Nope - I can't get C&D anyway in Greece without much trouble so there'd be a load of blends higher in priority that Pirate Kake, I thought 70% Latakia sounded like a gimmick.
Are All English Blends Like This?
- Thread starter Kentigern
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
20 yrs ago I could have written the original post. Now 4 of my top 5 are English blends.
If I had to pick where the worm started turning, I would say it was in the Ukraine around 20 years ago. I had picked up a nice pipe in Amsterdam, but left the tobacco in my hotel. So I was looking for pipe tobacco in Donetsk - not an easy task for someone their first time in the country who couldn’t say anything past "Please" and "Thank you". In one market I spied a pouch of Stanwell Melange - an apricot vanilla aro with a just noticeable dose of Latakia. That whole trip I smoked the blend and enjoyed it.
When I got back to the States, I couldn’t find Melange anywhere. I tried mixing some English blends with various aros in various ratios, but they were all unsatisfactory. About that time I switched to cigars and stayed there. My pipes collected dust in an unused corner of my studio.
Fast forward to about 2 years ago. I came to the realization that my cigar habit was no longer financially viable. So, I got out my pipes, cleaned out the dust and critters, and went online looking for tobaccos. Of course, now Melange was easy to find, along with more blends than I’ll ever be able to smoke (not that it’s stopped me from trying).
Through reviews and recommendations I found Kramer’s tobacco. I tried their Father Dempsey blend. That was the first English to roll my socks up and down. So good. From there I was led to Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve (now my favorite tobacco). That led to SPC Mississippi River SR. Then I tried Mac Baren Latakia Rolls.
So, against all expectation, 4 of my top 5 favorites are now English!
If I had to pick where the worm started turning, I would say it was in the Ukraine around 20 years ago. I had picked up a nice pipe in Amsterdam, but left the tobacco in my hotel. So I was looking for pipe tobacco in Donetsk - not an easy task for someone their first time in the country who couldn’t say anything past "Please" and "Thank you". In one market I spied a pouch of Stanwell Melange - an apricot vanilla aro with a just noticeable dose of Latakia. That whole trip I smoked the blend and enjoyed it.
When I got back to the States, I couldn’t find Melange anywhere. I tried mixing some English blends with various aros in various ratios, but they were all unsatisfactory. About that time I switched to cigars and stayed there. My pipes collected dust in an unused corner of my studio.
Fast forward to about 2 years ago. I came to the realization that my cigar habit was no longer financially viable. So, I got out my pipes, cleaned out the dust and critters, and went online looking for tobaccos. Of course, now Melange was easy to find, along with more blends than I’ll ever be able to smoke (not that it’s stopped me from trying).
Through reviews and recommendations I found Kramer’s tobacco. I tried their Father Dempsey blend. That was the first English to roll my socks up and down. So good. From there I was led to Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve (now my favorite tobacco). That led to SPC Mississippi River SR. Then I tried Mac Baren Latakia Rolls.
So, against all expectation, 4 of my top 5 favorites are now English!
At least it's a minority who take a one note take on blends with Latakia. Some are just repeating another, some actually can't stand the strength, and some are just contrarians.
Latakia, when mixed with perique, orientals, and various Virginians, are like Greek dramas. Interesting, different, and always leaving you something to reflect on. I have never seen it as a one hit wonder.
I think meeting Latakia for the first time is analogous to the person who meets someone from a totally different ethnicity for the first time. They are so overwhelmed by that person's outside traits that they fail to see the various subtle characteristics that makes them just as "unique and individualistic" as everyone one else on the planet. I am not suggesting that people who don't like latakia are in any way not "woke" I mean, smoked, enough.
PST? In Alberta? Not sure about that. Either way, cheaper is cheaper...so I guess I’ll find out in due course. In any event it’s stil considerably less than cigarettes.
The receipt from the CBSA lists the Alberta tobacco tax as a PST. FWIW, in my experience 7/10 smaller orders (<100g) don't get stopped. Even with our higher prices in Canada, it is still a lot cheaper than cigs.
Tax, levy, and prescribed interest rates
Rates for corporate, fuel and tobacco tax, tourism levy, emergency 911 levy and prescribed interest rates.
That’s the federal tax. The provincial tax varies by province. Here’s the URL for albertan import taxes:
Tax, levy, and prescribed interest rates
Rates for corporate, fuel and tobacco tax, tourism levy, emergency 911 levy and prescribed interest rates.
It’s about $0.41 per gram, or more than $20 for a 50g tin, and usually more if it’s like SP.com and they list a 50g tin as 2oz on the form. So you’re looking at $27 for the two taxes. Plus they tack on a ten dollar processing fee per package to twist the knife a little. And you’re not done: GST on all that too. Lucky you, no provincial sales tax. Add it up, you’re not much off the retail price.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from importing by courier, it’s exclusively how I do it. I just think you ought to know the customs fees might be way higher than you thought, if they assess you fully.
Haha, @canucklehead beat me to it all.
- Status