Tutu
Well-Known Member
Hello All,
The idea of this thread is somewhat similar to that of the Besuki thread I posted earlier in the Cigar Forum. I want to introduce another Indonesian variety to the forum and distribute seeds. A note of precaution however, I am less familiar with Kasturi than I am with Besuki. That may be the case for every single member of the forum. I am not sure how keen you all are on growing something unknown in terms of cigarette tobacco. That is, unknown in terms of smoking characteristics. I know perfectly well what Kasturi looks like, and I will show you, 'cause I got the pictures.
So Kasturi is an Indonesian variety that is used predominantly in the local Indonesian cigarette manufacturing market. For example to produce clove cigarettes, also called "kretek". Some quantity of it is exported to manufacturers in India. Some of the leaf is choped (rajang) before curing, some is not and hung between bamboo stick, all of it is sun cured. I have had my hands on some Kasturi leaf that was dark air cured and although it was rugged and difficult to use as a wrapper, I was suprised by it's taste, which was not bad. It cured to a pretty, brown colour.
Not only the leaf, but the whole plant looks wild and rugged. It does not grow tall, and produces leafs that I would describe as wide, elongated and bumpy. Because it is rather short, it can withstand more wind force than taller varieties. The leaf colour is a rather dark green. Most of the farmers around Jember leave the leafs on the stalk to turn to yellow first, but they do prime the Kasturi. When it is hung between bamboo sticks in the sun, it is done per leaf. i have yet to see a farmer stalk-harvest Kasturi.
These are images of two different Kasturi fields, that differ in age. The seeds I have in my possession are from the two flower buds seen in picture #4. Later on I will obtain seeds from the flowers in picture #2. Feel free to comment or send me a message if you are interested in growing some Kasturi yourself!
The idea of this thread is somewhat similar to that of the Besuki thread I posted earlier in the Cigar Forum. I want to introduce another Indonesian variety to the forum and distribute seeds. A note of precaution however, I am less familiar with Kasturi than I am with Besuki. That may be the case for every single member of the forum. I am not sure how keen you all are on growing something unknown in terms of cigarette tobacco. That is, unknown in terms of smoking characteristics. I know perfectly well what Kasturi looks like, and I will show you, 'cause I got the pictures.
So Kasturi is an Indonesian variety that is used predominantly in the local Indonesian cigarette manufacturing market. For example to produce clove cigarettes, also called "kretek". Some quantity of it is exported to manufacturers in India. Some of the leaf is choped (rajang) before curing, some is not and hung between bamboo stick, all of it is sun cured. I have had my hands on some Kasturi leaf that was dark air cured and although it was rugged and difficult to use as a wrapper, I was suprised by it's taste, which was not bad. It cured to a pretty, brown colour.
Not only the leaf, but the whole plant looks wild and rugged. It does not grow tall, and produces leafs that I would describe as wide, elongated and bumpy. Because it is rather short, it can withstand more wind force than taller varieties. The leaf colour is a rather dark green. Most of the farmers around Jember leave the leafs on the stalk to turn to yellow first, but they do prime the Kasturi. When it is hung between bamboo sticks in the sun, it is done per leaf. i have yet to see a farmer stalk-harvest Kasturi.
These are images of two different Kasturi fields, that differ in age. The seeds I have in my possession are from the two flower buds seen in picture #4. Later on I will obtain seeds from the flowers in picture #2. Feel free to comment or send me a message if you are interested in growing some Kasturi yourself!
