Having been at this for more than a couple years, I can tell you that Latakia is notoriously difficult to cut properly. The leaf has to be carefully conditioned, separated into individual strips, laid out flat, and pressed gently before being run through the cutter. It takes more time and care because of the structure of the lamina (the part of the leaf that's not the midrib), which is thick and somewhat leathery, and requires longer to hydrate than thinner VA or oriental leaf.
The "chunks" you see in the photo above, known as "flags," result when the leaf strips remain accordion pleated before being cut. You can actually see the folds in some of the pieces. (I promise I'm not making excuses, just explaining… ) I've discussed this with the folks at C&D, and am confident that things will be much more consistent going forward.
The "chunks" you see in the photo above, known as "flags," result when the leaf strips remain accordion pleated before being cut. You can actually see the folds in some of the pieces. (I promise I'm not making excuses, just explaining… ) I've discussed this with the folks at C&D, and am confident that things will be much more consistent going forward.