Are All English Blends Like This?

[Kentigern]

Hi again,
So in my new, but continuing, journey (and as an Englishman abroad) I obtained some Amphora English blend. There is really only one time (late morning and early afternoon) in the day that I enjoy this.

it reminds me (and tastes if) bonfires. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it has got me wondering if all Latikia based tobaccos taste the same? If so, then I might have to park the Latakia for a while.

I’m a little price conscious (seems to be awfully high here in Canada), but I have just discovered that I can buy the same quantity online for about a fifth of the cost.

this in and of itself may pose particular dangers of going completely nuts on purchases (I’ll have to hide that from she who must be obeyed).

I don’t want to be a one trick pony in terms of only exploring the (very large) world of vanilla based product (that so far in my meagre experience) smells very nice to others, but is devoid of flavour enjoyment for me (it all seems terribly “thin”...although still considerably more complex than the one dimensional cancer sticks, that I have escaped in favour of this, oh so much more erudite, hobby/lifestyle.

any thoughts/advice, as always, VERY greatly appreciated.

 

[anotherbob]

sort of. Latakia is always going to be campfire. Though how much and how that interacts with everything else in a blend is where the magic happens.

 

[olkofri]

English blends are highly overrated.

I find them monotonous and unidimensional.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Amphora is actually fairly light on the latakia for an english blend. But to answer your question, yes, most of them will have a significant Latakia presence, and that is certainly what you are describing.

If you want to try some with a lighter latakia presence, try blends labeled "Scottish blends" as they tend to be a little more mild on the latakia side of things. There are also blends out there with latakia used condimentally (which I happen to enjoy much more) but they are few and far between.

I would suggest that you smoke what you enjoy, but keep returning to them fairy frequently because tastes change over time. Always good to keep testing stuff out, even if you didn't like it last time.

 

[telescopes]

English blends are highly overrated.

I find them monotonous and unidimensional.

On the contrary, I find English blends to be very diverse. It is a shame that current thinking is that all English blends think, I mean smoke alike.

 

[maduromadness]

It really takes a refined palate to pick out differences in tobacco mixtures. Obviously the same categories of blends have similarities but they wouldn't exist if they were all the same. I suggest trying different blends as they appeal to you. No need to rush as your tastes and palate will change over time. Additionally I suggest tobaccoreviews.com for evaluating blends before you buy. Find what reviewers say about the blends you smoke and compare to what is said about other blends. It may help develop your palate and keep you from being a stagnant pipe smoker. Everyone is different, smoke what you like and learn what you dont.

 

[Mr_houston]

The other thing to watch about online sales is the free shipping, which encourages you to buy more. That’s ok. But, I encourage to buy more variety than more of one blend. As stated above, your tastes will change.

I remember finding Marlin Flake - oh, this could be my one Virginia. Loaded up on it, and then discovered I preferred Hal O the Wynd.

 

[FurCoat]

Welcome from North Carolina

 

[mso489]

There is a wide range of English blends with varying degrees of Latakia. Latakia and Perique have become default condiments in English blends, but many do not follow that pattern. Cast around among non-English blends -- the Virginias, Virginia Perique, burley, cigar leaf, Cavendish, Oriental. You will likely find at least several blends that appeal to you, and you might even find an English blend or two that do. I'd keep quantities of any blend to an ounce or two in bulk, or a tin or pouch. Even if you find something you really like, keep sampling. Blends you don't like, jar for a year or two and try again. Your taste will develop.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Absolutely not. Some will take on more if an incense like quality, combining with the Orientals to make whole new aromas. Some like Bothy Flake have a fruity aroma. Some can have a leathery fragrance, while some just taste like wet paper. There is a whole world of latakias out there. And, you're in luck that all of this diversity can be found in one blender's portfolio. The Lord of latakia, Greg Pease.

 

[SoddenJack]

The other thing to watch about online sales is the free shipping, which encourages you to buy more.

You can go broke trying to save money

 

[F4RM3R]

Where are you looking at for tobaccos? If it's from the outside canada then you can be hit with taxes which almost bump the price up to what we pay here in canada(most of our tobacco cost is taxes)

And to answer your question. Yes that is the flavour in a nutshell, but it takes a while to pick out all the flavours and how they interact. Often a new smoker can only pick out the most dominant tobacco, especially in a latakia or english blend. I know for me it was that way, i couldn't tell what the hell was going on, but i liked it!

I purchase whole leaves and do my own blending as the taxes on whole leaf is much cheaper to import. 1/10 the cost. But i would say stick to some tried and tested classics to get aquainted before you go down that road.

 

[sablebrush52]

English blends vary quite a bit. Latakias vary from batch to batch, year to year, and length of aging. Lats offer a distinctive smokiness to blends.

