Back in Black?

[solideogloria86]

After a long break from latakia blends (about 2 years), which was preceded by a latakia binge (about 3-4 years), i just finished a bowl a Star of the East Flake and I could actually taste the constituent tobaccos and not have them completely overwhelmed by the black leaf. The weather here has been cooling down this past week. From 80s-90s with clear skies and ample sunshine, to low 70s with cloudy skies and evening thunderstorms. Earlier today I decided I would give a heavier latakia blend another shot and see what happened. I loaded up a newish danger poker cob and had a cup of Earl Grey with a spoonful of honey and sat under the carport and watched the rain. It was quite enjoyable. I'm interested to see if this was a fluke, or if I may be able to enjoy some of my old favorites again. Time will tell, but I think I'll try some Quiet Nights next and see what happens. Has anyone else found their way back to full English blends after Lat burnout?

 

[ashdigger]

I’m slowly able to smoke RPL-6 (Monks)

 

[mso489]

I think it helps to smoke a Lat English only every few smokes or less, to avoid Lat burn-out. Burley if you can do it, or Virginias and Va/Per, and other genres.

 

[solideogloria86]

I think it helps to smoke a Lat English only every few smokes or less, to avoid Lat burn-out. Burley if you can do it, or Virginias and Va/Per, and other genres.

I think this is the approach I'm going to take going forward. Sprinkle in the odd Lat blend here and there while I keep the VA's the mainstay. I'm definitely going to give Quiet Nights a go tomorrow though .

 

[irishearl]

Yeah, speaking for myself, the only way I can avoid lat burn-out is to smoke it only on a fairly rare occasion.

 

[bullet08]

Rarely smoke Lat back to back. Still can enjoy it, but it's not like way back when smoking Lat will ring all the bells and blow whistles.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It was the sweet drink. Try it with lemonade.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Has anyone else found their way back to full English blends after Lat burnout?

Not here, when it happened to me I discovered a greater appreciation for Virginias, found out I could taste aromatics, and discovered a love for straight Orientals. English blends just taste cheap now by comparison.

 

[tmcg81]

I smoked a bowl of various latakia blends every night for a couple years. During that time I started getting really into burley, and I kinda tapered off of Latakia. I've found myself coming back to it in the last six months or so. Now, if I feel like smoking some, I really enjoy it. I find that one or two bowls a week of Westminster or Highland Targe really hit the spot if I'm in the mood for it.

 

[warren99]

I’ve been smoking English and Balkan blends for years and have never lost my appreciation for Latakia; although I do dedicate a few pipes to VA and VA Perique blends as a change of pace. Taste is subjective and clearly varies from person to person; otherwise everyone would order anchovies on their pizza.

 

[PipeIT]

Bankside with Latakia is quite mellow, especially if you dry it quite crisp.

Bankside - G.L. Pease Pipe Tobacco | Smokingpipes.com

Buy G.L. Pease's Bankside pipe tobacco, a modernist take on the classic Virginia/Perique flake.

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[J.Henry845]

I appreciate Latakia blends but definitely don’t smoke them as often as I used to, probably a ratio of 1 in 30 smokes. I think it is totally possible to get Latakia fatigue if smoking too much. The Latakia can muddle other components especially when too heavy handed.

I prefer blends with Syrian latakia over Cyprian but not too much of those left in the cellar. I wish I went deeper on Brebbia Balkan when I had the chance before they stopped with the Syrian.

 

[novaki]

Currently smoking a lot of straight VA. I find English / Lat bombs make it harder to sus out the nuances in other non-English blends, so I generally avoid them for that reason. That being said, Star of the East Flake is one of my favorites and I'd never say no to Plumb Pudding.

 

[LotusEater]

Rarely smoke Lat back to back. Still can enjoy it, but it's not like way back when smoking Lat will ring all the bells and blow whistles.

This is the secret
I love Latakia but I try to mix things up to avoid burnout.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

I smoke a decent amount of Lat blends, but I only smoke them a 1-3 times/week and with the exception of Northwoods and GLP Chelsea Morning, I only smoke them during the fall and winter months. Maybe that's why I haven't had a burnout yet (and hopefully never). That being said, QN and SotEF are both in my top 10 Lat blends (I have a lot of blends, lol).

 

[Searock Fan]

Not here, when it happened to me I discovered a greater appreciation for Virginias, found out I could taste aromatics, and discovered a love for straight Orientals. English blends just taste cheap now by comparison.

I'm curious, exactly what do you call "straight Orientals"?

 

[kcghost]

After a ten-year layoff from latakia I stumbled into G.L. Pease's Westminster and have found it to be superb. It is everything I ever wanted in a latakia blend.

 

[tobakenist]

I love Latakia but have always had a few blends to have a change, I find that if I stick to just one tobacco I can't taste it after a few day's so, I alternate with my collection of tobaccos and always try and find a new tobacco but this is hard with over 50 years of piping.

 

[warren99]

I'm curious, exactly what do you call "straight Orientals"?

Asian heterosexuals, I presume.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

I have always a tin or few open of each tobacco groups(english,VA,VAper,burley,sometimes aro and a few antique blends).Rotating them will never make me tired of any of them..