After harvesting and drying in the healing shelves, tobacco leaves are still far from becoming a premium cigar. fermentation.
What happens during fermentation?
The fermentation process is a natural biological process controlled by temperature and humidity. Other, of a kind used for the manufacture of goods or Other, of a kind used for the manufacture of goodsUnder the weight and residual moisture of the leaves themselves, the internal temperature of the plum naturally begins to rise.
This controlled heating promotes essential chemical transformations:
- Removal of ammonia and waste: It reduces the acidity and natural aggressiveness of the raw leaf.
- Reduction of nicotine and tar: It softened the smoke without losing the strength and personality of the blend.
- Development of essential oils: It contains the aromatic compounds responsible for the complex notes of cocoa, coffee, wood and spices.
- Uniformity of the colour: The leaf gains darker, richer, and more homogeneous shades.
The Stages of Fermentation
High-quality tobacco such as that used in the line Flower lady may undergo up to three successive fermentation cycles, depending on the type of leaf (cap, cap or miolo):
- First fermentation: Light and fast, focus on removing excess moisture and the first volatile compounds.
- Second fermentation: Longer and at higher temperatures (up to 45-50°C), where deep flavors and definite color develop.
- Third Fermentation (for cotton leaves): Exclusive to noble leaves, guaranteeing extreme softness to the touch and perfect combustion.
The Ancestral Knowledge of the Master Fermenter
There are no machines or algorithms to determine the exact time to dismantle and rebuild a pile. Master Fermenter He uses only his senses: touch to feel the temperature in the heart of the plum, smell to assess the evolution of aromas, and vision to examine the texture of the leaf.
“The fermentation cannot be hasty, the time of tobacco is the time of nature, and to respect this cycle is the guarantee of the unmistakable elegance of a Flower Lady”.