I'm at a loss when it come to perique. How is it like pepper in some blends and like plum in others?
Help Me Understand Perique
- Thread starter papipeguy
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
I have a hard time discerning the flavor of perique. I have also never been able to taste leather, freshly mowed grass, chocolate, coffee, caramel, Jennifer Aniston's panties (I wish I knew what they taste like), etc in a cigar or pipe tobacco.
Well no matter the crop each year it will taste different. just like wine and spirits like scotch. you can do the same preparation the same every time yet there will be subtle to substantial differences. Maybe the blenders taste the baccy and know what that certain vintage will blend best with. Again this is just my opinion and I could be totally wrong, but it would make sense.
.gif)
I love the stuff and smoke it straight now and then.
Variables which determine the amount of Spice vs. Plum are plentiful but include:
The actual strain used to make Perique (varies)
Soil / Nitrogen conditions during the grow
The pressure / fermentation process
Rate of smoking ... more plum smoking slow, more pepper at higher cadence
The other components that are blended with it.
Hmmmmm ... I think I'm smoking a bowl of Perique tonight! :
:
Variables which determine the amount of Spice vs. Plum are plentiful but include:
The actual strain used to make Perique (varies)
Soil / Nitrogen conditions during the grow
The pressure / fermentation process
Rate of smoking ... more plum smoking slow, more pepper at higher cadence
The other components that are blended with it.
Hmmmmm ... I think I'm smoking a bowl of Perique tonight! :
:
My experience is that the plum aspect comes forward when paired with sweeter components, but the pepper shows up more with less sweet leaf. Example - Anniversary Kake shows more of the plum character, while Louisiana Red shows more of the pepper.
Russ
Russ
Russ is the pro, but I affirm that Perique changes depending on the other components of
a blend. Part of its charm is that changeability. It's not just proportionate to more or less
Perique. Also it emphasizes different flavors in other tobaccos. Good blenders can really
play with your taste buds and your mind, sometimes with very modest portions of Perique.
a blend. Part of its charm is that changeability. It's not just proportionate to more or less
Perique. Also it emphasizes different flavors in other tobaccos. Good blenders can really
play with your taste buds and your mind, sometimes with very modest portions of Perique.
I agree that it must depend on the supporting tobaccos. Its like cigars,I know of several brands of Nicaraguan cigars that have a ton of pepper flavor, while others have none.
Now my question: Does age have a tendency to make the perique more plumy and less spicy? Or does age matter at all?
All the more reason to do the Perique tour this October. I've been trying to get everything I can out of my Perique blends but alas I'm to astute enough to discern all the minute flavors that some claim they can derive from VaPer blends.
Thanks for the input, guys. I'm a member of the Lehigh Valley Pipe Club and we're lucky to count Russ O. among our members. I'm going to speak with him about the influence of various leafs on perique. It pays to talk to a master.
cobguy mentions Old Joe Krantz (C&D). What a surprise Perique is in that. Just sniffing the tobacco
is surprising and confusing, and then the actual smoke unfolds in unexpected ways. If you can do
burley, it is an interesting Perique experience.
ref peck's post, I'm guessing it is the pairing with other tobaccos that changes Perique's effect, but
others may have had experiences where aging played a role.
I'm hoping all the members who do the Perique factory tour at the NOLA pipe show will chime in with
their recollections and observations, and maybe some quotes from the Perique conservators themselves
on the mysteries of this leaf.
is surprising and confusing, and then the actual smoke unfolds in unexpected ways. If you can do
burley, it is an interesting Perique experience.
ref peck's post, I'm guessing it is the pairing with other tobaccos that changes Perique's effect, but
others may have had experiences where aging played a role.
I'm hoping all the members who do the Perique factory tour at the NOLA pipe show will chime in with
their recollections and observations, and maybe some quotes from the Perique conservators themselves
on the mysteries of this leaf.
- Status