I do a lot of reading on TobaccoReviews, but I've noticed contradictions or inconsistencies in the "Blend Type" field of a tobacco's profile.
I'll search for Balkan blends, click on a Balkan tobacco, and see that its ingredients are "Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia." Penzance is an example of this, but there are tons of others.
I'll then search for Oriental blends, click on an Oriental tobacco, and see that its ingredients are exactly the same as the Balkan blend. McClelland Oriental Mixture No. 1 is an example. Tons of others.
I'll then search for English blends, click on an English tobacco, and see that its ingredients are exactly the same as the Balkan blends and Oriental blends. C&D's Star of the East is an example. Tons of others.
So are "blend types" arbitrarily assigned? I picture the blender going, "This one has latakia, Turkish, and Virginia. Let's call it English. Oh, and this one has the exact same stuff, but let's call it Balkan." Or is this "Blend Type" field on TR bugged?
Imagine having a cookie with the three ingredients of oatmeal, chocolate, and raisin and saying it's a Swiss-style cookie, and then having another cookie with the same ingredients in roughly the same ratio and saying, "Ah, but this one is an Italian-style cookie." What's going on here? What makes one blend what it is and another blend what it is, despite both having the same ingredients as each other?
I saw a video, produced by Mac Baren, on Oriental blends. I understand that what makes an Oriental blend is its use of the Oriental varietal of tobacco, which has smaller and more aromatic leaves. If the inclusion or Oriental leaves is what constitutes an Oriental blend, then why aren't half the "English blends" and "Balkan blends" on TR labeled "Oriental blends" instead?
I'll search for Balkan blends, click on a Balkan tobacco, and see that its ingredients are "Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia." Penzance is an example of this, but there are tons of others.
I'll then search for Oriental blends, click on an Oriental tobacco, and see that its ingredients are exactly the same as the Balkan blend. McClelland Oriental Mixture No. 1 is an example. Tons of others.
I'll then search for English blends, click on an English tobacco, and see that its ingredients are exactly the same as the Balkan blends and Oriental blends. C&D's Star of the East is an example. Tons of others.
So are "blend types" arbitrarily assigned? I picture the blender going, "This one has latakia, Turkish, and Virginia. Let's call it English. Oh, and this one has the exact same stuff, but let's call it Balkan." Or is this "Blend Type" field on TR bugged?
Imagine having a cookie with the three ingredients of oatmeal, chocolate, and raisin and saying it's a Swiss-style cookie, and then having another cookie with the same ingredients in roughly the same ratio and saying, "Ah, but this one is an Italian-style cookie." What's going on here? What makes one blend what it is and another blend what it is, despite both having the same ingredients as each other?
I saw a video, produced by Mac Baren, on Oriental blends. I understand that what makes an Oriental blend is its use of the Oriental varietal of tobacco, which has smaller and more aromatic leaves. If the inclusion or Oriental leaves is what constitutes an Oriental blend, then why aren't half the "English blends" and "Balkan blends" on TR labeled "Oriental blends" instead?