Oliva Tobacco Brings Classified Mexican Leaf Right To Esteli?

Source from:  Cigaraficionado 03/02/2016

Cigarmakers in Nicaragua no longer have to deal directly with Mexico if they want dark, high-grade San Andrés wrapper. Now, they can purchase directly through Oliva Tobacco Co., which has not only procured Mexican wrapper leaf, but has carefully classified and graded its Mexican tobacco to more exacting standards and specifications.

"You have much more accurate classification for Mexican tobacco now," said Nicholas Melillo, who served as a consultant and liaison between Oliva, which is owned by John Oliva Jr., and the Mexican growing company San Andrés　de los Perros S.A. de C.V. "They're not as careful about classification in Mexico as the Olivas are. You might contract directly with a Mexican grower for wrapper leaf, but often times will end up with a high percentage of binder-quality tobacco because they're not as meticulous about sorting and grading in Mexico. Plus, you don't have to purchase an entire crop anymore either."

Through Oliva Tobacco, Melillo said buyers can now be more particular and more selective about the quality and quantity of Mexican tobacco they purchase.

The stocks of Mexican leaf are stored at Procenicsa, the Nicaraguan tobacco processing facility owned by Oliva Tobacco Co. In addition to more precise classification, Oliva Tobacco puts the tobacco through slower fermentation as well, though underfermented Mexican leaf is available should cigar manufacturers wish to conduct the fermentation themselves. But Oliva Tobacco also provides support to the Mexican growers on the agricultural side, helping them produce higher crop yields and to harvest the plants by primings, rather than all at once, as is sometimes done in Mexico.

"I approached Oliva because I saw that there was a need for San Andrés　in Esteli?," said Melillo, who is active on this project through his consulting company Melillo International. Esteli? is a perfect market for readily available Mexican wrapper leaf. Many Nicaraguan brands are a blend of Nicaraguan tobacco and Mexican wrapper, including La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, Murcielago and Norteño.

The Oliva Tobacco Co. and San Andrés　de los Perros currently grow 50 acres of San Andrés　Negro wrapper. The first Oliva Tobacco crop of 2014 has been sold. According to Melillo the 2015 crop is currently in Oliva's warehouses. Enditem