Tobacco Strength

[Fredo456]

Originally Posted by T.G

Couple things to start off... criollo, corojo, etc are top-level varieties of tobacco. Within each, there are different strains that have been developed, such as Corojo 99, corojo 06, etc. Ligero is typically used to refer to the top primings on the plant (leaves located at the top of the tobacco plant).

Both are tied to the strength, or body (the terms are interchangeable), of the tobacco in their own ways.

From the bottom up, the primings (about 3-5 leaves per priming depending on the variety of tobacco - some plants are bigger than others) are named, if you are in Nicaragua, Honduras or Central/South America: Seco, Viso and finally Ligero at the top. If you are on an island (Cuba, DR, etc): it's Volado, Seco and Ligero. Same things, just two different names. This goes for any tobacco plant, although some manufacturers, Joya de Nicaragua in particular, are working with such strong tobaccos that they have an extra classification, "Laheron", which is basically the ligero's ligero, it's "super ligero". Unbelievably strong, a whole leaf in a cigar blend would light your nose on fire.

So the criollo or corojo are types of ligeros?

And seco can either refer to either the bottom or middle leaves, depending on the geographical category (island or continent) they're from?

[bobarian]

Corojo and Criollo are strains of tobacco.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Fredo456

So the criollo or corojo are types of ligeros?

No.

Ligero refers to where the leaf came from on the plant. Ligero are the topmost leaves.

Criollo, Corojo, Sumatra, Mata Fina, "Connecticut", etc. are varieties of tobacco.

Originally Posted by Fredo456

And seco can either refer to either the bottom or middle leaves, depending on the geographical category (island or continent) they're from?

That is correct.