Empire Virginias

[spicy_boiii]

Empire Virginias, the unique component of alot of infamous east-of-the-atlantic blends.

What makes the leaf so unique in taste? And what about it brings so many fans?

I'm interested in your experiences, a discussion of it's presence in the past/present/future, and any sources or agricultural understanding you may have to share.

 

[Auxsender]

I have no idea what this is but I am curious. A google search was not enlightening. Can you fill us in?

 

[verporchting]

I believe Gawith and Hoggarth and many European blenders use these empire varietal tobaccos more heavily than US producers. My understanding is that they originated with North American plants but thrived in the soil and growing conditions in Northern Africa. I certainly enjoy them. That’s about all I got, no farmer here, lol.

 

[canucklehead]

I have no idea what this is but I am curious. A google search was not enlightening. Can you fill us in?

"Empire Virginias" are from countries that used to be a part of the British Empire, typically referring to East African and Indian sourced tobaccos.

 

[greeneyes]

I smoke so-called "Empire Virginias" that I ship directly from South Africa. They are superb in every way. Gawith and Germain wouldn't exist without them. The leaf has been highly sought after for generations due to matters of terroir, but I've no doubt that it remains at such outstanding quality because farm labor remains affordable in Africa and thus mechanisation of the sort that favors quantity over quality hasn't overrun the industry there as it has here.

 

[SBC]

Right, my understanding is that "Empire Virginia" refers to brightleaf (the variety we commonly call "Virginia") grown in places where "the sun never set on the British empire." Parts of north Africa in particular.

These varietals are the backbone of the Gawith houses.

They certainly taste very different than Virginia Virginia. To me, much drier (I don't mean dry in the sense of humidity, but in the sense of a dry wine).

I don't know whether the taste difference is due primarily to terroir, or to processing method, or both.

I like Virginia brightleaf much more than Empire brightleaf, myself, but I do love Gawith sauces.
Now if we could get Gawith sauce on typical Virginias... Mm boy, would that get me excited!

 

[sittingbear]

I confess, I had to read the title of this post twice.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

I don't think much of our leaf comes from Africa now. It used to but droughts, wars etc meant was not easy to get. Certainly in the archives there is a lot of reference to the Dakeyne-Cannon's (who took over Samuel Gawith's in the 30's ) going out to what's was Rhodesia and having some sort of partnership with a plantation there. I think we used to get a lot of leaf from Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) but now most comes from Brazil, some from India and some from a few other places, including Europe.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

 

[Ahi Ka]

I totally resonate with the impact of terrior or rather, what I would call whenua here.

I wonder aloud however, if the most distinct aspect of empire leaf for pipe smokers who are more familiar with American Virginia blends is in fact the curing process? So instead of flue curing bright leaf, approaches such as air curing, sun curing, and even fire curing are utilised.

 

[greeneyes]

I don't think much of our leaf comes from Africa now. It used to but droughts, wars etc meant was not easy to get. Certainly in the archives there is a lot of reference to the Dakeyne-Cannon's (who took over Samuel Gawith's in the 30's ) going out to what's was Rhodesia and having some sort of partnership with a plantation there. I think we used to get a lot of leaf from Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) but now most comes from Brazil, some from India and some from a few other places, including Europe.

Have you used primarily Brazilian Virginia for most of the company's modern history or was there a shift at some period that you can recall? When did you stop importing Zimbabwe leaf?

 

[sablebrush52]

What we refer to as Empire Leaf, primarily Africa and India, and now South America and other places, seems to me to have fuller flavor than what is now available in the US. The US once grew thee best tobaccos in the world, which is why so much was shipped to the UK and Europe. But with the decline in production, many growers turning to more profitable crops, some of which coincided with the ending of governmental subsidies of tobacco farmers, and the introduction of machine harvesting over hand picking, the quality has taken a major hit.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

Have you used primarily Brazilian Virginia for most of the company's modern history or was there a shift at some period that you can recall? When did you stop importing Zimbabwe leaf?

I don't know when it was, but it constantly changes year on year. We used to get a lot from Syria before war broke out. New rule of origin regulations mean we now use more European leaf. We get samples sent each year and much depends on quality, price, availability, logistics as to where it comes from.

 

[mingc]

I wouldn't be surprised if Britain started growing tobacco in her colonies primarily because of the disruption in the supply of slave grown tobacco during the American civil war. Cotton became a major crop in India for that very reason.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

I'd have to go back and check the history books but think the American Civil war was a major turning point. Tobacco into England/Scotland was built on the slave trade - there was a triangle with ships taking sugar/slaves/tobacco between points and I think export of cloth/leather etc from England.

 

[spicy_boiii]

I'd have to go back and check the history books but think the American Civil war was a major turning point. Tobacco into England/Scotland was built on the slave trade - there was a triangle with ships taking sugar/slaves/tobacco between points and I think export of cloth/leather etc from England.

That would be awesome, thank you so much for popping in and sharing. As a fan it's much appreciated and enjoyed.

 

[greeneyes]

That would be awesome, thank you so much for popping in and sharing. As a fan it's much appreciated and enjoyed.

Somehow I suspect she's referring to, you know, history books in general, and not a secret Gawith archive of tobacco trade records during the American civil war period. Though nobody wishes it were so more than I.

 

[canucklehead]

I wouldn't be surprised if Britain started growing tobacco in her colonies primarily because of the disruption in the supply of slave grown tobacco during the American civil war. Cotton became a major crop in India for that very reason.

Cotton is from India, it was always a major crop in India, and India was the world's largest cotton producer and exporter long before the US existed. Cotton gins were invented and used in India since 5AD. In the 1700s Indian cotton was the most important international trade item in the world. The US still heavily imported Indian cotton products at the time.

 

[mingc]

Cotton is from India, it was always a major crop in India, and India was the world's largest cotton producer and exporter long before the US existed. Cotton gins were invented and used in India since 5AD. In the 1700s Indian cotton was the most important international trade item in the world. The US still heavily imported Indian cotton products at the time.

Sorry, I shouldn't have implied that cotton was a minor corp in India before the US civil war (1861-65). What I had read was that the North's blockade of New Orleans during the civil war, preventing the export of cotton from the South ,was a boon to the production of cotton in India. Wikipedia puts it thus: "During this time, cotton cultivation in the British Empire, especially Australia and India, greatly increased to replace the lost production of the American South. Through tariffs and other restrictions, the British government discouraged the production of cotton cloth in India; rather, the raw fiber was sent to England for processing." Cotton - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton

 

[canucklehead]

Sorry, I shouldn't have implied there cotton was a minor corp in India before the US civil war (1861-65). What I had read was that the North's blockade of New Orleans during the civil war, preventing the export of cotton from the South ,was a boon to the production of cotton in India. Wikipedia puts it thus: "During this time, cotton cultivation in the British Empire, especially Australia and India, greatly increased to replace the lost production of the American South. Through tariffs and other restrictions, the British government discouraged the production of cotton cloth in India; rather, the raw fiber was sent to England for processing." Cotton - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton

Sorry for the previous cotton rant lol, I had just drank a bunch of coffee too late in the day.