English and Balkan

[conlejm]

It's EXTREMELY aromatic, although not in a vanilla-topping way. He puts some kind of "medicinal" taste on it, no one knows what it is exactly, but it's not just Va and Lat. I do smoke it on occasion, but it's a topped tobacco regardless. You have to try it to understand that flavor.

I do smoke it, and I never notice any medicinal taste. Not a single reviewer at Tobaccoreviews mentions the medicinal taste either, and every retailer states there is no topping or flavoring detected. I'm not saying it's not topped, but if it were EXTREMELY aromatic I think someone would have mentioned that. But if you say you taste it, then you taste it. You must have more sophisticated taste buds than many.

 

[kcvet67]

It's EXTREMELY aromatic, although not in a vanilla-topping way. He puts some kind of "medicinal" taste on it, no one knows what it is exactly, but it's not just Va and Lat. I do smoke it on occasion, but it's a topped tobacco regardless. You have to try it to understand that flavor.

You're apparently smoking a very different SG Balkan Flake than the rest of us.

 

[ruscho]

The last time I got Balkan Flake was 2 years or so ago, maybe they have omitted the flavor lately?

Not a single reviewer at Tobaccoreviews mentions the medicinal taste either

All you have to do is search google for "Balkan flake medicinal taste" and you will see that I'm not alone. I remember reading those reviews on tobaccoreviews after I opened the tin for the first time - there were plenty of them talking about it.
I thought maybe I was confused with a different blend so I just went downstairs to smell my Balkan Flake jar and the medicinal smell is as clear as it could possibly be. I am shocked that you don't detect that at all. I will email Gawith on Monday and get it from the horse's mouth.

 

[ruscho]

I found the right word for it - it's not medicinal, but "peat". Unless they ship their Latakia to Laphroaig for some smoking - it's a topping and is very strong.

 

[ruscho]

In my limited experience, the term peaty and smoky seem to be used interchangeably with many smokers, with Latakia reglarly described as such.

I don't mean peaty as a synonym for smoky, but as being actually smoked with peat, just like a Laphroaig scotch would. I've never heard of Latakia being smoked with peat and all I smell with the Balkan Flake is peat and lots of it. To me the smell of peat in tobacco is just as unnatural as the smell of hickory or mesquite would be.

 

[conlejm]

I wonder if they use peat as fuel for kilns or something like that, or in the pressing process. Do you taste this in other Samuel,Gawaith blends? Perhaps you have the rare gift of super-sensitive taste buds.