Molina Cigar Co.

Don Alejandro Robaina passes away at 91

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:36:00 +0000

reprinted from Reuters.com. Click Here for the webpage

Jeff Franks

HAVANA

Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:04pm EDT

(Reuters) - Cuban tobacco legend Alejandro Robaina, known in international cigar circles for producing the best of his country's famous tobacco leaves, died on Saturday at the age of 91, a family friend said.

Robaina, the only Cuban grower with a cigar bearing his name, had been in ill health after being diagnosed with cancer last year and had declined in recent days, said friend Sergio Hernandez, a cigar distributor living in Havana.

He died at his modest home on his 40-acre (16 hectare) farm near the town of San Luis in Cuba's Vuelta Abajo tobacco region near the western city of Pinar del Rio.

A frail Robaina celebrated his 91st birthday at his farm on March 20 surrounded by two dozen friends and family. He sat quietly in a chair smoking one of his famous cigars.

He told Reuters in a brief interview that the secret to growing the best tobacco was simple.

"You have to love the land and care for it," he said.

As the tobacco grows, he said "it talks to you, it tells you what it needs and you must listen."

Robaina spent his life mostly on his farm, tending to the surrounding tobacco fields. But he also traveled the world as Cuba's unofficial ambassador for tobacco.

He once attended a function with King Juan Carlos in Spain where the musician Sting asked for his autograph.

In recent years, he passed on his knowledge of tobacco growing to his family, and grandson Hiroshi had taken over most of the day-to-day management of the crop.

As his fame grew, Robaina's farm became a favorite destination for cigar lovers from all over the world, and until his health failed he would regularly welcome them into his home or for talks on the front porch.

"He once told me he was a millionaire because he had a million friends all over the world. He had a big heart and he treated everyone the same," Hernandez said.

Now, he said, "the godfather of Cuban tobacco is gone."

Funeral arrangements were pending.

(Editing by Anthony Boadle)

Tasting Havana's Perfect Smoke - A Preview of the 12th Annual Habanos Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:39:00 +0000

reprinted courtesy of the Wall Street Journal

by Will Lyons - Wall Street Journal

In the Embajadores room at the Habana Libre hotel the air is thick with the sweet, honeyed smoke of cigars. Outside, Havana's La Rampa street bustles with the sound of the early-evening crowd. A queue forms around Coppelia's parlor, a favorite with the locals, reputedly making the best ice cream on the island. Beyond, a short walk away, lies the Malecón, the weathered promenade that snakes its way around Havana's northern coastline, busy filling up with Cubans who go there to meet, flirt, smoke and exchange gossip.

Getty images A Cuban man smoking a cigar gathers tobacco leaves for drying.

Back inside the Habana Libre, once the headquarters of Fidel Castro's revolutionary armed forces, the Embajadores room is virtually full. Around 500 cigar aficionados, a mix of distributors, importers, specialists and enthusiastic smokers have gathered for the premiere of Trinidad's Robusto T.

On that evening a year ago, it is the first time the cigar is smoked anywhere in the world. Among the aficionados it is well received. Of the many descriptions heard that night is woody, spicy, full-bodied and creamy. Many people compliment it on having a wonderful draw.

As the cigars are handed out on trays, all eyes turn to a small group of VIPs notable for their late arrival. Among them is David Soul, better known as the actor who played Hutch in the television series "Starsky and Hutch." For a moment he's in danger of upstaging Fidelito, Fidel Castro's son, a regular at such occasions. Welcome to night three of the Festival del Habano, a week-long celebration of the Cuban tobacco industry. If you thought the world of wine appreciation was niche, try cigars.

One year on, anyone who is anyone in the cigar world will this weekend be flying into Havana's Jose Marti International Airport for the 12th annual festival. They will get five days of cigar tastings, tobacco-plantation visits, seminars, factory tours and smoking, lots and lots of smoking.

It is, says Simon Chase, a former director of London-based cigar importer Hunters & Frankau and a festival regular, a chance to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in the Cuban tobacco industry and experience the tradition of Cuba's cigar lineage first hand.

It was through Mr. Chase that I enjoyed my first experience of cigars in 2004. My first lesson was not to inhale -- as with wine, cigar appreciation is all about the taste. (Although it is worth pointing out that the U.S. National Cancer Institute warns that there is no safe tobacco, and cigar smoke, like cigarette smoke, contains toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers.)

"One tastes a cigar and smokes a cigarette," Mr. Chase told me. "In that sense it is an entirely different experience. Like a fine wine, each cigar is a blend of aged tobacco. So one doesn't inhale, one gently puffs, rather like sipping vintage Bordeaux."

With this in mind I was invited a few years ago to judge in a contest to ascertain which brand of Cuban cigars matched best with Scotch whisky. After sipping and puffing my way through a number of combinations, I found that the sweeter the beverage the better the match. So port and rum work very well with most cigars. Some whiskies and particularly red wine (although premium aged blends and sweeter single malts tend to be an exception to the rule) do tend to dry the palate, which can leave a nasty, bitter flavor. In the end we chose Macallan, a whisky noted for its mahogany color and distinctive nose of dried fruit, chocolate orange, wood spices and full, rich oak flavor; which we paired with a Partagas Piramides cigar.

It was on that first trip to the Festival del Habano that I was struck by the similarities between wine appreciation and cigar appreciation. Both are agricultural products, have long and distinguished histories, command the same attention to detail in production and packaging, and can age for many years.

Moreover, as a great wine is defined by the terroir of its vineyard, so the character of a fine cigar is intimately connected with the land where the tobacco grows.

