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1-THE SOIL

The soil and its components will influence the aroma and flavour of the tobacco. The same seeds planted in different soils will have different charicteristics.


2-THE CLIMATE

The climate conditions will affect the chemical composition of the tobacco. If there is a lot of rain during the development of the plant, then the tobacco will have light flavours/taste but more body. If there is a lot of sun, then the tobacco will have strong flavours and a high nicotine content.


3-SEEDS

In the Dominican Republic, Davadoff uses three varieties of tobacco plants:

a) the Olor Dominicano (tall plant with smaller leaves)

b) the Pilato Cubano brought from Cuba in 1962 (smaller plant with larger leaves)

c) the San Vincente: a hybrid of Oldor Dominicano and Pilato Cubano


The life cycle of the plant is as follows:

Seeds are planted on the 24th September. On the 2nd November (All Saints), the farmer will commence the transplanting of the young tobacco plants. It takes approximately 5 weeks for the seed to develop into a young tobacco plant ready to be transplanted. On the 6th January (Epiphany), the harvest will commence (in some areas, the harvest will carry on untill end of March).

The cycle of the tobacco lasts 10 weeks from the time the farmer plants the seed untill the harvest is finished.

November and December : Development of the plant.

January : There is a change in the climate (less sun), the plant is achieving maturity and it is time for harvesting.

February : Time for curing.


Some farmers plant 2 harvests a year, Davadoff does only one harvest, in order to give the soil sufficient time to rest and regenerate.


The leaves are always picked, beginning at the base of the plant and working upwards. Only about five leaves are picked from each plant at a time, and on a weekly basis.