Bright Leaf Tobacco

Bright Leaf Tobacco

Bright Leaf tobacco is a popular heirloom variety known for its vibrant yellow-green leaves and its high-quality, aromatic leaves used primarily for making cigars and cigarettes. This tobacco is particularly valued for its sweet, smooth flavor and its ability to be cured to produce a mild, light-bodied smoke. The plant grows tall with broad, hearty leaves, and it thrives in warm, sunny climates with well-drained soil. Bright Leaf tobacco is often grown in the traditional "flue-cured" method, which involves hanging the leaves in controlled heat to preserve their delicate flavor and aroma. This variety has a long history in the United States, especially in regions like North Carolina and Virginia, where it has been cultivated for centuries. As an open-pollinated variety, Bright Leaf tobacco is also well-suited for small-scale farming and seed-saving, allowing growers to continue cultivating this rich agricultural tradition.

Yellow Orinoco is an heirloom bright leaf which originated from the Virginian Orinoco's. It grows to 5' producing an average of 16 leaves per plant below the crows foot. It matures early at 55 days. Suckering is low, and is less than with White Stemmed or Frog Eye Orinoco. Leaves are light to medium green and average 12" to 14" wide and 24" to 26" long, with yields of 3 oz of dried leaf per plant. Leaves air cure to a light brown.

Delhi 34 is a Bright Leaf Flu-cured tobacco tolerant of weather fleck and black root rot. It is tall growing reaching up to 7 feet including the flower head, with more leaves and less suckers than most varieties. The upright leaves are spaced closely on the stalk and shed water well in heavy rains and winds. The leaves turn a lighter green as it starts to mature, and become a light yellow green when ripe. It Flu cures to a bright yellow gold and air cures to a light golden brown with good yields. Days to Maturity: 60-65 days, Plant Height: 60-70 inches, Leaf Count: 18-24

Bucak was developed in Turkey from a flu cured, bright leaf Virginian tobacco imported in the 1930's from the US. It grows to 5' in height with large heavy leaves densely spaced on the stalk, and matures in 50 days. Averages 20 leaves per plant, 12"-14" wide and 22"-26" long. It tolerates heavy rains and wind well and will withstand early fall frosts with little or no damage. It air cures easily to a light brown.

Vesta 64 is a well developed bright leaf Virginian type tobacco that grows up to 4 1/2 to 5 feet in height to the crows foot. The plant produces from 18 to 20 leaves on average that measure 20 to 26 inches in length and 10 to 12 inches wide. It reaches maturity in 55-60 days. The leaf air cures to a light golden brown, or flu cures to a bright yellow. It is a vigorous grower and is a black shank resistant.

A bright leaf variety that was imported by the USDA from Columbia in 1967. A tall grower that reaches a height of 5-6'. Leaves grow close together with inverted cones. Produces a sweet mild flavor with a slightly nutty taste, and is an excellent cigarette or pipe tobacco. It can be used in a blend, or on its own. Costello has a nicotine content at 2.4%. The leaves air cure to a light brown to a dark reddish brown.

Gold Leaf Orinoco is a bright leaf tobacco that has been cultivated for generations in Peru. It has a pyramidal shape and grows up to 6' in height, with leaves averaging 22"-24" long and 12"-14" in width. It matures in approximately 60-65 days. Modern day varieties of Virginian tobacco were originally developed from Orinoco's. The flavor of Gold Leaf Orinoco is similar to the dark Virginian types of tobacco, with the upper leaves being the strongest. It is an excellent tobacco for a cigarette or pipe blend. With a nicotine content of 4%, Gold leaf Orinoco has a has a much higher nicotine content than most Virginians types or other bright leaf varieties.

Gold Leaf 939 is a bright leaf Virginia type tobacco with very good yields of leaf averaging 12" wide by 20" long. It grow 5-6 feet in height with closely spaced leaves and matures in 60 to 65 days. It has excellent uniformity between plants which makes it easy to manage. Suckering is very low. The leaves turn yellow as it ripens, and air cure to a light golden brown.

An old heirloom from Virginian that has gained in popularity over the years. It grows to over 6' tall and is a high yielder of leaves averaging 20" inches long by 12" wide. Used mainly as a cigarette tobacco for its mild flavor, or as a pipe blend.

Virginia Bright Leaf is an heirloom variety dating back many decades. It averages 6' in height with 18-20 leaves per plant below the crows foot. It reaches maturity when blooms appear at 55 days. The light green leaves average 12" wide by 24" long and become a light yellow/green when ripe. Leaves began to ripen as the plant reaches bloom. Air cures easily to a light golden brown with yields averaging 3 oz of dried leaf per plant.

Virginia 724 tobacco, a prominent variety in the world of tobacco cultivation, is renowned for its rich flavor, smooth smoke, and versatility in blending. This particular strain of tobacco is classified as a flue-cured Virginia tobacco, indicating that it is cured under controlled conditions, typically with the use of heat to enhance its flavor and reduce bitterness. Virginia 724 is distinguished by its bright golden-yellow to deep orange leaves, which are relatively large and broad compared to other tobacco varieties. The flavor profile of Virginia 724 is characterized by its sweet and slightly grassy notes, with a subtle hint of citrus. This makes it a popular choice for cigarette blends, where it contributes to the overall smoothness and mildness of the smoke. Additionally, Virginia 724 is often used as a base for pipe tobacco blends, providing a solid foundation upon which other flavors can be layered. Its versatility and consistent quality have made Virginia 724 a favorite among tobacco growers and enthusiasts alike, ensuring its enduring popularity in the tobacco industry.

The Big Gem Tobacco is an heirloom Bright Leaf variety that has a great production of over 25 large, bright green leaves per plant. This tobacco variety reaches 5.5' or more in height and each leaf can reach 30" long and 18" wide. The Big Gem is drought tolerant and sunburn resistant.

Virginia 15 is a light, aromatic cigarette and pipe tobacco. The plant grows to an average of 5' in height producing 22 leaves per plant. Leaves average 14" wide and up to 20" to 22" in length. It is a low nicotine variety with dried leaf averaging 0.95%. It is resistant to most diseases. Virginia 15 is a late maturing variety reaching bloom at 90-95 days.

The Cherry Red Tobacco plant is a cigarette and cigar tobacco that is also a great ornamental herb that produces big, bright yellow-green leaves. This Bright Leaf variety is a heavy producing tobacco plant that can grow to be over 7 feet tall. The Cherry Red plant yields over 25 big leaves per plant that are 24" long and 15" wide.

Virginia 116 is a bright leaf Virginia Gold variety which grows to 4 1/2 feet in height. Good disease resistance. It produces an average of 19 leaves when topped, excluding bed leaves. Leaves are up to 24" long and 12" wide. It gives good yields, and turns light yellow as it ripens in around 65 days. Easy to air cure and dries a bright golden yellow. It is mild to smoke and is an excellent choice for a cigarette tobacco or in a pipe.

Virginia Gold is a well known heirloom variety dating back well over 50 years. It grows to a height of 6'-7' with low suckering. The light green leaves are from 14" to 18" wide and 24" to 30" long, and turn a light yellow when ripe. The plants produce an average of 18 leaves per plant below the crows foot, with yields averaging 3 oz of dried leaf per plant. Matures in 55 days.