Article by Ann Knapp

Now, please don’t misread that headline. Your well-stocked humidor is, to put it mildly, no help to you in reducing your risk of diabetes. (Nor is red meat full of fiber and vitamin C, or a glass of fine stout good for concentration.) And you won’t be able to buy diabetes-fighting cigars through your favorite online cigar retailer any time soon.

However, in a bit of fun weird science news, some European researchers have created, in the lab, a genetically-modified tobacco plant that contains important diabetes-fighting chemicals.

To get specific, a study led by researchers at the University of Verona (yes, that’s the same Italian city that Shakespeare used as the setting for Romeo and Juliet) has resulted in the growth of a tobacco plant full of interleukin-10. This protein reduces inflammation, and thus may be useful to type-1 diabetes sufferers, as well as victims of other diseases that strike the autoimmune system.

But wait. Since scientists can presumably already synthesize interleukin-10 (and all sorts of other things) in their test tubes, why on earth are they growing tobacco plants full of the stuff?

The answer to this question has to do with molecular farming, a new strategy for drug production that may promise to cut drug-company costs. And with the world economy in the shape it’s in, cost-reduction strategies are looking good to any company with its eye on the bottom line–and that means more research dollars for scientists who pursue this interesting line of inquiry.

The fact is, complex proteins are expensive to make in a lab. It costs money to fund the round-the-clock energy required to keep lab conditions under control, to pay for the stainless-steel fermenters in which lab-synthesized proteins must be grown, et cetera. After all, imagine that you were trying to produce, in your home, a common nutrient, vitamin, or mineral–say, the chemical lycopene, which makes tomatoes so uniquely healthy. (Waiter, more ketchup, please!) Would it be cheaper to maintain a round-the-clock lab setup in your garage, or just grow a tomato plant in your yard? Nature maintains its own lab, which evolved over millions of years to produce optimal conditions for every plant. Drug companies stand to save millions, then, if they can whip together a genetically modified mutant plant that will, once synthesized, grow naturally in the fields, requiring nothing more than sunlight, water, and a bit of loving care (corporate mega-farm style). Even if the resulting plants are grown in a greenhouse, it’s still infinitely cheaper than growing proteins in a laboratory.

But why tobacco? Well, the plant beloved of cigar smokers is also, it turns out, a big favorite with gene scientists. Of all the commonly-found plants, it’s the one that’s easiest to manipulate genetically, and, when a desired mutation is created in one plant, it’s also easy to regrow a new tobacco plant from a single cell of the first one. For genetic manipulators looking to give evolution a helping hand, those are pretty convenient features. Tobacco has thus played an essential role in crop science, gene science and related fields since their modern inception.

Speaking of tobacco, Philip Morris, among others, is cheering on these research results. The company, perhaps sensing that genetically-modified medical plants could be a profitable new sideline for the boy who already has everything, plans to help support a conference on the topic this June in Verona.

But don’t look forward to seeing special, disease-fighting smokes made from anti-diabetes tobacco plants on sale from your favorite cigar retailer anytime soon. First of all, the Verona team’s results are only tentative. The next step will reportedly be experiments to see if consuming the plant helps reduce autoimmune disease symptoms in mice. (Who knew that mice got autoimmune diseases?) If those results look good, trials with humans are still a ways down the road. Besides that, genetically modified organisms are always patented, so any use of this special disease-fighting tobacco plant will be limited to corporations contracting with the companies that have funded this research and (thus) secured its patent. It is this feature of genetically-modified food that has resulted in some of the controversy you may remember reading about: genetically-modified seeds, for example, have blown into the fields of surrounding farms, leading to the inadvertent, accidental growth of patented (and often inedible) organisms by nearby farmers. If GMOs become widespread, they could become a potent weapon against small farmers, who would lack the manpower to ensure that wind-blown GMO seeds haven’t contaminated their own fields, and would thus be left vulnerable to lawsuits.

