Uhle's #255 is a burley blend with anise. Cube cut and a good blend. licorice/anise is an old flavoring agent and is used in many blends. I get an anise taste from the new Bengal Slices which I happen to like a lot.
Licorice tobacco?
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No. GH will put the liquorice topping on on any of their base tobaccos (min order 500g) but you could very well be correct on the dark and brown flakes. It is a while since I spoke to the sales rep and I'm sure he said that they generally topped three grades. I had had a couple of pints and I was only interested in the strongest (Dark Flake) so that's what I ordered. I will be seeing the rep again in a couple of weeks so will double check and report back.
There's a blend called Nosferatu that you can only get through Denver tobacconist Tewksbury & Co. English with anise added. I haven't tried it but sounds interesting: http://www.tewksburycompany.com/newsite/pipe-tobacco/nosferatu
MM, that Nosferatu is interesting, but it quickly gets old. I have rarely smoked a whole bowl to the end. You get hints of the anise, but mixed with the latakia it can become quite unsettling.
Also, the casings used by Astleys Virginias has an anise flavor. I only really taste it in No 44, no so much 109, but apparently it's in there. I think that anise is used, because a tangy natural tobacco already has a bit of that flavor profile in it.
Found this online when I was attempting to determine which was used more in tobacco for licorice flavoring, anise or licorice root.
Dr. Christopher's "Herbal Legacy" states:
The major active component of Licorice is saponin known as glycyrrhizin, also known as glycyrrhizic acid, which is an extremely sweet, foaming triterpene glycoside. It has a similar structure and activity as the adrenal steroids. Glycrrhizin, the potassium and calcium salt of glycyrrhizinic acid, is 50 times sweeter than sucrose and encourages the production of hormones such as hydrocortisone. Diabetic patients can safely take this type of sugar.
From what I could determine, licorice wins over anise in flavoring tobaccos.
Dr. Christopher's "Herbal Legacy" states:
The major active component of Licorice is saponin known as glycyrrhizin, also known as glycyrrhizic acid, which is an extremely sweet, foaming triterpene glycoside. It has a similar structure and activity as the adrenal steroids. Glycrrhizin, the potassium and calcium salt of glycyrrhizinic acid, is 50 times sweeter than sucrose and encourages the production of hormones such as hydrocortisone. Diabetic patients can safely take this type of sugar.
From what I could determine, licorice wins over anise in flavoring tobaccos.
Whoops, are they not the same thing? I was using them interchangeably. If they are different, just replace anise with licorice in my posts on here. I've just always heard "licorice drops" called "gum anise" by the old peoples. I hate the candy, but the tobacco isn't all that bad.
I'm a big fan of anise and licorice and have been on a search for a tobacco that has these flavors. I tried Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky because it's supposed to have an anise flavor. Many compare it to Peter Heinrich's dark flake and say that in the latter the anise is more pronounced. Though I don't readily detect the anise in the Orlik, I do really like it as it is full flavored and has a nice sweetness. I also tried McConnell's mature as it also allegedly has an anise flavor. It is a very good dark virginia blend but I feel it lacks that pronounced anise component I'm looking for. I ultimately bought some Stokkebye Sambuca and there's no doubt about it, the anise is up front and unmistakeable. Unfortunately, as with most aromatics, I find the flavor a bit cloying. So, when I crave an anise smoke, I pack a bowl with a blend of one third sambuca with two thirds of the McConnell's. I guess I'm hard to please. My search is still on but searching for that 'perfect' blend no matter what you are looking for is part of the fun.
Hunter is right on target. Good old Mixture 79 gets a thorough soaking in a licorice bath. Good grief,it's been over 50 years since I smoked the stuff. Got to keep in mind that there are more people who smoke the "drugstore " blends than the boutique tobaccos--many more. we're really a niche market. Also, Iwanries 3 Star Blue has a licorice taste to it. Just remember to smoke it v-e-r-y slowly, as it can bite you. Smoked properly, it can be rather pleasant.
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