Blends themselves are a form of alchemy. Variations in the combination of components, variations in processing, result in variations in flavor. English blends use a variety of components in addition to Latakia and those components have a marked effect on the resulting flavor profile.

 

[telescopes]

I am a religious man who is fairly superstitious. I smoke latakia blends in hopes that all of my pipes will develop a deeper connection to the spirit world. It's just the price of hiring an exorcist to cleanse them of the unwanted poltergeists that I find irritating. But I retort again, to no avail.

 

[Fiddlepiper]

I’ve struggled with English blends. But definitely finding I prefer the stronger versions. It’s such a varied category that’s, IMO, definitely worthy of exploration.

 

[Kentigern]

Where are you looking at for tobaccos? If it's from the outside canada then you can be hit with taxes which almost bump the price up to what we pay here in canada(most of our tobacco cost is taxes)

And to answer your question. Yes that is the flavour in a nutshell, but it takes a while to pick out all the flavours and how they interact. Often a new smoker can only pick out the most dominant tobacco, especially in a latakia or english blend. I know for me it was that way, i couldn't tell what the hell was going on, but i liked it!

I purchase whole leaves and do my own blending as the taxes on whole leaf is much cheaper to import. 1/10 the cost. But i would say stick to some tried and tested classics to get aquainted before you go down that road.

I just bought 2oz of Sir Walter Raleigh on Smokingpipes.com...I get that it’s from our southern neighbour, but still $9 CAD vs. $50 is cheap as chips in my humble opinion.

 

[olkofri]

I am a religious man who is fairly superstitious. I smoke latakia blends in hopes that all of my pipes will develop a deeper connection to the spirit world. It's just the price of hiring an exorcist to cleanse them of the unwanted poltergeists that I find irritating. But I retort again, to no avail.

Latakia will make them connect to the spirit world below! ? ?

Heaven has no stinky smells. Angelaromatics is the uplifting way to smoke. ?

"When in doubt, always follow your nose!"
—Gandalf

 

[gamzultovah]

Two that I think may give you an “Aha” moment are Davidoff Royalty and Newminster English Oriental. Both have a firm Latakia presence, but the Latakia does not overpower the other varietals in the blend. Welcome aboard.

 

[pantsBoots]

Hi again,
So in my new, but continuing, journey (and as an Englishman abroad) I obtained some Amphora English blend. There is really only one time (late morning and early afternoon) in the day that I enjoy this.

it reminds me (and tastes if) bonfires. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it has got me wondering if all Latikia based tobaccos taste the same? If so, then I might have to park the Latakia for a while.

I’m a little price conscious (seems to be awfully high here in Canada), but I have just discovered that I can buy the same quantity online for about a fifth of the cost.

this in and of itself may pose particular dangers of going completely nuts on purchases (I’ll have to hide that from she who must be obeyed).

I don’t want to be a one trick pony in terms of only exploring the (very large) world of vanilla based product (that so far in my meagre experience) smells very nice to others, but is devoid of flavour enjoyment for me (it all seems terribly “thin”...although still considerably more complex than the one dimensional cancer sticks, that I have escaped in favour of this, oh so much more erudite, hobby/lifestyle.

any thoughts/advice, as always, VERY greatly appreciated.

Some folks have a knee-herk aversion to Latakia. Fortunately, I am not one of them.

There are some blends that use a minimal amount of Latakia ("condimental," if you want to sound fancy) and the blend just sings. Presbyterian and Rattray's Red Rapparee are, to me, head-spinning examples of how Latakia can complement a blend without making it taste so much of campfire. Several GL Pease blends use a heavier hand without losing balance or drowning out the other components. I do, on occasion, like blends with high amounts of Latakia, but it is a rarity, contingent on my mood, number of bowls smoked previously in the day, and the season of the year.

 

[F4RM3R]

I just bought 2oz of Sir Walter Raleigh on Smokingpipes.com...I get that it’s from our southern neighbour, but still $9 CAD vs. $50 is cheap as chips in my humble opinion.

Yes but it can get charged duties and taxes at the border. You can look it up but i think it's around 7$ per 50g duties and then provincial tax which is $.40 per gram in BC where i live($22) per 2 oz. I think less in other provinces, but add that to the cost of the tobacco($9) and its about $38CAD. Add shipping and its close to the cost of it here.

I think ontario is something like $.20 per gram, so could be cheaper there I'm not sure. And free shipping even cheaper still. But we just don't have the selection here, so thats a plus for online ordering.

With whole leaf tobacco, after heavy shipping for lbs of tobacco plus stripping the stems, I pay about 6-7$ per 50g. Needless to say, I'm jealous of everyone in the states and many parts of europe for their cheap prices and excellent selection.