Description of taste from smoking oriental tobacco

[nypipefan]

I came back to Pipe smoking and I am enjoying every puff. I do have a question that is bothering me in trying to understand what I am tasting when I smoke McClelland's Arcadia. I have smoked about 4 Bowls and I can't quite describe the spice that I taste but it is suppose to be a Virginia and Oriental blend. I have smoked other blends of Virginia and understand the Tobacco flavor.

I do enjoy Arcadia but need help in understanding if the flavor I pick up is the oriental in the the background that also seems to be there all the time. Any help out there for a fellow smoker of the Briar and Leaf.
Thanks to all that respond.

 

[bigvan]

I smoke Arcadia almost daily but I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Personally I think the oriental is blended so well with the stoved Virginias that neither really stands out, but create a new entity entirely. Again, just my impression, but I don't detect a separate oriental undertone (or overtone) as I do with other blends.

 

[judcole]

The thing to remember is that "oriental" is a catch-all term for a variety of tobaccos. Basma does not = Smyrna does not = any other oriental.

 

[bigvan]

Good point, Jud.

 

[lordnoble]

My (limited) understanding is that the spicy flavor/sensation IS the orientals. I haven't delved into my jar of Arcadia recently, but the next time I do, I'll see if I can come up with an appropriate descriptor for the orientals.
I like the 221b line and I think the Black Shag is my favorite. I really wanted to love Honeydew, but it was my first blend where the tin description led me to hype the blend in my head more than it was worthy of. Don't get me wrong, I like Honeydew, but it isn't the end-all-be-all I wanted it to be.
-Jason