A key fixture of the festival is a visit to one of Cuba's tobacco-growing regions. The early-morning drive from Havana to Vuelta Abajo in the westernmost corner of the Pinar del Rio tobacco-growing province passes through a patchwork of fields filled with lush, green plants.

Visually, I found it reminiscent of Chile's Maipo valley, although instead of vineyards there are tobacco fields. Around 80,000 acres of tobacco are planted each year in the region. The growing process lasts around 10 months ending with the harvest between January and March.

After the harvest, the leaf is taken to the farmer's curing barn where it is hung, dried and gathered together before undergoing a natural fermentation. This process sweats out the impurities, reducing acidity, tar and nicotine, and creating a finer, purer flavor. The leaves are then hand-sorted into sizes before being baled up and transferred to the warehouse, where they are left to age for three years.

The next step mirrors the blending art found in the wine and Scotch whisky industry as each tobacco plot produces a variety of flavors, which the master blender, or ligador, selects. The final blend is then rolled in the many factory houses dotted around Havana. In that sense, it is one of the world's last luxury-goods items to be produced on a mass scale by hand.

As a shorthand guide, those wanting a full-bodied rich cigar should look out for Partagas, Cuaba, Bolivar and Ramon Allones. Perhaps a little lighter, but still heavy are Cohiba, Montecristo, Vegas Robaina and Trinidad. Romeo y Julieta, Quintero, Punch and H. Upmann offer a lighter smoke. The most delicate flavors are achieved by Hoyo de Monterrey, San Cristobal de la Habana and Guantanamera, which creates a nutty, intense and fragrant flavor.

This year, at the 12th festival, there will be a presentation of a new size of Romeo y Julieta cigar created with women smokers in mind. Mr. Chase welcomes the development but says, ironically, it is the male interest that has fueled the recent interest in the product.

"One thing about cigar smoking is that it is predominantly a male preserve," he says. "Over the years there have been quite a lot of male bastions assailed and taken over by the other gender. Here is one [cigar smoking] which is still a male preserve."

Ranald Macdonald, managing director of the London-based restaurant group Boisdale, has been taking a group to the festival for the past 10 years. He says that the pace of economic change in Havana has been such that a decade has been comparable to 40 years in Europe. As a result there has been a general improvement in cigar manufacturing, and thus the overall quality of cigars has never been higher.

"Cigars now taste so much better than they did 10 years ago," Mr. Macdonald says. "This is down to a number of improvements but to give one example, from 2002 they have been freezing cigars which has eliminated tobacco-eating pests such as weevil."

This weekend, Mr. Macdonald's group will be scouring the cigar shops of Havana to stock up on a year's supply of tobacco.

"Havana is one of the most enigmatic places on earth," he says. "And everything about it, from where it sprung from in the 17th century to what it went through in the 20th century to where it is now, makes Europe feel rather dull." I'll smoke to that.

The 12th Festival del Habano takes place in Havana from Feb. 22 to 26.

Write to Will Lyons at wsje.weekend@wsj.com

Churchill cigar sells for $7,000 at auction in England

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:44:00 +0000

reprinted courtesy of BBC News

A half-smoked cigar, abandoned when Sir Winston Churchill dashed away to an urgent wartime Cabinet meeting, has sold at auction for £4,500 (a little over $7,000 USD).

The ex-prime minister's cigar, picked up by a member of the 10 Downing Street staff 69 years ago, had been expected to fetch up to £350.

The 9.5cm (3.74ins) cigar, embossed with the owner's name, was sold by Keys auctioneers in Aylsham, Norfolk.

It was bought by a private collector from Hertfordshire.

After picking up the stub, Downing Street valet Nellie Goble grabbed a sheet of 10 Downing Street notepaper and scribbled a note to a friend.

She wrote: "To Jack, with all good wishes from Nellie. Just a small souvenir to remind you at some future date of one of the greatest men that ever lived in England."

"Jack" treasured the letter and cigar until his death in 1987 when it passed to his daughter.

The woman kept it wrapped in the note in a drawer at her north Norfolk home.

In November, a butter dish used as an ashtray by Churchill at the London dining and debating club he co-founded was sold at Keys for £4,200, almost three times its estimate.

A New Year and a New Customer

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:53:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

It has been a while since our last post and I wanted to update you all. We have been out of cigars since last August and have been re-organizing our operations since then. Molina Cigar will be up and running again and we hope to get a new shipment of cigars in the next few months and will post here when we finally do.

You can find some of our cigars though (if your Devil's Weed retailer has already run out). Cigars International, one of the largest cigar retailers, has picked up some remaining stock and they are passing on the savings to you. We are excited that they have picked us up as some of you may have retailers in your area that are not carrying our product. A little note: don't worry about the description they have written about us. It was a joke and we are not going out of business. C.I. even offered to drop the description but we feel it creates some buzz and interest.

Let us know what you think of the cigars. To order from Cigars International, click here.

Saludos,
Luis

Cigar Reviews Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

And yet another great cigar blog has mentioned our company and cigars on their site. Matthew from the cigar blog, Cigar Reviews, interviewed me to find out what we are about and why smokers enjoy our cigars. Check out this blog as it is well-laid out and filled with interesting pieces. To read the interview, click here.

I want to thank Matthew again for the interview and for spreading the good word of the Devil's Weed. So long for now.

