Photography/cigar lover
A sea of tobacco sways in the breeze at this farm in Estelí, Nicaragua, owned by the Plasencia family. They've been growing tobacco since the 1800s and are a powerhouse in the cigar world.
The Placencia family has been growing premium leaves in Honduras and Nicaragua for more than 50 years, making the name Placencia synonymous with tobacco in Central America. The business is headed by Nestor Placencia, Sr., who immigrated to Nicaragua from Cuba in 1965, and his son Nestor and Andrés Placencia, who traveled back and forth between Honduras and Nicaragua to build his family's farm and factory. oversees the network.
This year, Placencia is in the midst of its 158th harvest. The family began growing tobacco in Cuba and has been documenting their harvests since the 1800s. It's a history that spans six generations.
This year marks the 11th year of the Puro Sabor Nicaraguan Cigar Festival. cigar lover was in Nicaragua for the festival and toured the Plasancia tobacco fields in Estelí and the company's cigar factory in the same town. Dubbed “The Cathedral” for its church-like design, the factory produces 7 million cigars by hand each year. Estelí is just one part of Placencia's vast undertakings, but it's an impressive one.
The rollers at the Placencia factory in Estelí are hard at work producing brands such as Placencia Alma Fuerte and Placencia Alma del Fuego. With each roller he produces about 300 cigars a day.
Surrounded by Salomon. Perhaps the most difficult size to make, this roller has mastered the curves and tapers of the Placenica Alma Fuerte Generacion V. This is the state before box pressing.
During the inspector's inspection. Laura watches as the quality control manager checks the cigars to make sure they have the correct ring gauge.
The Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Sixto is pressed into a hexagonal shape, which is unusual in the cigar world. Notice how the six slats on each mold maintain the cigar's unique shape.
These beautifully arranged bundles of fermented tobacco remain stacked until they reach a certain temperature. It is then disassembled and reassembled to ensure that the tobacco ferments evenly and consistently.
It all starts with compost. This pile of stalks, discarded tobacco leaves, and other organic materials actually undergoes a fermentation process before being decomposed, giving it a new life as an eco-friendly fertilizer.
Make your barn beautiful. Vibrant flowers next to this tobacco drying barn add color and vibrancy to San Benito Farm in Placencia.
In the barn, Nestor Andres Placencia reveals a rich, even color as this criollo tobacco cures. It will still take several weeks for the tobacco drying cycle to complete. The tobacco hut smells like honey.
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