to be about 7-15 cm ( app. 2.75 - 6 in).
The general rule is, leaf length must be 1.5 to 2 times of the leaf width. Izmir tobacco plants' heights are between 0.60 to 1.20 m.
Leaves are fine ribbed, curly and very durable against mechanical impacts. Some leaves may have brown spots on their tip, this shows the nobility of the plant. Tobaccos are low combustible, sweet and aromatic. For these reasons Izmir is widely used in oriental and American blends. Izmir can be used for reducing harshness of the strong blends or improving aromas of the neutral tobaccos. Also This strain can be used in pipe tobacco blends. 90% of the Izmir tobaccos are exported to the global markets.
In some conditions like over irrigation and fertilization, leaf length may be bigger. Although their yield is high, quality is low. These tobaccos have harsh smoke with neutral taste.
These tobaccos are planted after rainy winters and they mature with hot and dry weather. Hot and dry climate is necessary for limiting the growth and drying. In Turkey this climate specificatins are available in Aegean region. Also the best oriental tobaccos are grown in this region. Generally irrigation is not possible so water need is satisfied only with rains.
Izmir tobaccos are adapted to Aegean regions climate. This region has rainy winters, medium rainy springs and hot and dry summers.
The best aromatic flavored Izmir tobaccos are grown in Akhisar and Gavurkoy with shallow, rocky, non-productive, slant, reddish and grey coloured mountain slope soils. Very sunny and hot weather helps plant to produce small-sized leaves with resins which create aromatic flavor.
In rainless years plants can be irrigated once or twice (if possible). Rich and heavy soils cause improper colored, oderless and harsh tobaccos.
Planting density in orientel type tobaccos are 2 to 3 times denser than flue-cured or burley types.
Izmir strain has sub-strains like Ege, Saribaglar, Karabaglar, Ozbas, Otan, Akhisar, Resatbey, Usturalı, Ligda, Milas, Kokulu and Çıtır. Because of the uniform agricultural lands in Aegean Region they both have similar caharacteristics like,
- small leaved
- stalkless (basma type)
- width/length of 1/2
- yellow and greenish yellow coloured
- fine ribbed
- sweet and aromatic taste
They have nicotine content of about 1% as low as 0.25%. Sugar contents are high (app. 15-21%) and proteine contents are low (app. 0.9-1.4%).
In Aegean Region, mountains are vertical to the sea, so there are very litte climate difference between coastal side and inner side. This situation brings the formation of identical tobaccos among the region.
Akhisar
Akhisar is a tall plant with short leaves. Leaf density is high (average is 44 leaves per plant). Leaf is yaşmaklı and light green colored. It is a medium late riser variety also very resistant to blue mold and drought. Yield and quality of Akhisar is good. Name of this strain comes from the city Akhisar which is a district of Manisa.
Sarıbağlar
Sarıbaglar is not resistant to blue mold but its yield and quality is very good. This strain has high leaf density (30-50 leaves per plant). Its leaves are bellied, samll and light green. Saribaglar is a medium eraly riser strain also adoptation ability is good for different soil types in th region.
Usturalı
Usturalı is a medium tall plant with a medium density of leaves per plant. Leaf color is standart and light green. It's resistant to blue mold and drought. Also Usturali is one of the early riser sub-strains of Izmir. Yield and leaf quality is very good.
Reşatbey
Resatbey is a medium tall plant with a medium density of leaves per plant. Leaves are bellied. Leaf color is standart and light green. It's very resistant to blue mold and drought. Also Resatbey is the second (and the last) early riser sub-strain of Izmir. Yield and leaf quality is very good.
Otan
Otan is a medium to tall plant with high leaf density (average 42). It's a medium early riser plant and very resistant to blue mold and drought. Yield and quality is good.
Özbaş
Ozbas name come from; öz: pure and baş: strain or race, so Özbaş means pure strain. Ozbas is medium tall with high leaf density. Leaf color is standart green, leaf form is yaşmaklı and bellied. Leaf texture is a little bit thicker compared to Karabağlar. Ozbas is very resistant to blue mold and drought. It' a medium early riser strain. Yield and quality is good.
Karabağlar
Karabaglar is older and the parental strain of most Izmir sub-varieties. The name of this strain came from a district of Izmir called Karabağlar. There is no tobacco production in Karabağlar district since 60s because of urbanization.
Liğda
Ligda tobaccos are similar to other varieties of Izmir but it has bigger leaves with finer texture. Also plants are taller. This variety is grown in Bayındır-Ödemiş-Tire triangle. This area is a highland and full of forests, so climate is milder.
For a better understanding of this regions tobacco, I prepared a map of tobacco growing areas in Aegean Region below.
This regions climatic and soil conditions are exceptional for oriental tobacco farming. Already this region has largest tobacco production area in Turkey. Aegean tobacco mostly known as Izmir in global markets. In this region, the most outstanding issue is obtaining uniform and standart tobaccos. There is no other strains grown in Aegean Region, just Izmir and it's sub-strains.