The number of cigar smokers has been increased incredibly; this is because cigars are less injurious to health compared to cigarettes. A simple search through the internet makes you able to know how cigars are made and which tobacco leaves are used in it. There are various companies which provide qualitative cigars which are not more injurious for health. In these cigars there are some quantities of tobacco available. A cigar, usually, comprises of three kinds of tobacco leaves such as the outer wrapper leaf, the binder leaf and the filler leaf which are available in long, short or mixed sizes. In fact, cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in various parts of the globe such as Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Philippines, and the Eastern United States.

Composition of Cigar

In fact, cigars are composed of three types of tobacco leaves, such as wrappers, binders and fillers, whose variations determine smoking and flavor character.

Wrappers

Cigar’s outermost leaves, also known as wrapper that comes from the widest part of the plant. The wrapper determines the cigar’s character and flavor. It is a perception that dark wrappers add a feel of sweetness, while light ones add a hint of dryness to the taste. It is a commonly accepted fact that the wrapper contributes lonely about 40 percent of the flavor, while the filler and binder accomplish the other 60 percent.

Fillers

Most of the cigars are made up of fillers; wrapped-up bunches of leaves within the wrapper. They are wrapped to offer desired cigar flavors. Most of the cigar manufacturers are feeling satisfied as they construct the perfect flavor that will give the smoker the most pleasure of cigar smoking.

Binders

And the last cigar’s tobacco is binders, which are elastic leaves used to hold together the bunches of fillers. Basically, binders are wrappers that are rejected because of holes, blemishes, discolorations or excess veins.

If you want to know about cigar tobacco, then you need to make an extensive search through the internet to come across various websites that deal in cigar tobacco. Like other tobacco products, cigar smoking also possesses significant risk on health depending upon the dosages. Cigar tobacco is less injurious to health compared to other tobacco products.

Nebraska Tobacco Tax Increase Proposal Harmful, Says Cigar Shop Association

Lincoln, NE (Vocus/PRWEB) March 31, 2011

A 225 percent increase in Nebraska excise taxes on certain tobacco products would be harmful to businesses throughout the state, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.

Legislative Bill 436 calls for higher cigarette and smokeless tobacco tax increases and an increase in the excise tax on other tobacco products including all cigars. The bill would raise taxes from 20 percent to 65 percent of the wholesale price.

“Tax increases of this magnitude backfire in this or any other economy. They never produce what they are expect to produce and they always took to damaged businesses, lost jobs and lower tax revenues overall,” said Christ McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.

In addition, higher taxes on tobacco products inevitably taken to lost revenues to the state’s cigar stores because customers either purchase less or they migrate to the Internet and purchase their products online where they are not taxed, McCalla pointed away. He also cited that higher prices lead to contraband product, brought in illegally and selling without generating state tax revenues.

“Nobody wins when that happens,” he said.

Earlier this year, the results of a poll of 500 Nebraskans were touted by anti-smoking forces as justification for tobacco tax increases statewide. At that time, the IPCPR branded the poll as ‘phony.’

The poll was paid for by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a $ 8.4 billion organization that gets its funds from Johnson & Johnson which makes the leading brand of anti-smoking medication.    

“The conclusions drawn from the poll results are phony for many reasons,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. “First of all, the poll’s funding source has an investing interest in forcing populated to give up the pleasure of smoking which will result from higher tobacco taxes,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. “Second, they are saying that 365 people should dictate higher taxes on those tobacco products by the citizens of Nebraska. Ridiculous!”

The IPCPR is an association of independent cigar store owners and manufacturers, most of whom are small, mom-and-pop tobacconists who primarily sell premium cigars, pipes and tobacco.

Contact:    Tony Tortorici
        678-493-0313

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Question by Phil Lakk: Is there a difference in tobacco from the older, “censored” Djarum Blacks and the fresh opined “cigar” version?
Hello, I have been smoking blacks on and off for years now. Then they got censored. Now they have the fresh 12 pack versus the older 20, and it says filtrated clove cigars instead of cigarettes. I purchased my first pack today and they appear, smoke and nearly taste just like the originals. They are bigger with colorized papers, but they still have the filters (no more sugary tip). Now, is there a difference, or did Djarum just re-label their product to make it sellable?

