The tobacco used in smoking tobacco products contains a selection of different types of tobacco from different countries.
The following six tobacco types are mostly used in smoking tobacco products:
- Virginia
This tobacco is also called "bright tobacco" because of its yellow to orange colour, achieved during the flue-curing process. This tobacco is predominantly grown in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, China and France. - Burley
The colour of this tobacco is a bit greener than Virginia, turning brown as a result of the natural ventilation during the air-curing process. The best quality Burley tobacco is grown in the United States, Central America, Malawi, Uganda and Indonesia. - Kentucky
The fire-curing process of this tobacco results in a dark colour and smoky aroma. Kentucky tobacco is mainly grown in the United States, Canada, Mozambique, Tanzania, Poland, Italy and Indonesia. - Oriental
This tobacco has an aromatic flavour, enhanced by sun-curing. Oriental tobacco is grown in the Balkans, Turkey and the Middle East. - Latakia
This tobacco is grown mainly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus. This sun-cured Oriental tobacco is smoked in small sheds after the harvest, resulting in a distinctive, spicy and smoky aroma suitable for pipe tobaccos. - Perique
The air-curing process of this tobacco results in a blue-black colour. It is used to give exclusive pipe tobacco mixtures a more refined taste.