Confused About Strength and Burn Rate

[mr1992]

Hey there,

I've made an interesting observation, not really a problem per se, but I'm a little puzzled as to why this happens. Recently, I've run out of homegrown due to mould issues (cigar tobacco; Havana, Havana Corojo, Pereg, and a German strain), and had start to fully rely on leaf I purchased online (Burley and Orient). With my homegrown, which I've cured and fermented, cigarettes took up to 10 minutes to smoke (also blended with Burley and Orient), give or take one or two, with the Burley/Orient blend alone (50/50 blend), it takes a mere five minutes. And, the strength is way less; it's got absolutely no kick. In my understanding, fermentation reduces sugars and nicotine levels, therefore the burn rate should be about that of unfermented (and probably flue-cured) Burley and Orient, as should the strength. Moreover, my baccy doesn't constitute the majority of the blend (probably about ~20-25 per cent), so it shouldn't affect the burn rate this drastically one should think.

Anyway, I pray this year's harvest will be plentiful and I won't lose as much to mould and my own stupidity; your thoughts on this subject would be very welcome still, because I don't quite get what's going on. Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[burge]

Well for the mold issue is to bring tobacco to case then let it dry then bring it back to case repeat till ready to smoke. I am not a grower but I do know leaf position dictates the nicotine levels

 

[mr1992]

Thanks, yeah, the mould thing was on me; I've shredded the baccy and didn't let it air out and dry enough before putting it in containers. Silly mistake, luckily affected one container only, sadly it held most of the last leaf from the previous year. As to the leaf position, while I did keep the best for last, and therefore the highest level leaf, the strength and burn difference was already quite present in lower level leaf. Conversely, and perhaps I should add that as well, I did grow some Rustica, which somehow ended up less potent than the cigar tobacco. Yeah, I'm quite confused^^

 

[burge]

Depends when the leaf is harvested if the plant was suckered and leaf position and seed used. Sunlight has a effect too on some plants but do not know the details. Bob would.