Some cigars are made with sun-cured tobacco.
A process called curing is the final step in the production process of tobacco. Tobacco starts out as a flowering plant and eventually develops broad leaves used to create cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff and cigars. Curing reduces moisture content in the tobacco leaf from 80 percent to about 20 percent, according to the International Tobacco Growers Association. This increases the durability of the tobacco. Sun curing is one of four curing methods used for curing tobacco intended for commercial use.
Instructions
1. Harvest ripe tobacco from the soil by hand or using suitable tools or machinery. Exact harvesting methods are determined by the type of tobacco. Some leaves are harvested individually as they ripen, creating a labor-intensive process. Other tobacco leaves are harvested in a bunch by cutting the entire stalk.
2. Select leaves to be sun cured, while reserving others for other curing methods such as fire curing, air curing and flue curing. The separate curing processes help produce different flavors in the tobacco and make them more suitable for different products such as cigars or snuff.
3. Hang the tobacco leaves outside with direct access to the sun. Use a kitchen knife to cut a hole into the stalk of the tobacco leaves. Then draw kite string or twine through the stalks to join the leaves. Suspend the leaves anywhere outside with exposure to the sun -- from a tree limb, clothesline, porch banister or something else. Take one end of the string or twine in each hand with and draw them around the tree limb, clothesline or porch banister. Tie both ends into a knot to allow the leaves to hang freely. Allow the leaves to hang for about 30 days or until the leaves are a deep dark brown. Then remove the leaves to use in tobacco products.
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