Our master’s choice: simply the best - Selection of premium tobacco leaves in Bremen

Cortès houses some top-notch talent. Our tobacco specialists only select the finest leaves for the J. Cortès blue series. 

All the way from Sumatra to Bremen.

Thanks to its volcanic soil and cloudy weather, Sumatran tobacco is one of a kind. Back in the days when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony, wholesalers purchased the famous leaves in Amsterdam. 

After Indonesia’s independence, the old German town of Bremen took on the honour of selling Indonesia’s best. With more than 100 buyers, a special bidding system was set up. All the buyers attempted to buy the best tobacco, placing their bids in a closed envelope. Seeds of this tobacco have been planted in many other countries, but the exact flavour of Sumatra could never quite be obtained. 

Nowadays the bidding envelopes are history. We’re very proud that our tobacco masters Henry Masquelin and Walburg Vandenbroucke still select the finest Sumatran tobacco leaves for the J. Cortès blue series with the highest precision (and perhaps their bargaining skills too.)