I just received 2 oz. if Arango Balkan Supreme from SmokingPipes.com. In the baggy and in the clean jar I transferred it too, it has the scent of stale air. The Latakia overpowers it, of course, but after about a second or two of a good long whiff, I start to smell staleness. Has anyone else experienced this? I don’t want to complain to SP if it’s normal, but as this is my first time trying this well-reviewed tobacco, I don’t want to smoke a stale batch. What would you guys do?
Arango’s Balkan Supreme Stale on Arrival?
- Thread starter thechristophershow
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I don't know what stale smells like. Are you sure it's not the orientals?
Over the years I’ve had lots of small bags of Balkan Supreme that I would buy on my weekly pipe shop visit sitting around waiting to be jarred. I get a very strong campfire smell when I walk by. There’s no need to sniff the bag, the smell fills the walkthrough closet. ?
That has been my experience with Balkan Supreme as well. I wouldn't quite say "bone dry" but it comes much drier than most other blends, and coincidentally is at about the level of dryness that I prefer for most baccy. I think it's a great smoke, and one of the few cheapo bulk blends that I really enjoy.
I've been suspect of the freshness of bulk tobaccos ever since I got a stale and flat tasting bag of bulk MM965 back in the day. It was noting like the tined version. Absolutely sucked. It frustrated me enough that I eventually snapped and dumped 6-7 oz in the campfire.
Since then I have been thoroughly satisfied with several pounds of bulk ODF RR so my faith in bulks has been mostly restored.
Today I feel like bulk blends are a gamble. You might get nice fresh stuff or you might get stale flat tobacco that's been sitting in a leaky bag on the shelf for months or years. Just one reason that I prefer to buy tins when I can.
Since then I have been thoroughly satisfied with several pounds of bulk ODF RR so my faith in bulks has been mostly restored.
Today I feel like bulk blends are a gamble. You might get nice fresh stuff or you might get stale flat tobacco that's been sitting in a leaky bag on the shelf for months or years. Just one reason that I prefer to buy tins when I can.
I’m not sure what mold inhibitor smells like. Does it smell like stale air?
Some others here are misunderstanding. I didn’t say it FEELS stale (dry), I said it smells stale. It does smell like campfire, which is good, and I’ve had other orientals and have not smelled staleness before. But this smells like campfire AND staleness.
Never noticed a stale smell. Typically for Balkan/English blends the Latakia tends to mellow over time (i.e., over several years). Maybe the seller stored it next to some stale socks. Try a different seller and see if you get the same smell.
"it smelled of stale cabbage and Carny folk"
I think you are smelling a humectant/preservative. I’ve noticed it on Newminster aros. My wife told me the smoke smells like an attic.
They usually don't store their tobacco next to stale socks.
Tobacco keeps pretty well, doesn't usually spoil, per se. I have smelled mighty funky blends in the baggie or tin, and I once had an episode of mold. If I had to guess what this stale smell is, I'd guess it was just the tobacco itself. Some good smoking blends smell much like a horse stall.
Balkan Supreme just smells like Lat to me, that is to say, a lot like a campfire. Sometimes I think I catch a faint whiff of Mexican chocolate, but certainly not anything off-putting.
Some blends do indeed have some mustiness. Some of the Seattle Pipe Club blends smell just like a horse stall, like @mso489 said. Hood Canal I distinctly remember smelling that way. I can’t remember what Plum Pudding smelled like, but it might have been similar.
Some blends do indeed have some mustiness. Some of the Seattle Pipe Club blends smell just like a horse stall, like @mso489 said. Hood Canal I distinctly remember smelling that way. I can’t remember what Plum Pudding smelled like, but it might have been similar.
I got that funk off a bowl of the Dunhill Elizabethan Sutliff bulk match blend.
Not my thing...
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