Growing Greener Tobacco with Plasencia Cigars

You might think that just about every premium handmade cigar is blended from organic tobacco. After all, cigars are all about natural tobacco and traditional methods, right? Well, as it turns out, there's not many. At the time of this writing, just one we’re aware of: The Plasencia Reserva Organica. The Plasencias are experts in all things tobacco. They run the largest tobacco-cultivating operation in the world, with 8 plantations spread across all of the major regions of Nicaragua and Honduras. And their 4 factories produce tens of millions of cigars every year. They've built their tobacco empire on the legacy of generations of tobacco farmers. The first Plasencia planted tobacco in 1865 and the Plasencias were among the first to grow tobacco in Nicaragua. So they are well-versed in the old ways of doing things. But they also feel the burden to do things differently and lead the industry towards a more sustainable future. Because tobacco plants are so delicate and prone to pests, and losing a crop to insects or blight would be devastating to farmers, just about every tobacco farmer uses non-organic pesticides and fertilizers. Nestor Plasencia Jr. studied agriculture as a college student in the '90s and he became fascinated by organic agriculture. When he joined the company after graduating, he was determined to eventually start growing organic tobacco. His quest took years to accomplish due to the numerous challenges that needed organic solutions. And we have to admit that his final farming method does seem a bit hairbrained. Garlic and a fungus called Trichoderma keep insects and the black shank disease away from the plants while planting velvet beans and tilling them back into the soil in between tobacco crops helps fertilize the soil and prevent black shank and blue mold from taking hold in the soil. Sunflowers attract predator insects who eat potential pests. Nestor Jr. even started earthworm farms to produce organic fertilizer from animal manure and tobacco scraps. If that's not above-and-beyond, we don't know what is! Finally, the first Plasencia farm earned its organic certification in 2000. Since then, Nestor Jr. has expanded his organic operations throughout Esteli, Jalapa, and Condega. Organic tobacco not only uses 50% less water and zero chemicals, but it is also thicker and stronger-flavored than non-organic tobacco. And starting in 2017, the Plasencias have produced cigars containing 100% organic tobacco under the Plasencia Reserva brand. According to critics and everyday smokers alike, the Plasencia Reserva is cleaner, smoother, and more flavorful thanks to its organic tobacco. Medium-bodied and full of satisfying leather, coffee, raisin, and nutmeg notes, the Plasencia Reserva is worthy of any humidor – even if you enjoying your cigars with a side of chemicals. Now, most of Plasencia's farmland is still cultivated using mainstream methods and no other brand has followed Plasencia's lead. But now that Nestor Jr. has proven that it's possible to grow organic tobacco and release organic puros, it's only a matter of time until others follow suit. In the meantime, the Plasencias have proven yet again that few on Earth know how to grow tobacco better than they do. Shop the complete line of Plasencia Reserva Original Cigars Below: