Tobacco

Tobacco is the large, cured leaf of Nicotiana tabacum, a tall member of the nightshade family grown for the aromatic, tannic leaf. Beyond its familiar uses, cured tobacco is prized by bartenders and pastry cooks as a powerful aromatic — steeped briefly into tinctures, syrups and cream to lend a sweet hay, cocoa, leather and dried-fruit depth, and a drying, tannic grip that balances rich, sweet drinks. It is used only in trace amounts: the leaf is high in nicotine, which is toxic, so tobacco is an aroma to infuse and strain out, never an ingredient to eat.