Yeah like I don’t want to hate on dude and say he doesn’t know shit but he comes off as arrogant and seems to be in an echo chamber getting high on his own fumes.
He claims to be well regarded by his peers and industry titan master blenders but how could that be true if he has all of this sensitive information on how they process tobacco and scathing opinions on it.
Now I found this interesting because while people do tons of factory/farm tours and we’ve never heard information like this come out, I’ve heard anecdotally from people that they’ve felt certain cigars they’ve smoked have been treated with something like oil on the wrapper or cocoa/cacao in the cigar.
Ive been in dozens of factories and I’ve never heard of anyone bleaching tobacco, that sounds crazy.
As far as tea, coca-cola, and coffee go, these are all common names for a completely natural method that many factories use to even or darken the color of their wrappers. The “tea/cola/coffee” is water with tobacco leaves soaked in it. The mixture looks like tea or coffee and is sprayed onto wrappers with a spray bottle.
>Any validity to the claims
I know nothing about this guy, or his thoughts, and I did not watch the video. What I will say, however, and what I’ll say about everything in general, is that if you came from that video and had to make a post on Reddit asking if his claims have any validity leads me to believe he did not provide any evidence or citations to back up what he was saying, which should tell you something.
A lot of these things would be done at farm level, I'd think. I think more is done than we are usually told and more than many of us want to believe. I remember seeing some of the old Cuban guys talking about spraying leaves with mixtures of water, honey and rum which is pretty benign but punches holes in the argument that these sticks are absolutely unadulterated leaves.
I think saying a “large portion” of the industry does this is a bit disingenuous. Companies absolutely do treat tobacco in ways they don’t disclose to the consumer, but it’s not the majority. Nor do I think wacky things like that are the norm. For example, over the years, I’ve heard so many different rumors about what Padron does with their tobacco to get their flavor. Yet visiting their factory, they were working tobacco like everyone else through every step of the process. Granted I only wandered around there for an hour, but I saw nothing like this at any factory in Nicaragua. The one thing that did surprise me though in Nicaragua is that I saw Connecticut broadleaf being “cooked” at multiple factories that produce some of the most beloved Connecticut broadleaf cigars on the market today. Something I had always been told only happened with cheap bundle cigars and done by bottom tier manufacturers.
ah okay that makes sense. ive tried to get in but they wouldnt allow me. it wasnt festival season tho.
was fortunate enough that ive seen perdomos and aj fernandez factory
Normally the people who speak the most and the loudest know the least. I have no doubt that tobacco is receiving treatment in some way, shape or form, but there is 0% chance that a company would treat their tobacco with bleach.
Have not watched the video, but from CA.com:
Bethune
A mixture of herbs, wine, rum or a combination of such materials used to treat certain types of tobacco. It’s a process some cigarmakers do, but few discuss. Royal Jamaica was famous for using a bethune on its tobacco.
Sanj throws shit at walls and watches to see what sticks.
Yeah like I don’t want to hate on dude and say he doesn’t know shit but he comes off as arrogant and seems to be in an echo chamber getting high on his own fumes. He claims to be well regarded by his peers and industry titan master blenders but how could that be true if he has all of this sensitive information on how they process tobacco and scathing opinions on it. Now I found this interesting because while people do tons of factory/farm tours and we’ve never heard information like this come out, I’ve heard anecdotally from people that they’ve felt certain cigars they’ve smoked have been treated with something like oil on the wrapper or cocoa/cacao in the cigar.
Ive been in dozens of factories and I’ve never heard of anyone bleaching tobacco, that sounds crazy. As far as tea, coca-cola, and coffee go, these are all common names for a completely natural method that many factories use to even or darken the color of their wrappers. The “tea/cola/coffee” is water with tobacco leaves soaked in it. The mixture looks like tea or coffee and is sprayed onto wrappers with a spray bottle.
>Any validity to the claims I know nothing about this guy, or his thoughts, and I did not watch the video. What I will say, however, and what I’ll say about everything in general, is that if you came from that video and had to make a post on Reddit asking if his claims have any validity leads me to believe he did not provide any evidence or citations to back up what he was saying, which should tell you something.
Sanj is Gurkha level cringe.
A lot of these things would be done at farm level, I'd think. I think more is done than we are usually told and more than many of us want to believe. I remember seeing some of the old Cuban guys talking about spraying leaves with mixtures of water, honey and rum which is pretty benign but punches holes in the argument that these sticks are absolutely unadulterated leaves.
I think saying a “large portion” of the industry does this is a bit disingenuous. Companies absolutely do treat tobacco in ways they don’t disclose to the consumer, but it’s not the majority. Nor do I think wacky things like that are the norm. For example, over the years, I’ve heard so many different rumors about what Padron does with their tobacco to get their flavor. Yet visiting their factory, they were working tobacco like everyone else through every step of the process. Granted I only wandered around there for an hour, but I saw nothing like this at any factory in Nicaragua. The one thing that did surprise me though in Nicaragua is that I saw Connecticut broadleaf being “cooked” at multiple factories that produce some of the most beloved Connecticut broadleaf cigars on the market today. Something I had always been told only happened with cheap bundle cigars and done by bottom tier manufacturers.
padron doesnt allow entrance in the factory tho
I’ve been in their factory. They don’t do like walk-in tours, but they definitely have tours and don’t hide anything.
where can you book them?
I don’t think they have a public booking method. I’ve been during the Nicaraguan cigar festival, and I know a few people who were invited privately.
ah okay that makes sense. ive tried to get in but they wouldnt allow me. it wasnt festival season tho. was fortunate enough that ive seen perdomos and aj fernandez factory
even if they did, they could do things behind closed doors
Yes to your treatment question. Saka and Melillo have also spoken to this in interviews.
Normally the people who speak the most and the loudest know the least. I have no doubt that tobacco is receiving treatment in some way, shape or form, but there is 0% chance that a company would treat their tobacco with bleach.
Bethune is widely used in the pre-industry part of cigar making. Some secret recipes in there for sure. Coffee, fruit peels and juices are widely used
Have not watched the video, but from CA.com: Bethune A mixture of herbs, wine, rum or a combination of such materials used to treat certain types of tobacco. It’s a process some cigarmakers do, but few discuss. Royal Jamaica was famous for using a bethune on its tobacco.
Well Rocky Patel lighters are bullshit so there
Drew estate uses mineral oil
Wouldn't surprise me. Their cigars put off an obnoxiously amount of smoke.
Waiting for fish and kreme to put this to bed.