Saludos,
Luis

A Nice Tight Review

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

The cigar blog that posts reviews about cigars and other industry-worthy news known as Nice Tight Ash (@NiceTightAsh on Twitter) has just added a video reviewing our Devil's Weed Cabinet Selection Raleigh (our robusto, 5x50). We at Molina Cigar would like to thank Charlie (the reviewer and @mountchuck on Twitter), and all the guys at Nice Tight Ash (@tight_ash, @bulldogrifleman, and @btmisles). Take a look at the video review below.

Click here for the actual video on their website, and I highly recommend checking out this cigar blog. It is well laid out, clean and informative. Brothers of the leaf like these keep the cigar industry fresh and invigorated. Thanks again, fellas, and I look forward to other reviews and posts!

Saludos,
Luis

AP Story on the Increase in Home-Growing Tabaco

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:51:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

Maybe we are so far ahead of the curve or maybe citizens are so fed up with high taxes on cigars and other tobacco products that the Associated Press (AP) just released a story about the increasing trend of Americans growing their own tobacco lately. To read the story just click here.

Let's hope the feds do not make home-growing illegal. But they should know that the more they tax a particular item, the more dire consequences they cause (namely a large loss of tax revenue and/or a large loss of revenue from American business).

Regarding the same subject, if you're wondering why we have not posted any recent updates about the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, there is a reason and namely that is because our digital camera broke and we have yet to replace it. But just know that as of Day 121, the plants are about 3 feet high and have had plenty of small caterpillars and eggs taken from them. Those pests are persistent!

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 104

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Day 104. A voracious tabaco-consuming caterpillar.

Greetings Friends,

Today's post will reinforce to you Green Thumbs what can happen to your crop if you don't keep constant vigil.

Before we describe the dangers of a ruined crop let us give you an update of our experimental plot. We are in the midst of a typical New Orleanian summer pattern: hot and humid days with a temporary downpour (usually in the afternoon). As a result, we haven't had to spend money (or time) on watering the crop. In addition, the water quality is better than tap. It is amazing to literally watch the growth of these plants. Unfortunately, the wind can pick up before a downpour and some of the plants get turned over. However, the plants that bend in the wind correct themselves and begin to grow straight again. Take a look at the pictures to see the progress.

Day 104. Full-view of the crop.

Day 104. The Eastern Half.

Day 104. The Western Half.

Day 104. The MVP is about 9 inches in height.

And now to illustrate to you faithful some of the dangers of gardening (especially if you take the organic route of farming). FYI, the plant shown here is one that has grown in the backyard since last November. It is well over 7 feet tall and has already flowered. Anyway, pests are a constant danger to your tabaco plants and are a fine food for many caterpillars and other bugs. I took a look at the plant today and found about 5 caterpillars of the same species, each in a different stage of its life cycle before the cocoon stage. I am not sure what species this is but can only guess it is a type of butterfly. If any of you DW faithful know what species this is, let us know in the comments section.

First, if you find a small globe on a leaf, this is an egg. This is the time to prevent any damage to your plant. Get rid of it or transplant the egg to another spot (if you're the PETA type). A butterfly or moth has just laid an egg on top of the food source for the caterpillar that will soon hatch. Once it hatches, the particular species likes to eat the leaves of the plant. If left alone, entire leaves can disappear thus decreasing your harvest yield for fine smoking tabaco. This species, once hatched, has a spiky thorn on its backside (most probably for protection and defense). The more it eats, the faster and larger it grows. The largest one I found today is about 3 inches long. This particular caterpillar is actually quite an interesting specimen.

I have yet to see its cocoon stage and can only guess it will form the cocoon somewhere on the plant. I am letting these pests stay here so as not to lead them on to our fledgling crop. Again, a little oversight goes a long way in yielding a successful tabaco crop. Take a look at the caterpillars below.

Day 104. A caterpillar egg lying on its food source. Smart mom.

Day 104. A newly-hatched caterpillar. About 1/4 inch in length. Notice the hole it ate in the leaf.

Day 104. A medium-sized specimen.

Day 104. A full-grown caterpillar. Next is cocoon time.

Day 104. The damage these guys can wreak.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 100

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Day 100. A close-up of a fine specimen.

Greetings Friends,

It is Day 100 of the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment and we are still here and thriving. It is safe to say that the transplanting was a success. The tabaco plants have grown tremendously since the last post (6 days ago) so this means that the roots have taken hold of their new terrain. It has also rained the last 4 days so the plants are receiving good natural water and thus have exploded in size. Everyday, I am inspecting whether there are any signs of pests and, luckily, the plants have not been discovered by herbivorous insects.

Now as long as there aren't any major storms or wind, insects or other acts of nature to damage the plants, we can expect to harvest the leaves for smoking consumption in another 45 to 60 days. The "drainage system" works well and we can expect a great harvest. Now we play the waiting game and smoke some cigars (preferably Devil's Weed cigars) as we watch the tabaco plants grow! Take a look at the photos.

Day 100. Field-view of the crop. Nice.

Day 100. Western-half of the crop.

Day 100. Eastern-half of the crop.

Day 100. Is this the MVP?

Day 100. Or is this plant the MVP?

In case, you couldn't tell which of the photos was the long-running holder of the MVP, it was the first one. All the plants are getting plenty of water, nutrients and space for the roots to thrive that nearly all are MVPs.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 94

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Day 93. Tabaco in the rain.

Greetings Friends,

Today marks the 2nd day since we transplanted the tabaco plants to the garden plot in our backyard and the specimens seem to be doing fine so far. Yesterday (Day 93) was a little worrisome since a shower passed through the area and I wasn't sure how the transplants would respond so soon after transfer. In the end, they were fine.

