Burley Tobacco Seed Types

Burley Tobacco is defined as a light air-cured tobacco used in most part for cigarettes.  Here in the U.S. eight states produce the majority of burley tobacco.

The origin of White Burley tobacco is given to a Mr. Webb in 1864 who lived in Higginsport, Ohio.  He obtained his burley tobacco seed from Bracken County, Kentucky.  He noticed that this tobacco seed produced a light leaf shade from white to yellow and cured differently.

Burley tobacco is cut and allowed to wilt in the field for 3-4 days prior to hanging in the tobacco barn. The tobacco is then allowed to air cure for 8 or more weeks.  It turns from green, to yellow and then to brown.  Burley tobacco that cures too fast will retain some of the yellow pigments, as well as chemicals that normally break down with a longer cure.  Once it is fully cured it is removed from the barn, stalks removed and the leaves are stripped.