Latakia and the pine tree

[HeadMisfit]

Presbyterian, jocks mixture

Both have subtle hints of burning pine needles in taste when smoked.

My in use Presbyterian tin has aged and mellowed enough it's not harsh, but now has a distinct pine needle smell I. The tin.

Is the pine needle an important key note of good latakia as I've only found the pine needle in latakia blends that are not harsh when smoked

 

[BingBong]

It was certainly a feature of Mac Baren HH Latakia Flake, of which I smoked a great deal one year. It was a signature I tended to expect in most Latakia that wasn't Syrian after that. SG Commonwealth has it, for sure.

 

[judcole]

Presbyterian is very much an Oriental forward blend. The latakia is a very minor player. The Orientals involved are giving you that pine needle smell.
Latakia is also a very minor player in Jock's Mixture.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Presbyterian is very much an Oriental forward blend. The latakia is a very minor player. The Orientals involved are giving you that pine needle smell/

Never had an oriental forward blend do this tin note. Also get a cinnamon oil tone at times

 

[ThermionicScott]

Pine is one of the woods used to cure Latakia, so you may be smelling that.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Pine is one of the woods used to cure Latakia, so you may be smelling that.

I know that but its only in specific offerings

 

[greeneyes]

This thread got my imagination working, so I wrote a poem about it:

Latakia, thy fragrance is to me​

the perfume of the Syrian pine​

and Cedrus of the Lebanese,​

a ghost o'er thy draught sublime;​

​

My heart could not long bear​

apart the wonders of thine​

Ancient Art; and beckons me now​

to your room, enwreathed in​

Oriental plume;​

​

Lo! in the West​

the skies lay still, as​

silent stars ensnare the will--​

enraptured by the ember's glow,​

eastward--to Orient--all cares thus blow!​

​

-greeneyes​

 

[mortonbriar]

In my experience, the subtle flavours of latakia (underneath the smoky peaty stuff) can be much better appreciated in either a blend with a very small percentage of latakia, or in a blend that has aged 10 years and has dropped a lot of the smoky/peaty flavour. I think you probably have a good chance of catching your pine needle notes in any well aged latakia.

Rattrays red rapparee and Pease Westminster I recommend, and I have not tried jock mixture, but for the cavendish vibe with low latakia, macbaren plumcake and Edward G Robinson.

I also recommend buying some blending latakia, it is pretty fun finding your own perfect ratios...

 

[HeadMisfit]

In my experience, the subtle flavours of latakia (underneath the smoky peaty stuff) can be much better appreciated in either a blend with a very small percentage of latakia, or in a blend that has aged 10 years and has dropped a lot of the smoky/peaty flavour. I think you probably have a good chance of catching your pine needle notes in any well aged latakia.

Rattrays red rapparee and Pease Westminster I recommend, and I have not tried jock mixture, but for the cavendish vibe with low latakia, macbaren plumcake and Edward G Robinson.

I also recommend buying some blending latakia, it is pretty fun finding your own perfect ratios...

Jocks is my favorite latakia. As it was the first that I could smoke from a just opened tin. And dedicating a pipe to it was good.

They say red apparel is more latakia.

Cornell constellation has a god awful amount of latakia, but no bite or harshness

 

[mortonbriar]

Jocks is my favorite latakia. As it was the first that I could smoke from a just opened tin. And dedicating a pipe to it was good.

They say red apparel is more latakia.

Cornell constellation has a god awful amount of latakia, but no bite or harshness

Yeah, I think if your taste buds are so specifically attuned then it is more likely you will have to use the old fashioned trial and error to hunt down what the common pine denominator is. The good news is you get to pop another hundred tins!