Only the finest cigars are hand rolled with wrapper leaf. High production costs and development of homogenized leaf has lend to downfall of production. Cigar filler is heavy bodied and is used to make the case of a cigar. Binder was used as an inner wrapping to form the shape. Like the wrapper, binder has generally been replaced by cheaper homogenized leaf.
Oriental tobacco gives a mild smoke with very characteristic aroma.
Average plant heights are 3-5 ft. The leaves are hand primed, normally sewn on a string, and are dull yellow to rich brown in color. The leaves are sun-cured. Production is centered in the USSR, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia, Romania and Italy. Largest importers are the U.S., Japan and Germany.