I failed to mention in the last post a little tip regarding the laying of the ground tarp. In order to maximize the use and control of water, I recommend punching a few holes in the "valleys" of the ground tarp. This way the water that is collected from rain is drained and absorbed into the soil which will in turn be absorbed by the tabaco roots. Otherwise the water will just stay, stagnate and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

At this stage of tabaco cultivation by the professional commercial growers, it is ideal that the plant does not receive water directly onto the leaves. It is better if the plant absorbs the water from the ground via its roots. Why is that you ask? Water applied onto the leaves can result in water spots and commercial growers try to avoid this since the goal of tabaco cultivation is to have the highest wrapper yield (the most profitable grade due to its high aesthetics). But again, since this experiment is only teaching you how to grow tabaco for your own use, it is entirely up to you how you are to water the plants (as long as they receive some H2O).

Moreover, you want to be sure to not over-water the plants because if they absorb too much, then the leaves can wilt due to the oversaturation. (Again, I suppose if you do not care about wrapper yields, it may not matter if your leaves have some slight damage due to wilting). The commercial growers in Central America call the tabaco plants that have received too much water and result in wilted leaves drunk tabaco. In addition, too much water can also result in mold or fungal growth. Just be sure to monitor the condition of your crop.

Enjoy the pictures as we took some during the shower on Day 93 and the drier aftermath on Day 94.

Day 93. Singin' in the rain.

Day 93. Notice the valley collecting the rainwater.

Day 93. Ah, refreshing.

Day 93. Close-up.

Day 93. Watch the wilting.

Day 93. Drying off.

Day 93. Let the growing commence.

Day 94. Overall crop view. Notice the drainage from the valleys has occurred.

Day 94. Wilting can occur from too much heat or water. Take care!

Day 94. Not bad.

Day 94.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 92

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Day 92. A couple of happy tabaco plants.

Greetings Friends,

We have just completed an all-important step in the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment: transplanting. We will divide this entry into 2 parts for a simpler illustration: 1. preparation of the land and 2. transplanting. Enjoy the read!

Preparation of the Land:

As I mentioned yesterday, the preparation for the actual plot of land to contain the tabaco plants was done around Day 30. The first step at this stage is to choose the part of your backyard that is to be used as a garden. The highest part of the backyard is ideal but more importantly, the area has to have plenty of sunlight and no aerial obstructions. Next, if the chosen area is just dirt, you're good. Otherwise, if your situation was like mine, there was grass. If this is the case, then I recommend a good plower or other similar gardening equipment to pull out the grass and expose the soil. In my case, I went old-school and used a shovel to lift out the top-layer of grass. After some back-breaking work, I tilled the soil so that there were a series of "valleys" and "mountains". As you can see in the illustration below, this layout is ideal as it allows for water to be contained and not flood the tabaco plants in case you are hit with a shower storm or two. The plants will be placed on top of the "mountain" for maximum protection. Next (although not necessary), I placed a garden picket fence around the border of the plot. I was forced to do this as we have a couple of Labs that like to roam the backyard. If you do not have dogs or other backyard pets, this is not necessary (but it is still good form).

The steps up to this point were actually done last year when I used this layout for the last growing season. What I did on Day 30 of the GABTE was this next step: laying down the black "garbage bag" plastic tarp on the ground. Although this step is not necessary as well, I highly recommend implementing this cover. Reason One: you do not have to worry about weeds and pulling out weeds so often. The tarp kills off and prevents any grass, weeds or other plants from growing underneath its surface (the reason I do this early on is to deprive sunlight to any grass and weeds on the plot and to let them die off and ferment before we transplant our tabaco plants). Reason Two: the tarp is able to contain and store water from a shower or hosing session. Reason Three: the likelihood of any pests getting to your plants is lower. Many strawberry farmers use this tactic to grow their fruits (especially here in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, the strawberry capital) for the previous reasons and also to retain heat in the ground. Again, this step is not mandatory but it helps you out in the long run.

Take a look below at the cross-section of the plot to better understand how we will prepare our plot.

Cross-section of tabaco plot.

As far as the dimensions and where we will physically place the plants, look below at the bird's-eye view of the plot. It is important to leave enough space in between plants so that each can develop in peace and quiet without infringing on the next plant's space and nutrients. Notice that we leave about 4 feet between plants in the same column and when we look at column-to-column, we stagger the placement of the plants (like many houses that use brick on their facades). This is illustrated by the dotted lines "connecting" every other column. I have also left some space between the plants and the fence (if you decide to use a protective barrier of some kind).

In the end, the preparation is rather simple but very important. Once we transplant, expect an exponential growth rate from these "unconfined" plants. I have noticed that the growth rate of tabaco can be controlled by how long and in what size container you place the plants. Since the root system of tabaco grows out extensively, once the roots hit a boundary, the plant does not grow as much. I believe we could have shaved off 2 weeks in this experiment if I transplanted the tabaco earlier and if I transplanted the seedlings from the common plastic bin (during germination) to each individual plastic container earlier, as well. However, I left the plants as long as I did for their protection. Regardless, we are here now and ready for the transplant.

Bird's-Eye View of the tabaco plot.

Transplanting:

After checking the prepared plot of backyard, I was ready to transplant the all-stars. I recommend doing this step at dawn or dusk so the plants don't have to worry about the daytime heat of the sun (this step is a stressor for the tabaco anyway; plus you are more comfortable as well). I water the plants in their containers so that when I actually pull out the plants, it is easier and the plants are held intact.

