Flue Cured Tobacco

Source– This post on Flue Cured Tobacco is based on the article “Government of India approves interest-free Loan to FCV Tobacco Growers in Andhra Pradesh” published in “PIB” on 26 February 2024.

Why in the News?

The Government of India recently approved an interest-free Loan to FCV Tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh.

About Flue Cured Tobacco

1) About: Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco is a type of tobacco that undergoes a specific curing process to achieve its desirable qualities.

2) Characteristics:

a) FCV tobacco is primarily used for cigarette production.

b) It contains a higher sugar content.

c) It has medium to high levels of nicotine.

d) It is rich in natural tannins which contributes to its mild and slightly sweet flavour and aroma.

3) Appearance: It is yellow to orange in colour. These colour appear when it is dried using a process called flu-curing.

4) Curing Process:

a) Curing is the process by which harvested tobacco leaves are prepared for the market. In the case of FCV tobacco, this process is well-standardized.

b) The primary goal of curing is to achieve specific qualities in the cured leaf while removing excess moisture.

c) There are three traditional methods of tobacco curing:
i) Air-Cured: Leaves are dried naturally in the open air.
ii) Fire-Cured: Leaves are exposed to smoke and heat during the drying process.
ii) Flue-Cured: This method is used for FCV tobacco. Each curing method results in a tobacco product with distinct characteristics based on nicotine content and aroma.

5) Key Geographical Production: In India, FCV tobacco is mainly produced in two states: a) Andhra Pradesh and b) Karnataka.
It is also produced in Bangladesh, in regions of Kushtia, Chittagong and Rangpur.

UPSC Syllabus- Miscellaneous