Tobacco

This is the second dried bunch of leaves I have collected.
Unleashed the Pasta maker (fine cut) and went to town. One pass through and I was pretty happy with the results.

I'm then taking the cuttings; and filling a single, used 50g tobacco pouch (the sealable type) with each dried leaf bunch.
And, placing a Boveda pack in each pouch
I remember hearing that tobacco also cures in the pouch/on the shelves (before being bought). So I thought, lets give it a try

I have 'sample' smoked my goods ..and they taste surprisingly fine as is (one weeks drying). Not harsh at all (I removed all hard stems and side branching).
I would say the flavour is 'cigar' like, not too strong though. Maybe, a little like taking the tobacco out of a Hamlet cigar and rolling it up. Its stronger than cigarette tobacco. But, by moderating the amount you put in, you can offset this.
One thing I noticed, when using in joints, less is needed to remove the old 'cough cough' issue (some of us get with 'other' herbs).

Enjoy a few pics.

Man, harvesting tobacco is a continual process

So far, I have harvested about half the leaves (over my three plants). The harvest total so far is 75.8grams of cut, dried tobacco. I figure, for the three plants, I will get around 150 grams. However, this stuff lasts longer than normal tobacco (as its a bit stronger).
For only three plants, about 3ft in height, not bad for a first year harvest I guess.
And a 50g tobacco packet costs approx.£30 (UK). So, thats £90 saved money right there

One thing I noticed, if you let smaller leaves dry to 'brown' on the plant ..they taste quite nice once dried. If there is rain, during this 'on the vine' drying, the final dried leaves maintained a tough, flexible, leathery finish.
i.e. These leaves would work as 'wrapper' leaves, when making a cigar.
If there is no rain, they dry to 'crispy'.
This adds the idea of 'curing on the vine' to the list of things I will try next season!

Also, the cut tobacco (now stored in 50g tobacco pouches with Boveda packs thrown in), has begun changing its smell.
It is getting a more robust 'tobacco' smell. So, it appears a cure is going on in the sealed pouches

Nicotiana alata, is what's growing wild around this year. Originally from Paraguay and Uruguay region, it's gone native all over the world.
I had a different one popping up last year with yellow flowers, Nicotiana rustica from Ecuador, Bolivia Andes. Really expected this to be yellow.

This thread made me buy a pack of American Spirit Blacks.

DCcan said:

Nicotiana alata, is what's growing wild around this year. Originally from Paraguay and Uruguay region, it's gone native all over the world.
I had a different one popping up last year with yellow flowers, Nicotiana rustica from Ecuador, Bolivia Andes. Really expected this to be yellow.

Click to expand...

Beautiful.
Most of my flower heads have fallen off now.
But, I did manage to get this shot from my Havana tobacco plant

The first drying failure (after drying for approx. 17 days).
a section, of two of the leaves (from a bundle of four), dried green.
Not sure why, but I assume there was a moisture pocket perhaps?
The stems still have moisture and are drying green also
3/4 of the leaves are still good, so I'll put that through the pasta machine

*pics attached*

Here's the Rustica, growing wild in the shade with the Cayenne companion plant.