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| On our way to visit a tobacco farm in Pinar del Rio |
On our excursion to the Pinar del Rio region, we visited other places as well.
A Visit to a Tobacco Farm - After our visit to the Indian Cave, we continued our tour of the province of Pinar del Rio.
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| We visited a tobacco farm in the Pinar del Rio region, Cuba |
We arrived at a local tobacco farm.
This tobacco farmer has about 15 hectares of land.
The tobacco farm is located in the Vinales Valley which is a region with fertile soil perfect for the growing of tobacco plants.
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| A farmer drying the tobacco leaves on the sun |
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This farm is largely devoted to the growing of tobacco. Area farmers still use the traditional method for tobacco cultivation which has survived for several centuries as machines lower the quality of the tobacco.
We saw one of the farmers harvesting tobacco leaves by hands.
After the harvesting of the tobacco leaves, farmers hang them to dry in the sun for the drying process.
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| A tobacco plant |
This was the first time we saw tobacco plants and leaves!
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| A Cuban tobacco farmer received us on his farm |
The tobacco farmer received us in his farm house and gave us a demonstration.
He described to us in a very lively presentation the process of drying and fermenting the leaves.
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| The tobacco seeds are fine and tiny |
He started by showing us how tiny those tobacco seeds are.
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| The tobacco leaves being dried and fermented indoors |
After the tobacco leaves are dried, the colour turn from green to brown.
During the drying process, the leaves have to be hung carefully as they cannot be overlapping each other.
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| We were graciously received by a local tobacco farmer |
We learned that the Cuban government keeps 90% of the harvest of the tobacco crop, and each farmer in Cuba gets to keep 10% for himself only.
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| Rolling a cigar with three dried tobacco leaves |
The farmer demonstrated how to roll a Cuban cigar from three tobacco leaves. Using a knife and simple tools carried on his belt, he expertly rolled a cigar.
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| A visitor smoking a locally produced Cuban cigar |
Our host demonstrated for one of the visitors how to smoke a cigar.
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| We were treated to a local rum at the farmer's house |
After the cigar demonstration, we were all treated to another sample of the rum produced in this region in this farmer's house.
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| Living Room of a tobacco's farmer's house |
Many of us wanted to purchase some cigars produced on this farm. Unfortunately, they were all bought up by the visitors from the previous tour buses.
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| A kitchen in a Cuban tobacco farmer's house |
Allowed to keep 10% of his crop, a tobacco farmer in Cuba has a very limited amount for himself or for selling to others.
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| A little courtyard at the tobacco farmer's house |
It was an educational and fun experience visiting a tobacco farm and learning about the production process of the famous Cuban cigars!
R.T.
On a Tobacco Farm
Valle de Vinales
Pinar del Rio
Cuba
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