Day 92. One quick survey of the plot.

Day 92. The plants are ready.

According to the drawn layout, I go to the spot where the transplanting process is to occur. Secondly, I use a small gardening hoe to cut out a small hole in the trap. This is where the plant will be placed. Next, I dig out enough soil so the plant (with its container soil) can be placed level with the ground. After the ground is prepared, I carefully dig out the tabaco plant from its plastic container. Do not worry if some soil is left behind with leftover roots. The plant has a dense root structure. Next, I place the plant in the hole and pack the soil around it in place. This keeps the plant intact and secure.

I repeat these steps with the other plants and lay them out according to the plan. When I am done, I lightly hose the plants with water (not putting the stream into direct contact with the tabaco but rather letting the ground around the plant absorb the water). From this point on, when you water the plants, it is better to water them in this way. Water spots are more likely to form on the leaves if you water directly onto the leaves.

From here on out, the growth rate should be quick. As long as the soil is moist, the bugs are kept at bay and the plants get an adequate amount of sunlight, the crop will be plentiful and the leaves thick. Stay tuned for updates regarding the open-field growing stage. Happy planting!

Day 92. Ready for liftoff.

Day 92. Pierce the tarp for plant entry.

Day 92. Opening the entry.

Day 92. The open hole.

Day 92. Dig out some soil for the plant.

Day 92. Taking out the plant.

Day 92. High above ground in a ball of soil.

Day 92. Notice the impressive root structure.

Day 92. Packing the soil to secure the plant.

Day 92. This is the last home for the tabaco plant.

Day 92. Another successful patient.

Day 92. Expect major and fast growth now.

Day 92. An illustration on the "staggering" placement of the plants.

Day 92. The all-stars have been transplanted.

Day 92. Full-view of the crop.

Day 92. Another angle of the plot.

Day 92. A job well done.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 91

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Day 91. A curious toad enjoys the tabaco garden plot.

Greetings Friends,

And so we have just completed three full months in our humble project, the Great American Tabaco Experiment, and we are ready for the next stage: Transplanting. This will be done tomorrow but we wanted to show you the progress up until this next step. The plants are about 5 to 6 inches in height and should withstand the inherent stress that comes with this stage.

Take a look at the plants and their healthy state. With every new level of leaves that appears, comes thicker and greener leaves. Many of the leaves at the bottom (the first leaves to appear) of the plant are becoming lighter (whiter) as they are deprived of sunlight. This is natural and I recommend pruning/picking them off if they are too weakly. This assures that the energy going into the plant from the roots (from water and soil) is allocated to the strong and newer leaves.

The last photo is of the plot of the backyard that will contain the tabaco plants until they mature and its smokeable leaves are ready for harvest. I will go into more detail tomorrow, but essentially I wanted to show you how it looks and what the plants can expect. On a side-note, I began preparing this plot on Day 30 and this is what it looks like today. But as I said I will go into more detail tomorrow; as a matter of fact you can expect tomorrow's post to be separated into 2 parts: 1. how to prepare the plot of land that you will use to grow tabaco plants and 2. the actual transplanting steps. Important stuff so stay tuned and enjoy these pictures. Oh and that toad you saw in the beginning of the post was pretty friendly. I just hope I don't catch any warts.

Day 91. One more day until transplant day.

Day 91. The first group looks good.

Day 91. The second group looks good.

Day 91. The third group looks good.

Day 91. The prepared plot that will be the site for the mature tabaco plants.

Saludos,

Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 86

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:22:00 +0000

Day 86. I'm ready for my close-up.

Greetings Friends,

Another week has gone by and the progress continues. These plants have more than doubled in size and they seem eager to be transplanted to the open backyard. And thus, our little project, the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, continues its straight course. The plants average a height of about 5 inches and they are a healthy green color with thick leaves. In terms of maintenance, not much has changed . I check the plants at least twice a day (once in the morning and one more time in the afternoon or early evening), make sure the soil is hydrated, and see that pests are not present.

There have been no problems except that the area has not seen showers so I am forced to water the plants everyday. I have also taken the tarp off the last 2 days to see how the plants respond to direct sunlight. I saw some slight wilting this afternoon but nothing major. I am doing this to prepare the plants when I transplant them and leave them out in the open backyard. At this point, you will definitely see an exponential increase in growth (as the roots are not constricted to any closed-off area). You can see that the roots right now are dense and even showing themselves at the surface.

I had originally planned to transplant them by this point but maybe I will wait until this weekend as this will leave the plants with enough time to acclimate to life without the shade-tarp. Before then, I will add a post about how the area of the backyard is to be prepared for your tabaco garden. So until the next post regarding the GABTE, check out the photos taken on Day 86.

Day 86. The All-Stars.

Day 86. The guys in the middle are standing straight.

Day 86. The MVP (in the back) is getting some competition.

Day 86.

Saludos,

Luis

Devil's Weed Merchandise powered by CafePress

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:33:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

as if a couple of DW threads weren't enough, we at Molina Cigar Company have decided to satiate those who crave more DW-labeled items. Thanks to CafePress.com, we are able to offer some cool extras for you fans. Besides the plethora of shirts (Tees, golf shirts, ladies, etc), we are offering clocks, mugs (including a cool stein for those beer aficionados), a dog shirt, buttons, postcards, a great print of our Discovery Scene and magnets. Click here to visit our official shop. Check out pictures of some samples.

The classic cool tee.

Swing the golf club with this DW polo.

