This tobacco variety is
produced in the Izmir, Manisa, Muğla, Aydın, Denizli and (parts only) Balıkesir
districts of the Aegean region.
This variety has small,
slightly broad, sessile and basma type leaves. Their texture is thin and elastic, the
veins are fine and withstand well mechanical processing. Their colour is either yellow or
light yellow. Some of the top leaves show dark coffee brown dapples of aroma. The taste of
this variety is distinguished by its extreme mildness and sweetness and it has a strong
and special aroma. This variety, being unique among all other tobaccos grown in the rest
of the rest of the world, is extensively used for the improvement of cigarette blends. As
the tobacco of this variety improves the taste of strong and bitter tobaccos, it has a
multiple affect on the blends, and due to heir excellent qualities it increases the taste
of the cigarettes.
This tobacco is the
principal variety in demand the world over by manufacturers of various kinds of
cigarettes, and it is also suitable for pipe tobacco blends. The most aromatic types of
Izmir tobaccos are produced in the Gavurköy and Akhisar districts. Tobacco produced,
however. In the Ligda district near Izmir. Are lighter in colour, thinner in texture. But
bigger in size.
Tobaccos from the Aegean
region are well known to be of low nicotine and protein content on the one hand and of a
high sugar content on the other. The average nicotine content is lower than 1% and
sometimes as little as 0,25 % The tobacco leaves have a very high hygroscopicity due to
their small cells and close texture.
The soils of this region
have different characteristics varying from one place to another. The basic composition of
the soil is derived from sandstone up to volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In some places,
however, there are also sandy and loamy alluvial soils.
The top layer of the soil in
this region is then generally shallow, greyish or red-brown in colour, sandy and loamy,
granular. Friable and shows a low acid (pH) reaction.
Generally speaking the
climate of region can be classified as Mediterranean. The summers are therefore usually
hot and dry. With few rainfalls during the growing season, the average temperature is
22,8º C, total rainfall 97.1 mm and the relative humidify 57 %.
The farmers stack their
tobaccos in bales of a 50-60 kgs. capacity, called "kalıp". This is also commonly
referred to as unprocessed baling. The bales of processed tobacco on the other hand
are called "tonga" Tongas weigh either 45 or 60 kgs.
Due to its great industrial value and
increase in demand the production of this variety is rising each year at present. It
constitutes over half of Turkey's entire crop.