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Cuba: the hard life of growing tobacco

by Adélaïde Bernard (USA)

Cuba

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The Viñales Valley, in the western part of Cuba, offers a magical landscape in which limestone domes called mogotes emerge between fertile red soil and traditionally grown crops. Here, a farmer plows his field with oxen. The valley was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Viñales Valley, in the western part of Cuba, offers a magical landscape in which limestone domes called mogotes emerge between fertile red soil and traditionally grown crops. Here, a farmer plows his field with oxen. The valley was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The main crop in this region is tobacco. The leaves of this plant give its vibrant green to the valley, and are harvested by hand before being hung in a curing barn.
The main crop in this region is tobacco. The leaves of this plant give its vibrant green to the valley, and are harvested by hand before being hung in a curing barn.
In the barn, the leaves dry for a month, until they reach the perfect color. The center vein of the leaf is removed, as it contains most of the nicotine present in the leaf. Each farmer has his own secret fermentation mix, often including lemon, honey, vanilla, spices and a little booster: rum.
In the barn, the leaves dry for a month, until they reach the perfect color. The center vein of the leaf is removed, as it contains most of the nicotine present in the leaf. Each farmer has his own secret fermentation mix, often including lemon, honey, vanilla, spices and a little booster: rum.
Fermented leaves are meticulously inspected: only the highest quality leaves will have the privilege to become the wrapper of the finest cigars.
Fermented leaves are meticulously inspected: only the highest quality leaves will have the privilege to become the wrapper of the finest cigars.
The Cuban government controls the tobacco industry and buys most of the harvest for a very low price. Only 10% is left to the farmers, who try to make a living by showing their torcedor skills and sell their handmade cigars to travelers.
The Cuban government controls the tobacco industry and buys most of the harvest for a very low price. Only 10% is left to the farmers, who try to make a living by showing their torcedor skills and sell their handmade cigars to travelers.

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