Nostrano del Brenta--Italian Cigar Leaf
In thinking of some of the great, historical tobacco-growing areas of the world, we must include Italy. Shortly after the first journey of Columbus to the New World (during the 1500s), tobacco was introduced into the Brenta River Valley of Italy (northwest of Venice). Planted by Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Campese, the newly discovered leaf was used for medicinal purposes, and was called, "erba regina," meaning "queen herb." Cultivation of this particular strain of tobacco eventually spread throughout the entire Brenta Valley. ["Nostrano" means "local," so Nostrano del Brenta tobacco is the local tobacco of the Brenta Valley, and may be described as a unique land race that has remained fairly stable for the past 500 years.]
During the late 1500s, cigars began to be manufactured from the Brenta tobacco. These cigars were illegal, and were smuggled down-river to Venice. It was about 200 years later (in 1763) that representatives of the Republic granted the right for farmers to grow tobacco legally. (There is historical documentation that Venetian lords were smoking cigars in 1677.) Illegal trade in cigars to other urban areas continued unhampered for centuries.
By the mid 20th century, much of the tobacco produced in the region had transitioned to varieties suitable for cigarettes (primarily imported flue-cure varieties), although a small crop of the traditional cigar leaf continued to be planted each year. These cigar leaf plantings consisted of 3 sub-varieties:
--Cuchetto
--Avanino (little Havana)
--Avanone (Campesano)
All three of these were lost forever during the 1960s. Only a hybrid variant, known specifically as "Nostrano Gentile" is still cultivated.
Nostrano del Brenta cigars utilize that one variety as wrapper, binder and filler. Unlike traditional Toscano cigars, made from fire-cured tobacco, Nostrano del Brenta cigars are made exclusively from air-cured leaf, which is fermented and aged (as is the case with most Habano production). Unlike Havana-style cigars, Nostrano del Brenta are rolled in a long, slightly tapered shape, and are not pressed in a mold.
[Much of the above history was provided to me by FTT member, Pier, from Italy. He also sent a sample of seed (Nostrano Gentile), which I have forwarded to the FTT Seed Bank (i.e., to Don). Thank you, Pier.]
Further Material:
http://www.manifatturesigarotoscano...lantico-sigaro-nostrano-brenta-nato-nel-1763/
http://www.gustotabacco.it/sigari/1033-antico-sigaro-nostrano-del-brenta-il-doge
Bob
In thinking of some of the great, historical tobacco-growing areas of the world, we must include Italy. Shortly after the first journey of Columbus to the New World (during the 1500s), tobacco was introduced into the Brenta River Valley of Italy (northwest of Venice). Planted by Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Campese, the newly discovered leaf was used for medicinal purposes, and was called, "erba regina," meaning "queen herb." Cultivation of this particular strain of tobacco eventually spread throughout the entire Brenta Valley. ["Nostrano" means "local," so Nostrano del Brenta tobacco is the local tobacco of the Brenta Valley, and may be described as a unique land race that has remained fairly stable for the past 500 years.]
During the late 1500s, cigars began to be manufactured from the Brenta tobacco. These cigars were illegal, and were smuggled down-river to Venice. It was about 200 years later (in 1763) that representatives of the Republic granted the right for farmers to grow tobacco legally. (There is historical documentation that Venetian lords were smoking cigars in 1677.) Illegal trade in cigars to other urban areas continued unhampered for centuries.
By the mid 20th century, much of the tobacco produced in the region had transitioned to varieties suitable for cigarettes (primarily imported flue-cure varieties), although a small crop of the traditional cigar leaf continued to be planted each year. These cigar leaf plantings consisted of 3 sub-varieties:
--Cuchetto
--Avanino (little Havana)
--Avanone (Campesano)
All three of these were lost forever during the 1960s. Only a hybrid variant, known specifically as "Nostrano Gentile" is still cultivated.
Nostrano del Brenta cigars utilize that one variety as wrapper, binder and filler. Unlike traditional Toscano cigars, made from fire-cured tobacco, Nostrano del Brenta cigars are made exclusively from air-cured leaf, which is fermented and aged (as is the case with most Habano production). Unlike Havana-style cigars, Nostrano del Brenta are rolled in a long, slightly tapered shape, and are not pressed in a mold.
[Much of the above history was provided to me by FTT member, Pier, from Italy. He also sent a sample of seed (Nostrano Gentile), which I have forwarded to the FTT Seed Bank (i.e., to Don). Thank you, Pier.]
Further Material:
http://www.manifatturesigarotoscano...lantico-sigaro-nostrano-brenta-nato-nel-1763/
http://www.gustotabacco.it/sigari/1033-antico-sigaro-nostrano-del-brenta-il-doge
Bob
wb!
