English vs Balkan

[Tom-202]

This is an eternal question and goes to the definitions one uses or the tastes one experiences. Upfront I’d argue against hard and fast rules.

English Blends:

Artisan Blend Ashton
British Blend Peretti
Gaslight GLP
HH Latakia Flake MacBaren
Latakia Flake McConnell
Nightcap Peterson
No. 6 Orient Newminster
Pirate Kake C&D
Quiet Nights GLP
Omega Peretti
Red Stag C&D
Spark Plug GLP
Westminster GLP

Balkan Blends;

Balkan #10 Brebbia
Balkan Sasieni STG
Balkan Supreme Arango
Byzantium C&D
Izmir Turkish C&D
Miskatonic Mixture C&D
Odyssey GLP
Oriental Silk C&D
Oriental No. 40 Peretti
Plum Pudding Special Rsrv Seattle Pipe
Sunset Harbor C&D
Tashkent Peretti

Of course there are many more but these I have tried.

When one looks at the ingredients for each blend, the calculation issues emerge. If X is in the blend does it automatically go to a category? Maybe and maybe not.

I love Westminster, Gaslight and Quiet Nights but to me they are different in kind with Odyssey, Sasieni, Tashkent and Plum Pudding.

Not sure categories matter but new smokers might be trying to sort it all out.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Balkans are a subcategory of what we call English, but I prefer to just call them latakia blends. What distinguishes a Balkan is the heavier use of orientals. My understanding is that Balkans started out emulating the original Balkan Sobranie. So, the Balian fan is looking for more of a kaleidoscope of flavors than just your traditional “English” or Latakia blends.

But, so many blenders just use these terms loosely that it’s hard to tell what you’ve got till you try it.

 

[Tom-202]

Balkans are a subcategory of what we call English, but I prefer to just call them latakia blends. What distinguishes a Balkan is the heavier use of orientals. My understanding is that Balkans started out emulating the original Balkan Sobranie. So, the Balian fan is looking for more of a kaleidoscope of flavors than just your traditional “English” or Latakia blends.

But, so many blenders just use these terms loosely that it’s hard to tell what you’ve got till you try it.

Totally. Why i keep collecting tobacco and giving each my own rating scale. Not complaining! Hugely fun hobby.

Aromatics — is it or isn’t it? Hard rules don’t work all the time.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Balkan is just a marketing term to liken a blend to Balkan Sobranie.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Arango

Arango is just a distributor. Balkan Supreme by Arango, Peter Stokkebye, P&C, and others is just the same blend manufactured by STG.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Izmir Turkish C&D
Miskatonic Mixture C&D

Where are those listed as Balkans? Neither have latakia in them.

 

[ThermionicScott]

This guy would like a word:

 

[Sobrbiker]

I steer away from lots of Latakia, but when I do reach for one MacBaren HH Balkan does it for me.

 

[Oddball]

I have decided to treat these subjective issues as such

English: Virginia + Latakia+ XYZ
Balkan: Virginia+Oriental+Latakia+XYZ
Scottish: Virginia+Latakia+Cavindish+XYZ

The XYZ here represent smaller spice level components, like dark fired, perique. etc


This helps me.

Edited to fix the mix on the balkan

 

[Tom-202]

Where are those listed as Balkans? Neither have latakia in them.

Orientals are often grouped with Balkans. Back to definitions. Fuzzy lines. Appreciate your view.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

English Oriental Supreme didn't make the cut I see. I used to love that stuff back when I smoked latakia.
I agree with Chasing - I think it's a marketing term mostly. Though I've always associated it with Oriental-forward latakia blends.

 

[Tom-202]

English Oriental Supreme didn't make the cut I see. I used to love that stuff back when I smoked latakia.
I agree with Chasing - I think it's a marketing term mostly. Though I've always associated it with Oriental-forward latakia blends.

Just blends I’ve tried. A lot I have not tried.

I suspect blenders try this and that and don’t work that hard on keeping clear definitional lines. If a touch of Latakia goes into Greek and Turkish tobacco does that force them to call it a Balkan?

Not sure it matters. I’m talking to myself here. Not caring much for scientific accuracy. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Tom-202]

Arango is just a distributor. Balkan Supreme by Arango, Peter Stokkebye, P&C, and others is just the same blend manufactured by STG.

My way of keeping track of my tobaccos.

 

[Tom-202]

Where are those listed as Balkans? Neither have latakia in them.

I like my categories.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Orientals are often grouped with Balkans

Only when they have latakia in the blend. The Izmir is just a straight blender.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I like my categories.

Lacking latakia, those would fall under the oriental category.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I will concede that Oriental tobaccos are Balkan by origin, but not by blend classification.

 

[badbriar]

So, Balkans have Latakia in them and Orientals have NO latakia - is that correct?
Always wondered the difference!

 

[OzPiper]

My categories:

Me LIKE
Me NO LIKE
Is simple
Is good

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

So, Balkans have Latakia in them and Orientals have NO latakia - is that correct?
Always wondered the difference!

I don’t think there is any guiding rule to this one except for what the manufacturer wants to put on the label. The McClelland “Oriental no. X” green cans, for example. Some had Latakia and some didn’t, if I recall correctly.