Dark Fired Kentucky

Dark Fired Kentucky (DFK for short) is a dark American tobacco variety whose leaf is dried by saturating it with wood smoke in closed barns. The "Kentucky" in its name denotes the growing region: production is centered in the area spanning western Kentucky and neighboring Tennessee, known as the "Black Patch" for its dark leaf; according to the records, more than half of all US fire-cured tobacco comes from a small number of counties in this region.

The smoke gives the leaf a strongly identifiable character of soot, spice, and earth; in this respect DFK is considered one of the most striking examples of a processing method determining a product's character.

Fire-Curing

While most major tobacco varieties are cured with warm air, in airy barns or under the sun, DFK is processed using a method called fire-curing. Harvested leaves are hung in poorly ventilated, closed barns; on the floor, piles of oak and hickory logs and sawdust are set to smolder without being allowed to flame. The leaf draws in this dense smoke; the process can take from a few weeks to two months, depending on the harvest and the target color. The result is a thick, oily, nearly black leaf. Its nicotine content is high, which is why blends containing DFK are generally rated as strong.