English or Balkan

[haroldt]

I often go to www.tobaccoreviews.com to see what people are saying about blends I have or am thinking about trying. TR is a great site and allows one to search and sort by blend types. So I was surprised to find the way the site classified a few blends I was searching. Now to be fair, TR is user driven and the users can edit many fields include Blend. So with that I went to Cornell and Dielh to see what they classify the products. Well that was interesting as they classify them different yet.
This found me sending them an email and asking what distinguishes English and Balkan. Below is the reply, which does clear the mud... a little:
The hard truth is, nobody knows. In recent times, the Balkan descriptor is typically applied to blends with are more Latakia and Oriental forward than Virginia forward. A good Enlgish example in our line up might be Piccadilly by Pease or Mountain Camp by C&D, while a Balkan mixture would be something far heavier on the Latakia and Oriental components such as Star of the East by C&D or Odyssey by Pease. The descriptors are murky at best and have been the topic of much debate and discussion on online forums and in smokey back rooms where pipe clubs meet. Historically, things are even harder still to follow. Many of the pure Virignia blends of old were once described as English simply because they had no extra flavorings added.

 

[derfargin]

Oh this dead horse again?? I just know I like both English and Balkan blends.

 

[Chasing Embers]

http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/what-is-a-balkan-blend/

 

[haroldt]

Chasingembers - Yeah, the C&D guy actually put that link in his email to me. I had already read in the past.

 

[perdurabo]

They're all English, except those goopy aromatics.

 

[deathmetal]

In recent times, the Balkan descriptor is typically applied to blends with are more Latakia and Oriental forward than Virginia forward. A good Enlgish example in our line up might be Piccadilly by Pease or Mountain Camp by C&D, while a Balkan mixture would be something far heavier on the Latakia and Oriental components such as Star of the East by C&D or Odyssey by Pease.

Seems pretty clear to me. If the Latakia and Orientals are used as condiments, the blend is English; if they dominate the taste, it is Balkan. This might be clarified by saying that Balkan blends are a variation of the English blend in which Latakia and Orientals take a more dominant role.

 

[andrew]

Seems pretty clear to me. If the Latakia and Orientals are used as condiments, the blend is English; if they dominate the taste, it is Balkan.

Not that clear at all, if there's latakia then it can be simply a latakia blend. Personally to me there's no such thing as a Balkan blend as nobody can firmly grasp what it is.

 

[shawnofthedead]

I have a similar question. What's the difference between Balkan and Oriental? They seem to contain the same types of tobacco.

 

[sablebrush52]

I have a similar question. What's the difference between Balkan and Oriental? They seem to contain the same types of tobacco.

True. But, Oriental blends don't have to have Latakia. They may have Izmir, or Macedonian, or Yenidje, or Smyrna, without Latakia. But smokers also label many blends as Oriental which do have Latakia. So, it's essentially a mess.
My personal take is that it is a matter of balance, dependent upon which leaf is highlighted. If the mixture highlights the Balkan content over Latakia, it's a Balkan blend, like Balkan Sasieni, which highlights Macedonian leaf. If the Balkan or Oriental leaf is more of a condiment, and the Latakia is more dominant, it's English, though some say that an English blend doesn't mean that it contains Latakia. Seems a logical way to approach designations, which is why it isn't followed.

 

[mortonbriar]

Can I suggest we call them all 'Balkish'.
Isaac

 

[sablebrush52]

Can I suggest we call them all 'Balkish'.

Sure, why not? Can I refer to Kosher Chinese food as Oriyenta?

 

[mortonbriar]

Can I refer to Kosher Chinese food as Oriyenta?

Sure, although I think its already been coined 'Christmas Dinner'...

 

[lochinvar]

I never had much of a problem and still don't with the English designations. English is the Class, then we move down with specifics to Order, Family, Genus and Species. A balanced VA-Lat-OR blend is a classic English, heavy on the Latakia and Oriental is a Balkan, Light to none on the Latakia and it's an Oriental, throw in some Cavendish and it's a Scottish blend.
The problem I have with latakia blend is....it's not the only tobacco in there. It makes as much sense to me as calling them all English does to you.

 

[jfox520]

Blenders can call the blend what ever they want. I believe that there is no longer any hard and fast rule. I always read the list of tobaccos and even then not all of them are listed (Secret Ingredients). Just smoke it if you like it.

 

[judcole]

There never was a rule. The term was first used, as I understand it,in Balkan Sobranie, and it took off from there.

It's all marketing.

 

[deathmetal]

Not that clear at all, if there's latakia then it can be simply a latakia blend.

It could be in both categories. A Latakia blend to my mind is one where Latakia is the central flavor, and everything else is in support of that.

 

[deathmetal]

English is the Class, then we move down with specifics to Order, Family, Genus and Species. A balanced VA-Lat-OR blend is a classic English, heavy on the Latakia and Oriental is a Balkan, Light to none on the Latakia and it's an Oriental, throw in some Cavendish and it's a Scottish blend.

Good analysis.

 

[stvalentine]

There never was a rule. The term was first used, as I understand it,in Balkan Sobranie, and it took off from there.

It's all marketing.

I am constantly confused over the matter but this seems to be the most likely explanation!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

This all matters to me, as I hate most English blends, but love Balkans. It makes sense to me. It doesn't matter what is in the stuff, if it smells like incense in some gypsy tent and spent Ottoman gun powder, it is Balkan.

The rest just smells like someone pissed in a campfire.

 

[prairiedruid]

There is only one category that matters......if it tastes good it goes on the reorder list; if it does not it disappears from history.
Keep your stick on the ice; we're all in this together.