Goodbye to a dear friend?

[tschiraldi]

I have been a lover of Latakia (English, Balkan, & Oriental blends) since I started smoking a pipe. Never had a taste for Aromatics. This Summer I started smoking Virginia and Virginia Burleys and have really enjoyed them. Being Winter now, I thought I would prefer my old English favorites so I cracked open some BB1938. It was awful! I thought my palate just needed to adjust, so I dipped into a jar of my own blend (from the old P&C make your own blend thing) that I have loved since I first had it made. Again, awful! I think I have lost my taste for Latakia!!! Just to be sure, I am going to open a tin of Gas Light, my absolute favorite English. If that doesn't do it I am giving up and going straight... Virginia, that is. Anybody else ever lose their taste for certain tobaccos? If so, is there a cure???

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Tastes change, it happens. I'm worried one day I won't like Burley or it'll irritate me. Feel for you, man. Smoke something non VA for a while then try the English again?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I used to love lat bombs, but now prefer Latakia far in the background.

 

[jackswilling]

There have been a couple threads on this recently. Member just got burned out on Latakia. Has not happened to me yet, but who knows how one's palate may change. Set the Latakia blends aside and check back. One nice thing is that you can sell them off if your mind is set. I look at tins as an asset. Right now I want to keep them all. Especially until the deeming date is set in stone or reset. I agree with The One Who Chases Embers, a light hand on the Latakia by the blender.

 

[mso489]

I like Latakia blends, but I suspect it has been overdone, and to some degree Perique as well. These have been added to well over half all non-aromatic blends and some aromatics as well. There are a number of other condiment tobaccos, or those that can be used that way, like Cavenishes, dark fired, various burleys, Orientals, cigar leaf, and others. Lat can do beautiful things, but it has been overused and abused, in my opinion.

 

[dottiewarden]

I´m on a bit of a holiday from Lat forward blends of late. I still smoke the occasional bowl of Presby Mixture, but I'm rather enjoying some pseudo Lat that goes by the name of Black Sea which is an oddly enjoyable mixture. I'm sure I'll get the craving for my beloved London Mixture at some point in the future, but for now it's mostly aromatics and Burleys.

 

[ophiuchus]

Jar up what you have and put it away, and smoke what tastes good to you today. Try some Latakia again when the season changes, or if you get a taste for it again. What you're experiencing is (^^^obviously) not uncommon. My tastes cycle seasonally somewhat every year, and I may be getting used to it. ::

 

[jefff]

And I am the reverse. For years I just didn't care for Lat in any percentage larger than whatever it is in McC Anniversary Blend. Over the last year I have found it more and more to my liking. While not a Lat bomb, I am really enjoying GLP Quiet Nights.

 

[jackswilling]

In spite of its name McB's HH Latakia Flake is a great Lat-Lite blend.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I've gone through periods where I've lost the taste of my tobacco's, so I just take a break for a period of time. Maybe try not smoking anything for a week or two, or maybe substitute some cigars for a few days to see if your taste buds come back.

 

[balkisobrains]

Back when I started smoking a pipe I didn't have too many blends, and the McClellands 2045 Oriental Mixture was one that I smoked alongside of Dark English Full, and thought that I liked, until eventually I started to notice that the casing that they use on it would leave an unpleasant after-taste, so I just stuck with the Full after that.

 

[deathmetal]

I think I have lost my taste for Latakia!

Sometimes, your ability to taste gets more refined. At that point, overdose of high-flavor tobaccos can ruin a blend. You might try a blend with less Latakia. My favorite English these days is 60-40 of a Brown Twisted Sliced/Dark Burley mix with Presbyterian or Early Morning Pipe. This gives just enough Latakia without overwhelming the other flavors.

 

[treecutter]

The cure is: Smoke a bowl of Mixture #79 and wash it down with tomato juice. If your desire for latikia does not fully return, try Captain Black and wash that down with sweet tea. Best of luck.

 

[michaelmirza]

Tastes changing is a win-win situation, because you like what you like. While it may be sad on a nostalgic or financial level to leave your old friend Lat behind, you'll also be grateful for the clarity of your preferences moving forward. Embrace the change.

 

[fnord]

Tschiraldi:
Jar your Lat blends and try a bowl or two every three months or so to see if your tastes shift back.
After a few years, if they don't, then the solution is simple: sell them off or gift a new/seasoned smoker with a few ounces of this or that and count your blessings. You've found your place in the tobacco world! At that point start cellaring deeply.
Fnord