O troço (nervura da folha) era removido e usado para fazer o rapé ou tabaco de cheiro, sendo este tipo de tabaco mais utilizado pelas mulheres.

Além disso, destaca-se que a humidade destrói a qualidade do tabaco, pelo que para o plantio, utilizavam-se terrenos em maior altitude.

De salientar alguns tipos de tabaco tradicionais: o “Virginia”, tabaco mais afamado pela população, mais resistente às intempéries e menos aromático; e o Burley, tabaco menos resistente, muito aromático, usado em charutos ou cachimbo.

Especial agradecimento ao Sr. João Luís, produtor de tabaco há largos anos, que muito amigavelmente nos recebeu, demonstrando e explicando todo o processo.

www.visitmaiazores.com

Production of Rolling Tobacco

In the past, many of the inhabitants produced their own tobacco, selling it to the extinct Maia’s Tobacco Factory. It should be noted that these small producers used tobacco production processes different from those adopted by the factory. While in the Tobacco Factory of Maia tobacco was dried using industrial tubing or bonfires, small producers used direct sunlight. In addition, to obtain rolling tobacco, it was subjected to several phases. After sowing, the tobacco was harvested, dried, cured and prepared.

The “troço” (leaf vein) is removed and used to make snuff or snuff tobacco which is more commonly used by women.

Furthermore, it must be stressed that the humidity destroys the tobacco quality, reason why for the planting, people used lands in greater altitude.

Of note are some traditional tobacco types: “Virginia”, the most popular tobacco in the zone, more resistant to bad weather and less aromatic; And Burley, less resistant tobacco, very aromatic, used in cigars or pipe.

Special thanks to Mr. João Luís, a tobacco producer for many years, who very much welcomed us, demonstrating and explaining the whole process.