Best answer:

Answer by Carrie
That’s sad to hear. I utilized to smoke those all the time and haven’t had one in probably 2 years. I can’t believe they got rid of the sugary tip, that was the best

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by bunfufu2: For all PA residents.. Increase tobacco tax for health care?
I’m a smoker. And I can’t afford health care so I do not have any. They’re talking about raising the tax on smokes and chewing tobacco and cigars to make health care affordable for all PA residents.

I would be FINE with this. It might actually encourage me to quit. And I’d be able to finally get health care (depending on how “affordable” they’re talking).

What do you guys think about this? Would you be okay with paying more for smokes if it meant you were able to go to the doctor without paying a fortune?

Best answer:

Answer by Sjean
The best thing you could do for your health is to stop smoking.

All these programs are being put in place to tax smoking and eventually almost nobody will smoke because it’s too expensive and then who will fund the programs?

Give your answer to this question below!

I am NOT referring to “snuff” where some form of tobacco is shot up the nose and I am not referring to a lit cigar (secondary smoke). I’m talking about smelling unlit cigars or tobacco and enjoying their scent. Also, would it matter whether it was previously smoked or not?

I really enjoy the scent and want to know whether there are any serious health issues with doing this. Thanks in advance for your time and response.

I have tobacco seeds. I want to grow my own for a few reasons, one being that I want to learn how to roll cigars and this is the cheapest way to get leaves. All the same, I planted a group of them. Most died from over-crowding or immature transplanting. The ones that survived grew pretty well. They formed 3 levels of leaves. They, then, died as well.
While I have my own theories, the one that would be the most urgent to remedy is a thought my girlfriend proposed. She thinks that I’m not using the proper light. I grow them indoors right now because it’s winter and I’m so ancy to get my first plants harvested. I know I should better just be patient till spring, but if there’s anyone out there that can tell me the best type of light for growing plants indoors, it would be much appreciated. I use an energy-efficient florescent white bulb. Suggestions.

A Cigar is a natural product and the quality of a cigar is directly linked with the type and quality of tobacco used in its production, just as the wine depends on the type and quality of grapes used for the brewing.

The fields for tobacco are flat so that the seeds don’t flow away with the water stream. After planting the seed, they are covered with cloth or straw to protect them from the direct light of the sun. This covering is gradually removed as they begin to germinate, and after around 35 days the fields are sprayed with pesticides, they are then transplanted in to tobacco fields usually in the second half of October. The fields are irrigated from below and the leaves are watered both by rain and the morning dew.

The tobacco plant is mainly considered as a three parts plant: the top of the plant is called corona, the middle, and the bottom. As the leaves grow, buds appear at the top. These have to be removed by hand to prevent the plants from stunting leaf and growth. The quality of wrapper leaf is very important for any cigar. A special type of plant called Corojos, specifically used to provide wrapper leaves for the very best cigars. These plants are always grown under gauze sheets held up by tall wooden poles, which protects them from becoming too thick in a protective response to sunlight. Another technique, called tapado can also be used to cover the plants to helps them remain smooth.

During the harvest, leaves are removed by hand using a single movement. The selected leaves for wrappers are put in bundles of five called manojo, or hand. The leaves are picked in six phases:

libra de pie (at the base) uno y medio (one-and-a-half) centro ligero (light center) centro fino (thin center) centro gordo (thick center) corona (crown)

The libra de pie section cannot be used for wrappers. A gap of one week is given between each phase. The finest leaves are found in the middle of the plant; the top leaves (corona) are usually too oily to be used for wrappers so they are only used for domestic consumption, and are often used as binder leaves. Each plant is visited for an average of 170 times and the whole cycle from transplanted seedlings to the end of harvesting takes some 120 days.

