Bring Back Syrian Latakia - possible?

[badbriar]

So, why has there not been an attempt to bring back a Syrian strain of latakia? It could be grown in other, more available regions.
I know that in the cigar world, many tobacco varietals are grown in regions away from the original. Now, there is likely no exact replacement for genuine Cuban tobacco due to the unique soil conditions on the island. In actuality, IMNSHO, Cuban seed tobacco grown elsewhere is more flavorful and readily available.
Why can this not be applied to Syrian Latakia?
Thoughts?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Pardon my possibly ignorance - I'm not a latakia lover.
I'm not sure Syrian latakia is so much a particular phenotype or strain so much as a particular recipe for the process.
I could be slightly wrong or completely wrong.
I think it's the particular trees they used to fuel their fires that has gone tits up.

 

[andrei.momanu]

They do make it in Cyprus now. But it is not the exact replacement you are looking for...

 

[AroEnglish]

They do make it in Cyprus now. But it is not the exact replacement you are looking for...

I think the Cyprian latakia has always been Cyprian rather than the leak (shekk el bint?) and wood for burning that they used in Syria.

 

[fightnhampster]

Pardon my possibly ignorance - I'm not a latakia lover.
I'm not sure Syrian latakia is so much a particular phenotype or strain so much as a particular recipe for the process.
I could be slightly wrong or completely wrong.
I think it's the particular trees they used to fuel their fires that has gone tits up.

I believe it is this. Not just the strain, but it's the soil, as well as the method of curing and the materials used to cure that are unique to Syria. These factors, along with others make it virtually irreplaceable and now extinct.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Lethals if they would quit killing each other over there, the chances would increase.

 

[sardonicus87]

The exact same seeds from the same tobacco plant are going to produce plants that taste different depending in where they're grown. Soil conditions, weather all have an effect. It's the same with coffee... Columbian coffee grown in lower altitudes tastes different than that grown further up the mountain.

Anyone that grows tomatoes knows how your tomatoes taste is greatly affected by soil pH.

So as others have said, it's not simply having the right varietal ("strain"), it's also about the growing conditions and the specific harvesting and curing processes (even when the leaves are harvested and from where on the plant they are harvested has an effect... bright VA and red/mature VA comes from the exact same specific plant, the leaves being harvested from different parts of the plant at different stages of growth).

I never was able to compare Syrian to Cyprean, so I don't know the differences. I also don't remember the full story behind why Syrian stopped. I think I read something about the specific wood used for the smoke curing was becoming endangered? But I've also read other reasons given. Regardless, I doubt it's coming back.

 

[Egg Shen]

I have also heard that the wood they burned is indigenous to Syria

 

[anotherbob]

Lethals if they would quit killing each other over there, the chances would increase.

that would be a good start. The other thing is we'd have to pay a premium to make it worth while to farmers to grow and produce the product. Which means we'd have to beat out what they're making on whatever they're growing now factoring in the extra time and labor. But war doesn't help too much with immediate stability.

 

[JOHN72]

I'm a fucking ignorant newbie at this. But I think these are already bad times to invest in quality, when we are seeing the last throes of the tobacco world, at least in Europe. When they are closing tobacconists, and not being able to buy tobacco online, and this campaign of destruction, discredit and hatred towards tobacco, of this mythical tradition. And sorry for being so pessimistic and catastrophist.

 

[Dave760]

I think I read something about the specific wood used for the smoke curing was becoming endangered? But I've also read other reasons given. Regardless, I doubt it's coming back.

The "Decline of Syrian Latakia" section of the Wikipedia article on Latakia (tobacco) has information on the deforestation in Syria.

Latakia (tobacco) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[anotherbob]

I'm a fucking ignorant newbie at this. But I think these are already bad times to invest in quality, when we are seeing the last throes of the tobacco world, at least in Europe. When they are closing tobacconists, and not being able to buy tobacco online, and this campaign of destruction, discredit and hatred towards tobacco, of this mythical tradition. And sorry for being so pessimistic and catastrophist.

it's too ingrained to really go away. Think about what happened in America with alcohol prohibition, which was a very popular law when it was passed. The popularity of these things waxes and wanes.

 

[sardonicus87]

I'm a fucking ignorant newbie at this. But I think these are already bad times to invest in quality, when we are seeing the last throes of the tobacco world, at least in Europe. When they are closing tobacconists, and not being able to buy tobacco online, and this campaign of destruction, discredit and hatred towards tobacco, of this mythical tradition. And sorry for being so pessimistic and catastrophist.

it's too ingrained to really go away. Think about what happened in America with alcohol prohibition, which was a very popular law when it was passed. The popularity of these things waxes and wanes.

If it comes down to it...

 

[anotherbob]

If it comes down to it...
View attachment 248225

I know that guy he's got a husky and likes walk it in my neighborhood. Seems friendly.