We didn't forget you ladies!

Be the cool kid this fall/winter season!

What better way to carry your boxes of Devil's Weed!

A great way to pair your coffee and a DW Cabinet.

Ordering product is smooth and easy and since we have our own online shop, you can rest assure that you will receive authentic officially-licensed Devil's Weed product. Be sure to look at a couple of our "surprise" items. Enjoy and sport your love for the cigar with any of the DW merch! Especially if your girlfriend wears a thong. Yeah, we have DW-branded thongs, too.

Saludos,

Luis

Devil's Weed O.S. T-Shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0000

"Original Style" Tee on a Smoke-Grey background (Click to enlarge)

Greetings Friends,

I wanted to quickly notify all that we are offering a new Devil's Weed T-shirt which is called the "Original Style" (or O.S. for those abbreviation-savants). Like our first shirt (the "Crown-Style" Tee) the Original Style is a comfortable 100% pre-shrunk cotton shirt that will announce to the world of your support of not only Devil's Weed, but of the handmade cigar. The shirt color is a smoke-gray (no pun intended) color and the text is a brighter ash-white (I can go all day). They come in L, XL, 2X and 3X. You can purchase these shirts by clicking the checkout button on the side of this blog or you can email us at blog@molinacigar.com for an order.

The MSRP will be $24.95 plus 3.95 shipping and handling for every order (even if you order multiple shirts). Or request the shirts from your tobacconist for better pricing! Thanks and let us know what you think of the O.S.!

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 73

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:14:00 +0000

Day 72. The results of 1 day without water. Beware!

Greetings Friends,

Here is the latest update of our Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment which features the events from Day 72 and Day 73. Enjoy!

Day 72:

The past few days have been great for the growth of the plants and it finally rained one day (although we have been watering everyday except on this day). So here is some evidence of what happens when these plants in very hot weather go without water for one day: they can wilt dramatically to protect themselves from the heat. Again, tabaco is a water hog and loves the stuff so make sure they're hydrated especially at this stage. Don't worry though; I watered them late in the afternoon and expect the plants to straighten right back into shape by tomorrow. Any further delay without water however would certainly have caused severe damage; so remember to always keep the soil in these containers moist.

Day 72. Wow! The MVP has let his leaves down to escape the heat.

Day 72. Remember to love your tabaco plants. Water them!

Day 72. The remains of the fallen. RIP, sprout.

Day 72. Now we wait to see the rise of the thirsty...

Day 73:

And so to no surprise, the plants are alive and doing well. Look at the growth of them all. I anticipate that another 8 - 15 days will suffice for the final transplanting out to the open field. The goal is for each plant to be at least 6 inches tall so that they will be strong enough to develop fully out in the open heat. The MVP which showed the most dramatic effects after receiving water is standing straight today and looks taller than before (he's about 4 inches tall right now), but the other plants are also doing well and have seen dramatic growth. Even the guy who had some caterpillar damage has new leaves and offshoots. The GABTE is going well right now and the forecast calls for a good transplanting. Until next time, get out there and grow your own!

Day 73. The All-Stars jump back!

Day 73. In the left corner...

Day 73. In the middle ring...

Day 73. In the right corner...

Day 73. The MVP is up and running again.

Day 73. Grow and prosper.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 68

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:12:00 +0000

Day 68. An example of the great growth thus far.

Greetings Friends,

The transfer has been a success for the most part. Any time you transplant/transfer plants, the shock is a stressor and can kill a plant (especially if the plants are very young). This post features pictures and notes from Day 64 and Day 68. Enjoy the update!

Day 64:

This past week saw record-breaking high temperatures in the Greater New Orleans area so it was imperative to keep a close watch on the tabaco plants. Even though tabaco thrives in hot and tropical climates, these plants are still young and the heat should be minimized.

The tarp definitely helped out, but it was important to make sure the plants had water at all times. On Day 62, the plants did not receive water and it showed. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures but little guys were wilting and not as green. However, everyday after, I made sure that the plants had plenty of the H2O and by Day 64, the plants were growing fast and getting greener. The only plant that caused some concern was the guy on the lower-right hand corner and I knew he was struggling and might not make it. Check out the photos.

Day 64. Looking good even in the 100+ degree weather.

Day 64. Notice even that the MVP shows signs of wilting in the extreme heat.

Day 64. Grow baby grow.

Day 64. This guy is growing even with some of the prior caterpillar damage.

Day 68:

Wow! Constant watering and vigilance pays off. Even though we are not talking about a lot of water (about a 16 oz bottled water's worth per day spread among the three trays), if the plants are well-hydrated, nature will take care of the rest. It is amazing to see how rapidly they are growing; new shoots and leaves are appearing and they are growing fast! The MVP is about 4 inches tall now and the green is very deep right now. Unfortunately, there is one plant that did not make it. I deduce that the combination of transferal, the heat and how small it was caused the plant to wither and die. But all is well otherwise. The remaining 11 plants should suffice and result in a good crop regardless. Also, there have been no signs of any caterpillars or other pests so the plants have been able to thrive.

Check out the blog next week for an update as we continue the Great American Tabaco Experiment.

Day 68. What progress...

Day 68. A nice specimen.

Day 68. Notice the little leaf in the center that is appearing.

Day 68. The MVP.

Day 68. Even with the heat, the leaves do not wilt as much during the day.

Day 68. This guy did not make it.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 59

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Day 43. An example of a tabaco pest. Damn caterpillar.

