Terroir

/ tair-WAHR /
Growing & TerroirEnglish
Definition
The combined effect of soil, climate, altitude, water, and local growing practice on the character of a crop. In tobacco it explains why one seed variety produces different leaf in Jalapa than in Esteli or Pinar del Rio.
Why it matters
Terroir is why seed names alone tell you little; the same Habano seed can yield a sweet, floral wrapper in Ecuador and a peppery one in Nicaragua.
In context
"He blamed the terroir, not the seed, for how differently the two farms' Corojo smoked."