These tobaccos are
raised in the vicinity of the Trabzon and Akçaabat districts, Eastern Black Sea coastal
area.
Their leaves are big, broad
and with medium wings. They have very thin and highly elastic texture, from light red to
red bright in colour. They have a very strong taste and are used in blends in order to
give them more strength. They also give them a more pleasant colour. It is significant for
the blends containing small leaves and high amounts of scraps to incorporate this varlety
due to its good cutting property and harmonizing capabilities. They give especially to the
mild and tasteless (not sweet) blends more satisfying character.
Their combustibility and
filling capacities are high. Their nicotine content is also the highest among all Turkish
grown tobaccos-average of 3.85 % . It should however be noted here that the high nicotine
content has deliberately been raised to this level after many years of study and research.
The sugar content, however is very low.
Tobaccos with different
characteristics are being grown in the area called Artvin, which lies at a high altitude
to the East of Trabzon. This type has medium to big size leaves, slightly ovate en
shape and narrow wings. Their colour ranges from light yellow
to light red. This type is cultivated at Artvin. Borçka and Ardanuş. Their taste is
generally strong, but especially the leaves of a lighter colour have a satisfying taste.
They have a thin and elastic texture. Their combustibility an filling capacity is
good. To some extent, they can substitute Trabzon tobaccos in the blends.
The Trabzon area has a
rough, uneven surface ( broken land) and red podzolic soils. The principal constituents of
the range from sandstone to volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The top soil has a grayish
brown colour, is of sandy loams type and acid reaction.
Average Temperature during
the growing stage is 21.3º C, total rainfall 217.0 mm. and average relative humidity 76 %
Farmers bale their tobaccos in the
Iskenderiye method-each bale being approx. 30 kgs. After processing they are again stacked
into 30 kgs. Iskenderiye bales.