The general consensus seems to be that virginia blends should be smoked on the dry side. But is this also true for latakia blends? My impression is that English/Balkan blends smoke better on the moist side. They're more flavorful and nuanced. Latakia becomes more friable and burns hotter as it dries out, which is why the top half of the bowl tastes better to me than the bottom half. Is this a thing or is it just me?
Are Latakia Blends Better on the Moist Side?
- Thread starter dunnyboy
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I don’t smoke English blends often but I think all blend toe smoke better when they’re on the drier side. Just have to smoke slow.
I don't really smoke English blends anymore, but tend to agree with this sentiment. I prefer my VA and Burley based blends on the dry side, but I do prefer my Lat blends more moist. I'm not sure why that is, I've never given it to though. But I definitely don't dry my English blends out like I do a VA based
I’m in the opposite camp. I like my English / Balkan blends approaching crispy, VA flakes fairly dry but pliable, and recently have come to the conclusion that I prefer my lakelands at full moisture.
Bolded: absolutely, they lose a lot if smoked any other way.
As for the rest, taking Embers' great line "freshly bone dry" does it for me.
Consensus is general! 
But I dry my English and Balkan blends as I do other types. And one man's moist is another's dry and vice versa!
But I dry my English and Balkan blends as I do other types. And one man's moist is another's dry and vice versa!
I prefer mine on the dry side but not to the point where they turn to dust if you squeeze the tobacco.
I am in the dry camp. Slow down or probably smoke more gently and you won't have that issue with drier latakia blends. Funny for me I find that I have the opposite experience. Moister latakia blends taste flatter and less nuanced to me.
LOL. You're right. I meant the consensus among the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Consensus is general!
LOL. You're right. I meant the consensus among the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hah! I remember for a while some time ago, a newscaster was using the phrase, "The general consensus of opinion..." Finally someone pointed out that consensus is both general and an opinion.
Generally I would say that the statement is true. The flavors seem brighter and more energetic. But what would I know, I have the taste bids of a stone,
Latakia is a tricky customer, though well-loved by a large portion of the pipe smoking public. I think it may require a level of moisture to give full flavor. It's processing makes it as much a flavoring as a tobacco constituent. I believe with aged blends with Latakia, it can fade fast after opening. You'll get a good smoke or two, and then the Lat tastes gone.
I don't find Latakia difficult at all, nor much fade. Clearly, MV!
You just described every aspect of smoking. It's all subjective.
Smoke some dry. Smoke some moist. Make up your own mind and see what you prefer.
I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule on Latakia blends in general. Of course some blends have more Latakia than others. I tend to dry tobacco’s based on how they smoke and modify dry time for each blend. A blend with 20% Latakia may be considered a Latakia blend but of course other blends that have 30+ percent Latakia will definitely smoke differently. Experiment and modify as necessary.
Used to be a time where I thought moisture was desired. Experience has shown me that I derive more from pipe tobacco (latakia, burley, Virginia, etc.), when it's dry. Several cans open (Capstan blue, or Bengal Slices, Early Morning Pipe, etc., for example), that were dead dry a year ago...today it's my preferred presentation. If it's moist, I dry it. If it's dry, I smoke it. I've found that what used to be law (moisture, re-hydrating, packing, re-lighting, dottle and white ash, pipe rotation, etc.), is more subjective. Just like everything else in this world, you find out what works for you...or you find out what doesn't.
I prefer my English blends on the slightly moist side, I use a meerschaum filter to soak up any excess steam. but like you said it does seem to impart a little more flavour as it burns slower . That being said, “moist” for me is ever so slightly springy, if it’s flake it will bend and somewhat break when folded. If that helps at all. But as per the above replies ,each to their own.