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Hi and welcome to the first in a new series I am writing that delves into the world of rolling and growing your own cigars and cigar tobacco. This series will focus on tricks that the beginner and veteran grower and roller alike can employ to make the most out of their cigar experience. There is, as always, a lot of ground to cover, so click on Full Story below and let’s get started!
Before we start however, I know some of you will have the inevitable question in your minds: Is it legal to grow tobacco in America? How about other countries?
The simple answer is: Yes, it is legal to grow tobacco in the United States. As for other countries, I don’t know, but I would assume so. Some states require a permit to grow it, and you would have to check with your local municipality to see if you need one. If you decide you want to sell your own tobacco, no matter what state you are in, you will need to fill out some paperwork (aka permits and tax information), but for the purposes of this article, we are going to assume that you are just growing it for yourself and a few select friends.
Another question I hear asked a lot when it comes to growing tobacco and rolling cigars (growing in particular), is why even bother. Isn’t it a lot simpler to go to the store and buy a cigar. Isn’t it quicker? Isn’t the quality better?
The list of questions goes on and on. If you have that many questions, odds are your first instinct is right: growing and rolling your own tobacco is not for you. I feel the same way about people that raise their own fish, carefully watching its diet and growth, then frying it up a few weeks later.
Comments
Also close to home is the Cigar Factory down in New Orleans where cigars are rolled in front of visitors. If anyone's heading that way for Mardi Gras, there are two locations in the French Quarter where the tools mentioned above are demonstrated. I haven't visited either location yet, but one's just down the street from the ever popular Cafe du Monde and the other on Bourbon St. Some videos on YouTube give a general impression of what to expect.
Louisiana still has some tobacco farms along the Mississippi river, but to my knowledge, they started off (like any farm) as family businesses and have seen a steady decline in interest from succeeding generations. Poche Farms--one of several farms which grow perique in the same general area--still gives tours. I imagine most of these people are fairly approachable.
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