The wrapper leaves grown under cover are classified by color:

ligero (light)

seco (dry)

viso (glossy)

amarillo (yellow)

medio tiempo (half texture)

quebrado (broken)

The plants, which are grown direct sun, are divided into volado, seco, ligero, and medio tiempo. The leaves from the top of the plant have a very strong flavor, the seco from the middle are much lighter, and the volado leaves from the bottom are used to add bulk and for their burning qualities. To make a good quality cigar, all the various types are blended together, along with a suitable wrapper leaf, in a special proportions to give cigar a mild, medium, or full flavor. It also ensures that the cigar will burn well. Large, average, small size are classified and by physical condition. Unhealthy or broken leaves are used for cigarettes or machine-made cigars. If all the leaves are good, each wrapper plant can wrap 32 cigars. The condition and quality of the wrapper leaf is important for the attractive appearance of a cigar, as well as for the aroma and taste.

The bundles of leaves are then taken to a shelter. The shelter faces west so that the sun heats one end in the morning and the other in the late after-noon. The temperature and humidity under the shelter is carefully controlled, by opening and closing the doors at both ends to take account of changes of temperature or rainfall. The leaves are left to dry for between 45 and 60 days, depending on the weather. During this time, the green chlorophyll in the leaves turns to brown carotene, giving them their characteristic color.

Then these are brought to fermentation houses and placed in piles about three feet high, covered with jute. Enough moisture remains in the leaves to start the fermentation. Heat develops, but the temperature must be watched carefully so that it does not exceed 92 degrees F during the 35 to 40 days that the piles are left intact. The leaves assume a uniform color.

These leaves are then sorted and stripped. Each leaf is carefully examined and graded. Broken leaves are set aside, to be used for cigarettes.
The leaves then return to the fermentation area. The second fermentation begins within the damp leaves. The temperature inside must not exceed 110 degrees F for around 60 days. Because of the fermentation process, cigar tobacco is much lower in acidity, tar, and nicotine than cigarette tobacco, making it much more appetizing.

It is now time for the leaves to be sent to the factories or warehouses for further production.

Gotham Cigars provides you the opportunity to build your own cigar sampler of the finest cigars that include all major brand names like Rocky Patel Cigars, Swisher sweets cigarsand many more. GothamCigars.com is your best choice for discount cigars.  Our cheap cigar prices give customers the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of quality cigar products.  Don’t forget to check out our humidors, cigar samplers and other cigar tobacco products and accessories.

Smoked first by natives of Caribbean nearly 1000 years ago, cigar smoking soon caught popularity like wild fire. Made up of tobacco leaves, these cigars are “kings” among the other smoking elements. Cigars represent style, elegance, royalty and passion. Not many can afford to go for these, yet the sky rocking prices are no hurdle towards their mass popularity. The online websites are now supplying not only the tobacco cigars but also the complete range of accessories at amazingly low prices. So, more and more people are now buying these through online channels and gifting them to someone special.

More about tobacco cigars

The tobacco leaves are carefully collected from hearts of Poland, South Africa and Argentina etc. The handmade cigars are much more premium quality than that of machine made cigars and so is the difference in the prices. The tobacco leaves are carefully picked and packed manually. The kind of packing allows the air to circulate inside the butt while smoking, which in turn results in the smoke produced in the mouth and the taste. The smoke produced inside the mouth can be categorized as the mild, medium and full bodied smoke. These are synonymous with quality, yet are totally subjective at their measurements.

Types of tobacco cigars

There are infinite brands of tobacco cigars available in the market of which few are categorized upon size, others on aroma whereas some others on the smoke produced as well. There are infinite numbers of categories and the brands are available accordingly. The Cuban brand is most famous of all. This, despite being the fact that, the Cuban government has itself banned the brand, yet are sold world over in largest number. Even people prefer buying the brand to store it as antique rather than simply smoke and finish off.

Online channels

You can buy them from online channels at amazingly rock bottom prices. Nearly all brands are available at the online stores. You can order as much as you like and buy them all at competitive price tags. For further information about cigars you can search the net.

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