Tobacco Asia

Volume 19, Number 5

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44 tobaccoasia LEAF NEWS 烟叶新闻 Zimbabwe Exports Exceed US$700M The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board's (TIMB) latest figures revealed that since the beginning of 2015 Zimbabwe has earned more than US$700 million from 125.4 million kilograms (m.kg) of tobacco exports at an average price of US$5.61 per kg. These are slightly lower figures than those for the same period last year, where the country made US$709 million from exporting 119.9 m.kg at the average price of US$5.91 per kg. The largest consumer of Zimbabwe- an flue-cured golden leaf was China, which imported 49.6 m.kg at US$8.30 per kg, spending US$411.3 million. The second-largest importer was Belgium, who spent US$64 million for 14.7 m. kg of tobacco valued at US$4.36 per kg. Third spot was South Africa, which imported 11.0 m.kg for US$35 million, or US$2.96 per kg. Fourth and fifth place were Indone- sia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), importing 7.5 m.kg and 7.1 m. kg, respectively. Indonesia spent US$34.5 million (US$4.57 per kg) while the UAE spent US$19.8 million at the average price of US$2.78 per kg. Meanwhile, 69,092 farmers have registered with TIMB, compared to 86,992 farmers who registered during the same period last year. Worldwide Tobacco Leaf Gastronomy Molecular gastronomy might have to make way for the latest trend to emerge – tobacco in food. Tobacco as an ingredient started becoming a "thing" in the early naughts – in 2003, in an attempt to defy the smoking ban, a group of Floridian bartenders started creating tobacco- spiked cocktails, such as the "Nicotini", which uses vodka infused with tobacco leaves. The purpose of these cocktails was to recreate the effects of a cigarette. That same year in New York bartenders were trying to do the same thing, coming up with delights like the "Smokeless Manhattan" (port, Laphroaig whisky, and orange bitters), which apparently tasted like a Marlboro Red. In 2010 a hotel bartender in Mexico City invented a cocktail called the "D.F.Irreverente" using rum, pineapple juice, and the contents of a cigarette mixed together and then straining it into a glass. There are also non-alcoholic options, such as the "Passion Project", a chai-based soda with turbinado syrup, cream, lactic acid, and a dusting of Hemingway pipe tobacco tincture. There is even a tobacco liqueur called "Perique", which is made in France using distilled Louisiana Perique – one of the rarest and strongest tobaccos in the world. The process of making Perique is similar to that of gin, but uses tobacco instead of juniper berries. Perique has gained popularity around the world, especially in the UK and Japan. Now, the trend has taken a turn with tobacco leaves becoming an ingredient in food. The possibilities are many –in a chicken wing sauce, made into flour to dredge onions in, infused into sugar as Naomi Gallego; or even as whole leaves added to chocolate bars. Chefs using tobacco in their cooking are looking to take advantage of the 'liquid smoke flavor', likening it to using tea leaves or wood chips. The key in using tobacco as an ingredient is to remember that a small amount goes a long way, as being too liberal with this ingredient would not only effect taste but could also be toxic. Some chefs use tobacco leaves in a smoker to flavor meat, some use the smoke for a tobacco essence in desserts. Some chefs simply soak the tobacco leaves overnight and let the water draw out all the nicotine and toxins, then throw out the water, dry the leaves, and use that as an ingredient. Indonesia New Hire for TSAL Effective October 1, 2015, Arif Purwan- to is appointed to the newly created position of technical sales manager Indonesian region reporting to group c.e.o. Dr Iqbal Lambat. In this role, Arif will assist the TSAL team to market TSAL products and services to a target portfolio of cigarette manufacturing factories in Indonesia. He will operate out of the FELI Denpasar Bali office in Indonesia. Purwanto is an Indonesian national. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering gained at Sunan Giri University Surabaya. He has over 17 years of experience in machining and engineering including 4 years for cigarette engineering powerhouse GD Italy heading up their QA equipment strategy in Indonesia. Arif is fluent in Bahasa and English. Japan New TC Report Released Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) recenly announced today that the Leaf Tobacco Deliberative Council (LTDC), chaired by Yoshio Kobayashi, released its annual determinations for domestic leaf tobacco cultivation area and grower prices for 2016, in response to a proposal submit- ted by JT earlier in the day. The council was in general agree- ment with JT's proposal, and determined that in 2016, the domestic tobacco cultivation area will be set at 8,276 hectares, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the contracted area of the previous year. The leaf tobacco grower price for all leaf types will be set at an average of ¥1,877.57 (US$15.23) per kg, a decrease of 2.21% compared to that of the previous year. JT will undertake its operations in 2016 based on the council's determinations. LTDC is a council, which confers on important matters concerning the cultivation and purchase of domesti- cally grown leaf tobacco in response to inquiries by JT representatives. The council consists of no more than 11 members, appointed by JT with the approval of the minister of finance from among representatives of domestic leaf tobacco growers and academic appointees.

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