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Olifant VOC - 53 cigars

This shortfiller is produced in cigar factory De Olifant in the Netherlands. The cigar has a length of 9 centimetres and a diameter of 11.5 millimetres. The filler is a melange from Java, Sumatra, Cuba and Brasil. The binder is from Java and the wrapper leaf is Sumatran sand-leaf. The smoking duration of this cigar is 15 minutes. 

63,60

Netherlands
The Netherlands have always been very involved in the tobacco industry.

Knowledge about tobacco is acquired during the colonial period in Indonesia. Especially Sumatra and Java have built a rich history with the knowledge and skills of the Dutch and deliver excellent tobacco. Also in production area Netherlands is a major global player.

In 1826 was launched from the city of Kampen, a true cigar production. With the success several more cities became involved in the cigar production and the cigar production flourished to great heights.

Because of new technological developments, the production mechanized and refined by big industry. Some small manufacturers kept producing cigars in more traditional way's, by hand or on semi-automatic machines.

The structure of a Traditional Dutch Quality Cigar.
A traditional Dutch quality cigar consists of three main components.
1. Wrapper leave
2. Binder
3. Short cut filler

Shortfiller description:

The typical Dutch cigar (shortfiller) distinguishes itself from other cigars as the filler is made of a blend of tobaccos from Indonesia, Brazil and Cuba.

Traditional short-filler cigars consist of a melange of chopped tobacco leaves inside, surrounded by a binder where eventually a wrapper is wrapped around. This particular method of manufacture, makes it possible that there are up to 20 different types of tobacco to be united in a cigar. The blend is made with care so that the cigar will obtain its delicate flavor. Each different type of tobacco takes a liking with it, which can range from strong to sweet or fresh.
Cigar factory "De Olifant"
Tobacco Manufacturer Henk van der Sluis dreamed of cigar production was quantitatively small but great quality. Due to its large experience in the industry he had been his own idea about what the quality should be. he could end up in a number of buildings on Front Street in camps the opportunity to realize his dream. At the first address was the widow H. Meulenkamp built tabakskerverij. Besides building Henk van der Sluis took the old but functioning machines and began the cigar production called "De Olifant". An industrial museum up and running ... with art! A place to enjoy. In the Cigar Factory De Olifant you will find a maze of work and storage rooms; constructed of wood, unplastered walls and stone floors of clinkers, tiles, floor tiles and parts of the attic trusses date from the late Middle Ages. The crooked walls, old brick floors and the wooden decking of Sigarenfabriek the Elephant are permeated with the smell of tobacco and cedar. Already since 1832 in this monumental factory manufactured tobacco. For a long time the factory was mainly a museum-like character, but there is plenty of production again since the mid 80s of last century. Using traditional machines of which the oldest dates back to some pre-war machines are also being modernized in 1888. Since 2009. Walking along the attractive rooms and tobacco-filled spaces is clear that the cigars Elephant are produced with great care and passion. Whether it's the way melangeren or the method of production and packaging, quality is decisive. Joyful collaborators are in love with "their" factory. They "run" an established production cigars per year divided among several models and limited editions. To this day, the company keeps on developing and range extended annually. In 2003 a completely new branch of products welcomed in the building: The Unicorn Coffee and Tea. Elephant is committed to maintain the charming, cultural and historical heritage. This results in an attendance of 10,000 people per year who come see the unique characteristic plant. The municipalities of Zwolle and Kampen worshiped the elephant with the "Heritage Prize" in 2010. Sigarenfabriek Elephant was on May 21 2012 "Entrepreneur of the Year" proclaimed.
Sumatra wrapper
The Sumatra sand leaf - the crown.
With a colony like Indonesia originated with the Dutch pioneering spirit, agricultural knowledge and Indonesian workers, the birthplace of the famous deli Sumatra sand sheet. Around 1850 started the first plantation on the island of Sumatra, around the city of Medan.

This tobacco is used as wrapper and is so popular because of the mild spicy flavor, aroma and bright matte color. Elephant uses very costly Sumatra sand sheet wrapper. It is now becoming one of the few who use it.

This rare type of tobacco is grown on a small scale. Due to the rarity it is also called "white gold burning. This name is not accidental, a kilo of this tobacco is more expensive as a kilo of silver.

The name sand sheet is not for nothing. The wrapper leaves are namely, the lower leaves of the tobacco plant. They grow directly above the nutritious and volcanic soil. Wind pollinates the leaves with the fine sand and "conjures up" light sparkles on the cover sheet. Because the sand blade grows in the shade the leaf gets a soft, silky texture and a mild flavor. Today, this "treasure" an absolute rarity.

The planting of Sumatra tobacco is on plantations. These are 4-year fallow before tobacco is planted. These plantations are state-owned. First, the seed beds to be made, with a roof above it in order to protect the plants from the sun. The plants are transplanted and get more space. Then come the plants on the plantation. Regularly pests such as caterpillars of the leaves removed. When the plants start flowering is "backwards", in order to allow as many feed to the plant going. Some plants are not backwards but are used for seed. After 6 to 8 weeks is the "tobacco tree" 2 to 3 meters high and begin to ripen the lower leaves.

These are the precious "sand leaves." These are early morning one by one picked. The Sumatra Sand Leaf is very popular cigar manufacturers because it has such a special spicy flavor. This is because it just leaves grow above ground, sand has come on the leaves during the rain and the leaves have shelter from the sun. This gives the sand blade its special character and color.

After picking, they go to the drying shed where the leaves are strung on a rope and hanged. There fires are heated in order to accelerate the drying process.
After drying, the leaves of the rope poached and they go into the fermentation barn, where they are put in big piles with a thermometer in the middle.

Fermentation is a scalding process, which is caused by moisture and pressure. Through this process, proteins are broken down and nicotine. If the thermometer has risen to ± 55 ° C, the pile reversed; the inner leaves to the outside, the outside to the inside, and the lower ones upward. This may happen six times, it depends on when the tobacco is "being fermented." I.e. that the temperature does not rise more in the stack. Fermentation is very important for tobacco; good fermentation creates a nice color and good taste.

After fermentation the leaves thousands of people are sorted by color, condition and length. This is done in 13 colors and 5 lengths. Here are wisps of it, these bunches are packed in hand-woven mats and compressed into bales of ± 70 kilos.

There are now two plantations in Sumatra, each with its own character. Tobacco from one plantation we like and beautiful color, tobacco from another plantation not. This has to do with soil type, rainfall and processing. The purchase must be made quite a lot of time.


Elephant team needs to tobacco fair in Bremen add to be able to see the different wrapper leaves. The tobacco is then carefully tested on taste, aroma, texture and elasticity, so that the quality of the leaves is always high. The outcome should provide a clear, spicy, sweet and round taste. Of course, the quality of the harvest per year. If there is a bad harvest come, Elephant has a reserve of at least 5 years, so the company can always continue to produce good cigars. Before the independence of Indonesia was this fair in Nes and Frascatie based in Amsterdam.

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