"{\"en\":\"{\\\"en\\\":\\\"The Tobacco Plant\\\"}\"}"

The tobacco plant is indigenous to Cuba, and was cultivated there by the native peoples prior to European contact. The crop was commercialised and exported from the 16th century onwards, and gradually, the indigenous Cuban black tobacco (Tabaco Negro Cubano) was hybridised with non-native varieties, and lost much of its distinctive character. In 1907, Cuban botanists developed the Habanensis varietal, which recaptured the characteristic Cuban taste but was more disease resistant. This strain is the forerunner of the Cuban tobacco that we know today.<\\\\\\\/em><\\\\\\\/strong><\\\\\\\/h2>

Around 1940, an improved seed variety Criollo was developed, and later a sub-variety Corojo was developed for wrappers. In 1992, Habana 2000 was introduced. This was followed in 1998 by Criollo 98. The Habano 2006 variety (from Habana 2000 and Criollo 1998) was first used for the 2006\\\\\\\/07 crop. Criollo 2010 and Corojo 2012 were subsequently developed, beginning widespread use in planting in 2015 and 2017 respectively.<\\\\\\\/em><\\\\\\\/strong><\\\\\\\/h2>

With each new variety, The Tobacco Research Institute attempts to evolve the pest and disease resistance of the plants, while increasing yield. Tobacco flavour and combustion are secondary priorities, which are usually refined in the years after a major variety is introduced. Most of the modern varietals do not flower.<\\\\\\\/em><\\\\\\\/strong><\\\\\\\/h2>

Cuban tobacco plants are either sun grown or shade grown.<\\\\\\\/em><\\\\\\\/strong><\\\\\\\/h2>

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