How Fine Is Smokeable?

[nukatpiat]

OK, newbie question here. I'm in the process of falling in love with English blends (not sure if it's the perique or latakia yet, actually). I just bought some bulk English from a tobacconist here in Seattle, and it was the last of the jar, and when I got it home I noticed that it's mostly very, very fine.

I assume this is because it was the bottom, not some sort of Latakia-Snuff?

Anyway, is this stuff smokeable? I tried a bowl out of my cob pipe and got lots of sparking and a terrible burn.

Maybe I can just sift the bigger stuff out with screen?
Title Capitalization corrected- RULE 9- Welcome to the forum! Zack

 

[gloucesterman]

That kind of tobacco will tend to clog your pipe when you smoke it. The small pieces get drawn into the airway and prevent good air flow. You could sift out the smaller pieces but better return it and get the right texture. You've learned a valuable lesson, never buy the last of the jar.

 

[derfargin]

While lesson learned, all is not lost with what you have. Still smoke able for sure, just separate the larger leaves from the fine stuff and make sure to pack your bowl first with the larger cuts. Finish off with the fine bits of tobacco. This will help against clogging the draft hole with the smaller pieces of leaf. It should smoke ok. That said, you'll really have to control your smoking cadence as the bowl will heat up pretty quick if you're a puffer.
Glad to hear you're liking englishes, I enjoy them as well.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I'm betting that it's also very dry. There are many ways to re-hydrate tobacco, but do ask if you need some ideas, and if you concur that it may be overly dry

 

[tuold]

For the reasons gloucesterman gave, I use my smaller pipes for leftovers such as what you have there.

 

[deathmetal]

Shake can make for a great smoke. As others have said, have some leaves to filter the draw. Then heap the granular stuff on top, tamp and let blaze. It can be your most flavorful smoke of the week...

 

[markus]

First of all, Welcome to the forum.

Second - A screen in the bottom of your pipe bowl might be some help to you. You can buy these at almost any B and M, Ebay or at many online pipe and tobacco retail sites (See link below).

Third - Welcome to the wonderful, deliciousness that is latakia and english blends.
Pipe screens

 

[warren]

Depends on how hard up you are for a bowl. If it's all you have and you're in the "pucker brush," forty miles from no-where, it is very usable.

 

[aldecaker]

Whenever I'm at the bottom of a jar or tub, I put a pinch of Carter Hall in the bottom of the bowl, and then pour the loose stuff in to the top of the bowl. Works like a charm for me.

 

[nukatpiat]

Thanks for the suggestions. The terminology of "shake" helped me research a bit as well.

My other pipe is pretty small, so I tried that. I rehydrated it for a bit this morning, then put a pinch of Sir Walter Raleigh in the bottom and packed the english blend shake on top. Had a few issues getting the pack/tamp right, probably partly because my "smoking room" was a bit windy and rainy this morning. Still, that was the best smoke of my life.

Damn, this stuff smells amazing. Might have to have a lunchtime bowl...
When I was struggling to get this to work last night my neighbor offered me the use of his pipe... it's glass and has a strainer, lol. Yeah, I bet that pipe is "ghosted" with something... I'll pass, thanks.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There are quite a few folks who will grind their tobaccos into a fine consistency and then just pack tightly. I've tried it, and for me, there is a point when it is just too fine for my tastes, but there are those out there that do this and prefer it.

 

[sthbkr77]

I think the most important piece of info here is to go slow as it's perfect fuel for a tiny furnace.

 

[gmjabsky]

Timely topic for me. My bulk buy of C&D Epiphany has similar dust at the bottom of the bag. I've got Carter Hall available to serve as a base.

 

[blueeyedogre]

I tend to like the finer grind. The secret is using some type of filter. A 9mm filter pipe with a folded pipe cleaner in place of the filter, a falcon with a ring in it, or if you can find them a philopad stone. Works great on finer blends like Condor or flakes shredded in a coffee grinder.

 

[jmill208]

Whenever I'm at the bottom of a jar or tub, I put a pinch of Carter Hall in the bottom of the bowl, and then pour the loose stuff in to the top of the bowl. Works like a charm for me.

This. If the pipes not filtered, wad up something else for the bottom of the bowl. It works.

 

[judcole]

I'm in the process of falling in love with English blends (not sure if it's the perique or latakia yet, actually).

It's not pertinent to your question, but I do want to take a moment here to point something out. Perique is not a necessary component of an "English" blend;indeed, I would say the vast majority of such blends do not have perique. Dunhill, for example, makes a ton of these blends - EMP, London, Standard, Standard Mellow, MM Baby's Bottom, Durbar, MM 965, Nightcap - and only the latter contains perique.

If you like perique. that's swell; but not every English blend you buy is going to have it. ::

 

[nukatpiat]

Thanks Jud! At the risk of some thread drift... the first English blend I tried said it had Perique, and there was something in it that I loved. The one that I just purchased that this post was about said it was "English and Oriental" and the tobacconist said it was Virginia, Oriental and Latakia. It's good as well, but it doesn't have that peppery kick I liked in the perique blend, but I'm also having trouble getting it to smoke cool enough to taste it well. So I don't know.
I think I'll try to get some samples of the pure blending components and taste those like GL Pease recommends so I figure it out.
Everyone's suggestions were spot on... I used some Sir Walter Raleigh as a base and rehydrated my shakes a bit and they smoked well, although as I mentioned, I'm having trouble getting it to smoke cool.