chal, it isn't clear what you mean by "making my own tobacco blends." Do you mean commercially? Or just putting some
tobaccos together for your own enjoyment? Becoming a professional blender requires some serious education whether formal
or self-taught, and I'm talking years of study, and then a good apprenticeship beyond that. Real blending requires pressure
and aging, and equipment. Just doing mixes at home is another matter, and most of us do that. For that, I recommend the
blending tobaccos mentioned in earlier posts. At least for starters, I think the simpler the leaf the better, like all-Virginia or
all burley, with maybe another smaller proportion of highly flavored tobacco like Perique, Latakia, or Cavendish. A good simple
mix is Virginia (like McClellands 5100), a burley like Lane's Burley Without Bite, in equal parts, and a healthy pinch of black
Cavendish. Try a few simple mixes, then maybe try a little Oriental, like Izmir Turkish. Fewer components are more likely to
be pleasing, especially until you get the hang of it. Proportions are crucial and change the flavor a lot. If you are thinking of
becoming a professional, you need a long-term plan and a serious sustainable commitment.