Tobacco Blends: The American Blend
The American blend includes three different types of tobacco with varying nicotine content. Virginia tobacco, also known as bright tobacco, has a moderate amount of nicotine relative to burley and oriental tobacco which are used in the American blend.
- Virginia tobacco is flue cured. Flue curing involves the use of heat which turns the green leaves to a bright (hence the name) golden brown color.
- Burley tobacco has a higher amount of nicotine, but can be hard to inhale unless mixed with other tobaccos. Burley tobacco is typically air cured.
- Oriental tobacco also referred to as Turkish tobacco is low in nicotine content and is added to the American blend because of its flavor characteristics. Oriental tobacco is sun cured.