I always rotate blends simply for the sake of varitey. Id say lat blends constitue a third of what I smoke. Latakia is strong in flavor. I find it best to smoke either last in the day or in a period where it will not be quickly followed by another bow.
English Fatigue?
- Thread starter ziv
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The Turkish latakia going around in the updated/revised C&D blends has been much more palatable to my 'buds over the Cyprian variant(s).
Yeah, and you have the right idea. I like to switch genres, and also mix in cigars to keep the flavors popping. I think Latakia is especially prone to fatiguing the palate. I can remember when I first started smoking Latakia blends, it got to a point where I wasn't tasting it much in blends that had as much as like 50% Latakia. Switching genres, and choosing Latakia blends that where the other components really contrast with the Latakia seems to cure the issue for me, and now my favorite Latakia blends are those that have strong foundations of Virginias and Orientals, as it seems to cause the Latakia to stand out more....
I find English/Balkans are season sensitive and prefer them in the fall/winter months with Virginias smoked during warmer seasons but that’s just me. Resetting the palate I use a nice chocolate burley or aromatic like rum flake or Barbary coast.
I smoked Three Nuns exclusively for years, then got into Lats, then the Oriental forward Skiff. Someone kind gave me aged Cabbies which my tongue couldn't cope with, unsurprisingly as it turned out owing to serious health issues, but eventually I came back to it and it clicked, so Cabbies became my goto blend (maybe my old Three Nuns habit influenced that).
I still appreciate Latakia/Oriental blends, occasionally going for SG Balkan Flake or Germain's SLF. After dinner, maybe SG Navy Flake which, if folded and stuffed, really brings out the Lat component.
Smoking Revor at the moment, which is something else entirely.
I still appreciate Latakia/Oriental blends, occasionally going for SG Balkan Flake or Germain's SLF. After dinner, maybe SG Navy Flake which, if folded and stuffed, really brings out the Lat component.
Smoking Revor at the moment, which is something else entirely.
I will smoke anything, in any rotation. I have not yet hit a wall with Latakia, but I think that's because I only smoke 3 or 4 bowls per week now and I only smoke Lat / English blends a few times per month. I rotate, in no particular order, between aromatics, English, VAs, codger, and burleys. I don't have a ton of burleys so I suppose that is smoked less frequently.
I also try to rotated but seem to get stuck when something strikes my fancy like Dockworker. I guess variety to good to avoid burnout. I don’t smoke Lat blends very often,only when the wife is not home. She doesn't like the smell of latakia.
I'm pretty tired of the English.
I mean, what have they done for us since the last episode of The Fast Show?
I mean, what have they done for us since the last episode of The Fast Show?
A good excuse for having a changing rotation.
Otherwise suck it up and fill the bowl full of Ten Russians…..
Otherwise suck it up and fill the bowl full of Ten Russians…..
I've never gotten burnt out on a blend, but that's only because I usually go for something different every smoke. Of all the blend types out there, though, I would imagine that English would be the most likely to cause burnout if that's all you were smoking.
I smoke what I want. Yes, I’ve gotten tired of Latakia and took a break from it. I also take breaks from smoking, maybe a day or a few. The mouth, throat, and sinuses tell me when it’s time. Enjoy the process!
If I had to bet on you coming back to Latakia at some point, I’d say if you really liked it, at some point you will come back to it.
There are times when only Latakia will scratch the itch. Just think of the first time you opened a tin and took a whiff!
There are times when only Latakia will scratch the itch. Just think of the first time you opened a tin and took a whiff!
I had a similar thing happen earlier this year. Suddenly it felt like I couldn't even taste Latakia anymore. I thought "Hey, maybe my tastes are just changing," so I went through a period of experimenting with other types of blends.
On the plus side, I did a deep dive into burley (which I had previously neglected) and found a lot of great things I now love.
On the minus side, I was so convinced I was done with Latakia that I sold off some stuff I now regret getting rid of.
Anyway, fast forward about six months, and I'm pretty much back to where I was before the whole thing started. I can taste Latakia again and it features pretty heavily in the rotation again. But the rotation is a little wider now.
Not sure if there's a moral. Except maybe try some different stuff for a while. Then go back and see what happens. Either things will go back to normal or they won't.
If they don't, you'll know you've moved on. If you go back to loving the lat again, then hey great and maybe you've found some new favorites to mix in if it happens again.
On the plus side, I did a deep dive into burley (which I had previously neglected) and found a lot of great things I now love.
On the minus side, I was so convinced I was done with Latakia that I sold off some stuff I now regret getting rid of.
Anyway, fast forward about six months, and I'm pretty much back to where I was before the whole thing started. I can taste Latakia again and it features pretty heavily in the rotation again. But the rotation is a little wider now.
Not sure if there's a moral. Except maybe try some different stuff for a while. Then go back and see what happens. Either things will go back to normal or they won't.
If they don't, you'll know you've moved on. If you go back to loving the lat again, then hey great and maybe you've found some new favorites to mix in if it happens again.
Thank you for your responses, everyone! A lot of good stuff here.
I will be putting English blends aside for now. Today, I smoked Bayou Morning; the smoke wasn't as bad as the yesterday's, but it was still inferior to ones I've had with this blend before.
But while smoking, I found myself craving for an aromatic which was a surprise for me. I do have a few jars with stuff like Autumn Evening, Lane 1-Q, and some Sutliff. I also have an unopened tin of Cult BRM. Maybe it's time to finally try that one out!
I will be putting English blends aside for now. Today, I smoked Bayou Morning; the smoke wasn't as bad as the yesterday's, but it was still inferior to ones I've had with this blend before.
But while smoking, I found myself craving for an aromatic which was a surprise for me. I do have a few jars with stuff like Autumn Evening, Lane 1-Q, and some Sutliff. I also have an unopened tin of Cult BRM. Maybe it's time to finally try that one out!
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I’m actually smoking a bowl of Ten Russians as I read this thread!
After having bowls of GLP Key Largo and C&D Billy Budd… so I’m all over the map!
So I am three years into this and still consider myself a new pipe smoker.
The cravings for specific styles or blends still surprise me too.
A couple weeks ago all I wanted was Maple Aromatics, for about a week.
The other day I woke up and was jonesing for a straight Virginia.
I went almost a month without a smoke due to being busy, all I could think about smoking was GL Pease Union Square. Strange, as I usually smoke Burley blends. Who knows what’s next for me, maybe Virginia Slims stuffed in a pipe!
After I got fully into English blends and learned how to tease apart flavors, I started sprinkling in some aromatics that I had abandoned.
English is still my favorite genre, but I keep an eclectic rotation.
English is still my favorite genre, but I keep an eclectic rotation.
I love Latakia but I don't smoke English blends back to back or everyday because of palate fatigue. I switch between blend types very often, usually never smoking the same blend twice in a day, which I find helps me retain the ability to pick out all the flavors I like in each of them. I also don't smoke all day which helps too.
My favorite blend (northwoods) is an English. I do not notice palate fatigue, possibly because I do not smoke enough, and I rotate blends out pretty regularly. I do notice that after not smoking Northwoods for a week or two, that the first smoke is much better than I remember, and any other blend I have smoked recently. Maybe I do experience palate fatigue...