Tobacco Varieties
Bright Leaf: Similar to Virginia tobacco varieties, Bright Leaf Tobacco is lighter, milder, and more aromatic than most other tobacco strains. Known for the yellowness of the leaves after curing with a specific Bright Leaf curing process, Bright Leaf tobacco plants do well in sandy and otherwise infertile soils. Bright Leaf Tobacco Seed Varieties include: Big Gem, Bucak, Yellow Pryor and more.
Virginia: One of the best tobacco seeds for growing in poor, sandy, and depleted soils across the country. Virginia tobacco varieties were exclusively cultivated in the shallow, rocky soils of the Appalachian mountains producing an abundance of thin, yet flavorful cigar tobacco used as a mild cigar filler. Virginia tobacco boasts golden cigar leaves with a heavy tolerance, truly one of the best tobacco seeds for beginners. Other popular Virginia tobacco seed varieties include: Gold Leaf Orinoco, Gold Leaf 939, Virginia 509, Shirey, NC 95, and our best-selling Virginia 116.
Dark: Dark tobacco (sometimes called black tobacco) is a category of tobacco plant that produces exceptionally dark leaves with a strong taste or aroma after a long curing or fermenting process. Think of dark tobacco as being the polar opposite of Bright Leaf varieties. Popular dark tobacco varieties include Adonis, Indian Black, Madole, and others.
Maryland: Shares many similar properties to both Burley and Virginia type cigar tobacco. Because Virginia tobacco was known for its heavy production in the face of poor conditions, many Maryland and Pennsylvania varieties were crossed to feature some of these desirable tolerances Pennbel 69. Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania tobacco leaves are some of the best tobacco seeds for a mild and mellow cigar filler. Other popular Maryland tobacco seed varieties include: Catterton, MD 609, Ohio Dutch, Pennsylvania Red.
Burley: A 19th century Kentucky heirloom grown for light and flavorful cigar leaves that air-dry to a delicate golden yellow. The term “Burley” tobacco refers to a wide range of cigar filler tobacco originating from the Kentucky (KY15 and KY 17)*and Tennessee regions (TN 90 LC) widely agreed upon as some of the best tobacco seeds for pipe and cigarette production. Other popular Burley types include: Burley 21,* Burley 64, Golden Burley, Harrow Velvet, KY 190.
Cuban: (AKA: Criollo Tobacco or Creole Tobacco) is one of the oldest varieties of cigar tobacco still grown. During its long history, Criollo cigar tobacco has been cultivated for every part of a cigar including the filler, and binder, and if grown as a shade tobacco, Criollo is one of the best tobacco seeds for flavorful cigar wrappers. Criollo-type tobaccos can cure to be bold and dark (Bolivian Criollo Black) or as a medium golden brown (Havana 608*and Habano 2000. Other popular Cuban tobacco seed varieties include:* Corojo 99, Criollo 98, Havana 142, Piloto Cubano, Vuelta Abajo.
Ornamental: Ornamental Tobaccos are growing for their decorative appeal as opposed to other common tobacco applications. Their ornamental features include amazing blooms and/or interesting leaf shapes that make them ideal for landscape, and flower gardens, and especially for attracting pollinators. Ornamental tobacco seed varieties include: Jasmine, Affinis and Sylvestris.