Greetings friends,

As I mentioned last time regarding our little experiment, you must maintain a constant watch to protect your tabaco crop. In this post I will give you a quick summary from Day 43, Day 49 and Day 59. Enjoy the stories and the pictures from each of these updates.

Day 43:

Here we go again! I found some more evidence of pest damage. I quickly scanned through the plants but these caterpillars are well-camouflaged. (I suppose they have to be as they are prey for birds). I found 4 and quickly disposed of them. You can see an example of one at the beginning of the post. If you miss even one, your plants are in danger, so again, either inspect your plants regularly or use insecticide (but you all know my thoughts on the latter option). Anyway, there were plenty of plants that survived. This is the reason tabaco has evolved over time to produce so many seeds. The probability of just one surviving from seed to mature flowering plant is low, so the plant produces thousands and thousands of seeds. And so after cleaning house (or garden), I wait for the plants to grow some more.

Day 43. Some damage but not too bad.

Day 43. A survivor.

Day 43. A nice survivor.

Day 43. A victim. Or two. Or three. Or...

Day 49:

By this time the sprouts have had a chance to recover from the caterpillar damage and have regained their color and strength. Again, all I did was check on the plants at least once a day. I personally checked the plants once in the morning and once at dusk. Any hint of damage resulted in me scouring for pests. I found a couple today and quickly terminated them. I apologize, PETA...not. Anyhow, at this point I felt that in another week, the plants would be strong enough for transfer to individual containers.

Day 49. Greener and denser.

Day 49. The MVP is doing well. Notice the veins.

Day 49. A nice scene.

Day 49. A healthy return.

Day 59:

We have approached the day of transfer. Selection Sunday! (well today is Thursday, but I love March Madness). Not to be confused with transplanting to the open field, transferring is quite simple. What I did today was choose the best-looking candidates from the hundreds of sprouts. I do this so that the plants can have a few more days under their belts and be strong enough to survive the hot, open weather. All I did was inspect each potential candidate and if it looked healthy, strong and green and without damage, I delicately pinched the sprout from the base and dug my fingers beneath the soil and pulled it from the container. TIP: Moistening the soil before pulling the sprouts causes less damage to the plant and root system.

I had soil containers ready (you can buy these at any garden center or Home Depot) filled with the backyard soil (this helps reduce shock to the plant during the transplanting step) and gently planted the sprout. What you have to notice during transfer is the root structure of each tabaco plant. It is simply amazing. Tabaco by its nature is a nutrient-water-hog. Tabaco loves to take from the earth as is evidenced by the impressively abundant root systems.

All-in-all, there were 12 plants that I chose. After transfer was complete, I put the little guys back on the table out back, added life-sustaining water and covered the plants using the homemade see-through tarp. Now that there are less plants from the hundreds that were available, it is even more essential that I maintain a constant watch. At this point the VIPs should thrive as each has its own container of soil and is not competing with crowded neighboring plants. I will let these plants stay as they are anywhere from 10-15 days before we transplant out to the open "field" (ahem, I mean backyard).

It is very hot right now, so the tarp is important in providing shade, but every day these plants survive only makes them stronger. Until next update, check out the Day 59 pictures and let us know what you think. Hopefully, we have inspired a few of you to catch that greenthumb and begin your own tabaco crops.

Day 59. Bird's eye view before we transfer.

Day 59. The best sprout. The MVP.

Day 59. Some nice specimens.

Day 59. Prepping up for Selection (sun)Day.

Day 59. A chosen sprout is up-rooted for transfer.

Day 59. Look at the root system!

Day 59. Going into the soil.

Day 59. The All-Stars have been chosen and transferred to individual containers.

Day 59. Creme de le creme each in its own container.

Day 59. Back to the shade.

Saludos,

Luis

WWNO: WTC of New Orleans Examines Trade with Cuba

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:14:00 +0000

WWNO: World Trade Center of New Orleans Examines Trade with Cuba (2009-06-01)

Click the above link to read the report concerning a possible trade relationship between Cuba and the States (particularly how Louisiana plays into this).

Source: WWNO.com

Belicoso Brothers Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:03:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

I had the opportunity to speak to Zach at the cigar-related website and podcast site called Belicoso Brother's Cigarcast. He interviewed me last week and we chatted all things cigars and Devil's Weed. It was a treat and as I told him during the interview, it is nice to see cigar aficionados like him and his partner-in-crime, Peter, create and maintain these type of websites. They are integral in spreading the good word of the cigar and they inform other interested cigar smokers about our industry and culture. And since the creators are part of the younger generation of smokers, they are important in continuing the tradition of cigar-smoking. Their website also includes a blog. It's a beautiful thing, so listen to what these geometrically-inclined cats have to say.

To check out their website click here or to download the Itunes podcast which aired our interview, click here (episode number 2).

Good luck, Belicoso Brothers, and keep up the great work!

Saludos,

Luis

DogWatch Social Club Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:55:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

We at Molina Cigar Co. and Devil's Weed wanted to inform you of our interview with Bob at the all-informative DogWatch Social Club (Cigar Radio) website. If you would like to see the summary of the show and listen to our interview click here and scroll down to Show #221 (May 9, 2009). Or if you would like to download the show (caution: it's a big file), then click here.

Devil's Weed LP-1803 was also featured as the cigar of the month for these guys so we are very honored. Check out this website if you haven't and stay informed about the cigar industry's latest news, updates and features. Thanks again to Bob and Dale at DogWatch Cigar Radio!

Saludos,
Luis

Smoking Ban in LA Fails!