Izmir strain represents all specifications of the oriental tobaccoss which are;
- small sized leaves
- fine texture
- vivid colors vary from yellow to orange (and brown)
- mild smoke
- distinctive taste and nice flavor
Izmir tobacco has "zenepsiz" stalkless basma type small leaves. The leaf size is wanted to be about 7-15 cm ( app. 2.75 - 6 in).
The general rule is, leaf length must be 1.5 to 2 times of the leaf width. Izmir tobacco plants' heights are between 0.60 to 1.20 m.
Leaves are fine ribbed, curly and very durable against mechanical impacts. Some leaves may have brown spots on their tip, this shows the nobility of the plant. Tobaccos are low combustible, sweet and aromatic. For these reasons Izmir is widely used in oriental and American blends. Izmir can be used for reducing harshness of the strong blends or improving aromas of the neutral tobaccos. Also This strain can be used in pipe tobacco blends. 90% of the Izmir tobaccos are exported to the global markets.
In some conditions like over irrigation and fertilization, leaf length may be bigger. Although their yield is high, quality is low. These tobaccos have harsh smoke with neutral taste.
These tobaccos are planted after rainy winters and they mature with hot and dry weather. Hot and dry climate is necessary for limiting the growth and drying. In Turkey this climate specificatins are available in Aegean region. Also the best oriental tobaccos are grown in this region. Generally irrigation is not possible so water need is satisfied only with rains.
Izmir tobaccos are adapted to Aegean regions climate. This region has rainy winters, medium rainy springs and hot and dry summers.
The best aromatic flavored Izmir tobaccos are grown in Akhisar and Gavurkoy with shallow, rocky, non-productive, slant, reddish and grey coloured mountain slope soils. Very sunny and hot weather helps plant to produce small-sized leaves with resins which create aromatic flavor.
In rainless years plants can be irrigated once or twice (if possible). Rich and heavy soils cause improper colored, oderless and harsh tobaccos.
Planting density in orientel type tobaccos are 2 to 3 times denser than flue-cured or burley types.
Izmir strain has sub-strains like Ege, Saribaglar, Karabaglar, Ozbas, Otan, Akhisar, Resatbey, Usturalı, Ligda, Milas, Kokulu and Çıtır. Because of the uniform agricultural lands in Aegean Region they both have similar caharacteristics like,
- small leaved
- stalkless (basma type)
- width/length of 1/2
- yellow and greenish yellow coloured
- fine ribbed
- sweet and aromatic taste
They have nicotine content of about 1% as low as 0.25%. Sugar contents are high (app. 15-21%) and proteine contents are low (app. 0.9-1.4%).
In Aegean Region, mountains are vertical to the sea, so there are very litte climate difference between coastal side and inner side. This situation brings the formation of identical tobaccos among the region.
Akhisar
Akhisar is a tall plant with short leaves. Leaf density is high (average is 44 leaves per plant). Leaf is yaşmaklı and light green colored. It is a medium late riser variety also very resistant to blue mold and drought. Yield and quality of Akhisar is good. Name of this strain comes from the city Akhisar which is a district of Manisa.
Sarıbağlar
Sarıbaglar is not resistant to blue mold but its yield and quality is very good. This strain has high leaf density (30-50 leaves per plant). Its leaves are bellied, samll and light green. Saribaglar is a medium eraly riser strain also adoptation ability is good for different soil types in th region.
Usturalı
Usturalı is a medium tall plant with a medium density of leaves per plant. Leaf color is standart and light green. It's resistant to blue mold and drought. Also Usturali is one of the early riser sub-strains of Izmir. Yield and leaf quality is very good.
Reşatbey
Resatbey is a medium tall plant with a medium density of leaves per plant. Leaves are bellied. Leaf color is standart and light green. It's very resistant to blue mold and drought. Also Resatbey is the second (and the last) early riser sub-strain of Izmir. Yield and leaf quality is very good.
Otan
Otan is a medium to tall plant with high leaf density (average 42). It's a medium early riser plant and very resistant to blue mold and drought. Yield and quality is good.
Özbaş
Ozbas name come from; öz: pure and baş: strain or race, so Özbaş means pure strain. Ozbas is medium tall with high leaf density. Leaf color is standart green, leaf form is yaşmaklı and bellied. Leaf texture is a little bit thicker compared to Karabağlar. Ozbas is very resistant to blue mold and drought. It' a medium early riser strain. Yield and quality is good.
Karabağlar
Karabaglar is older and the parental strain of most Izmir sub-varieties. The name of this strain came from a district of Izmir called Karabağlar. There is no tobacco production in Karabağlar district since 60s because of urbanization.
Liğda
Ligda tobaccos are similar to other varieties of Izmir but it has bigger leaves with finer texture. Also plants are taller. This variety is grown in Bayındır-Ödemiş-Tire triangle. This area is a highland and full of forests, so climate is milder.
For a better understanding of this regions tobacco, I prepared a map of tobacco growing areas in Aegean Region below.
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