The tobacco plant originally came from Central and South America and is mainly cultivated in Central and South America as well as in the USA. But raw tobacco has also been cultivated in Germany since the 16th century. The largest tobacco growing area in Germany is in Baden-Württemberg in North Baden on the north-western edge of the Black Forest. While tobacco cultivation in Germany was one of the most important sources of income for small farmers from the beginning of the 20th century, today it is of little economic importance.
Tobacco cultivation
The tobacco plant is harvested about 70 to 130 days after sowing. Depending on the degree of ripeness, individual leaves are picked and dried for further processing. Natural drying takes between 30 and 90 days, which is why most manufacturers use artificial drying processes. The tobacco is then mixed with various ingredients for further processing. Most common is the use of tobacco leaves for cigars, cigarettes and tobacco pipes. Rarely, it is processed into chewing tobacco or snuff, for example. There are now tobacco-free alternatives to smoking on the market, such as Nicotine free pouch.
Ingredients and effects of tobacco
The main component of tobacco is the alkaloid nicotine, which is colorless and liquid at room temperature. Other constituents include ammonium salts, proteins, and cellulose. The tobacco plant contains both organic components, such as citric acid and natural resin, and inorganic components, such as magnesium, chlorine, and iron. The nicotine is absorbed through the plant's roots into the leaves, where it serves as an insect repellent. Nicotine is also the main component of cigarette smoke and quickly leads to addiction. Nicotine affects the autonomic nervous system and influences a person's psyche. In small amounts, it triggers the release of adrenaline, which leads to an increase in blood pressure. Larger amounts are fatal; as little as 60 milligrams of nicotine is lethal for an adult.
History of tobacco cultivation in Germany
According to a document, the first tobacco in Germany was grown in Hatzenbühl in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1573. Tobacco was first grown for medicinal purposes. The first commercial tobacco cultivation in Holland took place in 1615 and Dutch tobacco farmers then began to grow tobacco in Mannheim. The Thirty Years' War led to a greater spread of tobacco smoking in Germany. Tobacco seeds were brought from France by the Huguenots and cultivated in Baden in the Black Forest. By the end of the 19th century, tobacco cultivation had increased significantly in Germany; the tobacco was grown in about 200.000 farms. Tobacco cultivation became one of the most important sources of income for the farmers, especially in Baden and the southern Palatinate. In 1960, the tobacco blue mold pandemic broke out, causing a large loss of income for many tobacco farmers. Since the 2000s, tobacco cultivation in Germany has only been of economic importance in a few regions such as North Baden.
Cigar industry in Baden
Baden was established in 1806 as a Grand Duchy and was a historical territory within Baden-Württemberg. Today, the administrative districts in Baden-Württemberg differ from these former borders, but the name "Baden" is still used to refer to the former region. Karlsruhe was the capital of the Republic of Baden , located in the Black Forest , until the end of World War II.
The first cigar factory was founded in Lahr in the Black Forest in 1840. From that point on, more and more cigar factories were established in the surrounding area. For example, in 1906, August Schweizer from Karlsruhe built a cigar factory in Bühlertal, and in 1916 he established a branch in Kappelwindeck.
In the 20s, the cigar industry suffered a setback due to Swiss inflation and the development of machines. In 1933, the Reich government wanted to counteract the associated loss of jobs with a “machine ban law”. After the war, cigarettes, which were smoked faster, became more and more popular than cigars, which meant that the cigar industry in Baden was on the brink of collapse. In 1976 the Association of Upper Baden Cigar Manufacturers dissolved because there were no longer any members.