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:00:00 +0000

A bill to ban smoking in Louisiana bars and gambling facilities failed to pass the House 29-71. For continuing coverage on this breaking news event, please refer to http://www.wwltv.com.

At least Louisiana politicians have not totally lost their minds.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 37

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

Day 36. Some of these sprouts are fine, but look at some of the damage.

It has been close to 2 weeks since our last update regarding the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment but we are back. It is Day 37 and boy has there been a hard lesson learned and this is it: if you do not maintain a constant vigilance on your crop, then expect the plants to be subject to the harsh elements. I was out of town the last 11 days so I wasn't able to check on the fledgling plants. Before my departure, I watered the plants and I put the holding container under my outdoor patio to protect them from any strong rain.

On my return, however, this was not enough. First of all many of the plants lost their lush green color because of the lack of sunlight (Botany 101: plants need the sun light to produce chlorophyll which accounts for a plant's green color; a lack of sunlight, causes a plant to turn white and eventually die). Secondly, a pest or two did major damage to the majority of the plants. Many of the little sprouts have disappeared and some larger plants have had leaves subject to a fine meal. Now, I did not want to use any sprays or insect repellents on the plants so I know this could have been an issue, but the first few weeks that saw my supervision may have prevented any major insect intrusion. I could have taken natural steps to prevent any further damage on first sight (for example, ladybugs are great defenders of crops; they eat plant-eating pests and they themselves do not have a desire for tabaco. Also, pouring a boundary line of salt around the perimeter of the plants creates a barrier for small slugs and other ground insects from entering the breeding grounds).

Anyway, upon my return, I put the plants in the sunlight and watered them again and hopefully the ones that made it (I should have enough for a dozen good ones) will make a fine recovery. But, man, what a scare when I saw the sprouts! Take a look at the damage below, friends, and remember: if you are going to grow your own tabaco, do not ignore the little guys. They can be fragile but with a little supervision, this is no sweat.

At this point, I will let the plants recover for about 7 days (at most) before we select the creme de la creme for transplanting each plant into its own individual containers to allow further growth.

And I learned that when I leave for a long duration, I will have to hire a tabaco nanny.

Day 36. Upon my return, the density is not as high as it should have been.

Day 36. The hot spot has seen some stress.

Day 36. Don't worry little guys, we'll survive this.

Day 37. Even one day sees a slight improvement, but we're not out yet.

Day 37. Here are a few good candidates for transplanting.

Day 37.

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 26

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

On Day 26, I have some good news and bad news regarding the Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment. The bad news is that some of the seedlings seem to have been targets for some voracious plant-eating insects (probably the same ones that love your backyard tomatoes). The good news is that the damage wasn't too bad and there are still scores and scores that are untouched. I suppose that is why tabaco plants produce so many seeds: the odds of a plant surviving to produce its own seeds is small (there are many insects that love to feed on them and mold and other diseases are always a threat). I refuse to use sprays or other artificial means to keep away pests. I hate the stuff and I feel the plants that survive naturally will produce seeds that I would want to collect anyway (in other words, I am implementing a sort of selective selection in order to breed plants that exhibit strong and desirable characteristics, i.e. disease-resistant and insect-resistant plants; step aside Darwin).

I will gather some information concerning these issues from a tabaco master later this week. Details will come in over a week as I may not have access to a computer (hint, hint). But don't worry my fellow faithful of the DW...we will provide details when they come available. In the meanwhile, check out these pictures of Day 26 that I took earlier in the day.

Day 26. The top view. Becoming dense.

Day 26. The strong one is getting company. Notice the plants are leaning towards the left. They are following the path of the sun.

Day 26. The hot spot is getting larger and larger. Which plants will make the cut?

Day 26. Makes you want to cry, huh?

Saludos,
Luis

The Great American Backyard Tabaco Experiment, Day 22

noreply@blogger.com (Molina Cigar) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

Boy do we have plenty of pictures for you today! Our little experiment is going fine and the weather here has been fantastic for growing tabaco. It has been a little hotter than what is ideal for the plants but the tarp provides the right amount of sunlight needed for the growing sprouts without having them shrivel. I rigged the shade tarp by cutting some tarp material that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's and affixing two slim pieces of wood to provide some support. Then I put a stick in the center of the container to provide the support for the "tent" that is to go up. So essentially I have built a mini circus top or tee-pee and this is great to keep out most of the pests and to block the extra sunlight all around the perimeter.

We have profiled the setup from Days 18, 19, 21, and 22 (today). What I have learned is that during these days you see very noticeable changes in the growth of these plants. Today I saw a sprout that has 2 levels of leaves! As I have mentioned before, I don't know what we're going to do with the extra plants. Maybe I can be the next Johnny Tabacoseed and plant the tabaco sprouts all over the city! Check out the pictures. If you would to see a close-up of any picture, just click on it.

Day 18, the top view.

Day 18, the biggest sprout is on the top right-hand corner of the diagonal front of sprouts.

Day 18, the hot spot.

Day 18, under the tarp.

Day 19, the top view.

Day 19, the hot spot. You can see the middle stick which provides support for the tarp in the background.

Day 19, the strong plant.

Day 19.

Day 21, the top view.

Day 21, the hot spot.

Day 21, the strong one is getting some company.

Day 21, here is the circus top. Nice.

Day 22, the top view.

Day 22, the hot spot is showing dramatic growth.

Day 22, the strong one and company.

Day 22, I wonder if tabaco sprouts can be used in a salad. Hmm.

Saludos,

Luis