As very well known by Latakia enthusiasts, the last time tobacco was grown for producing Latakia in Northern Cyprus was almost a decade ago, in 2004. Although tobacco has not been grown since 2004, company's sun-cured leaf stock in warehouses was being used for smoking the leaf periodically depending on demand.
While company's Latakia export was varying between 20 to 30 metric tons per year, this December they broke a record by exporting 35 metric tons in a single month. Common belief is, the turmoil in Syria affected market equilibrium of Latakia. As the unsmoked leaf stock is now almost run out in Northern Cyprus (approx. 55 metric tons left), farmers are going to grow tobacco this year.
As a foot note, as the company spokesman indicated in the interview that I read, the variety grown in Northern Cyprus for producing Latakia is called "Yayla" and the main wood they use for smoking leaves is Pistacia lentiscus', as known as Mastic tree.
Workers grading freshly smoked Latakia leaves.
While company's Latakia export was varying between 20 to 30 metric tons per year, this December they broke a record by exporting 35 metric tons in a single month. Common belief is, the turmoil in Syria affected market equilibrium of Latakia. As the unsmoked leaf stock is now almost run out in Northern Cyprus (approx. 55 metric tons left), farmers are going to grow tobacco this year.
As a foot note, as the company spokesman indicated in the interview that I read, the variety grown in Northern Cyprus for producing Latakia is called "Yayla" and the main wood they use for smoking leaves is Pistacia lentiscus', as known as Mastic tree.
Workers grading freshly smoked Latakia leaves.