I Gave Latakia a Fair Try.
- Thread starter Jbrewer2002
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It took me ten years to acquire a taste for it. I didn't find it repulsive, just "wrong." I generally still don't like it as a major component.
I used to like Latakia and smoked religiously for 40 years then one morning work up with a craving for VaPers. That's when I learned that your tastes could change. After ten years of that I found that Latakia tasted good again. Now I smoke a bowl of it a day. Still smoke the VaPers.
I used to smoke English all the day when just started pipe smoking.
But now I smoke Virginia blends instead of English most of the time.
And there are some English blends like Ten Russians and Presbyterian are still my favourite, though I don't smoke them that often.
But now I smoke Virginia blends instead of English most of the time.
And there are some English blends like Ten Russians and Presbyterian are still my favourite, though I don't smoke them that often.
There is nothing I like better than a great Latakia blend. Unfortunately, I don't know of any. Seems like they have all vanished in the last few years and now all I can find are "ok" blends. 
I didnt like it when I started back in 2009. I quit pipes for a while and Im back again. I find I really enjoy it. I can also taste more flavors this round.
Wild so many people hit a wall with latakia and can no longer stand it. I pray that never happens to me lol.
Most of those tins are not on my list of favorites (that I've tried) except for SG Skiff Mixture, which I consider to be one of the best English blends.
The only point of contention I might bring up is that even Skiff is rather dull when it's too dry, if you haven't tried it fresh out of the tin or recently rehydrated there's a remote possibility that you haven't seen its full potential.
I enjoy me a good English every once in a while, and have a few different blends. I love the tin note, and the flavor of the smoke offers a nice change of pace from my usual go-to's. I have several varieties and plan on buying more. The problem for me is: I have little to no tolerance for nicotine. The first time I tried and English, I got so sick that I was curled up in front of a toilet for the better part of an hour. I've since learned to respect these blends and gauge my nicotine level throughout the bowl so that I know when to stop. I just can't smoke them very frequently.
That's too bad that you bought all of these and don't like any of them... I will say that just this weekend, I revisited Haunted Bookshop (I know, not a latakia blend) - a blend I bought 4 ounces of and HATED. It's been sitting on my shelf for years. I was looking at it and decided to watch Hobbiton Piper's review on it and smoke along with him, and lo and behold, I actually enjoyed it! I was able to form a newfound appreciation for the taste and smell, whereas before I thought it had an aroma of butts.
You just never know how tastes might change!
That's too bad that you bought all of these and don't like any of them... I will say that just this weekend, I revisited Haunted Bookshop (I know, not a latakia blend) - a blend I bought 4 ounces of and HATED. It's been sitting on my shelf for years. I was looking at it and decided to watch Hobbiton Piper's review on it and smoke along with him, and lo and behold, I actually enjoyed it! I was able to form a newfound appreciation for the taste and smell, whereas before I thought it had an aroma of butts.
You just never know how tastes might change!
I rarely smoke English blends.
However, I need to smoke a bowl of Billy budd again soon, because I freaking love that stuff.
However, I need to smoke a bowl of Billy budd again soon, because I freaking love that stuff.
Well it sounds like I’m not alone then lol. Thanks everyone for your view. I’ll probably be posting them for sale or trade.
I think I’ll still give Bob’s a try sometime.
Ya it’s great stuff. It’s disappointing that it’s not made anymore.
Latakia, to me, is the equivalent of smoked paprika. The moment you add smoked paprika to a dish, whether in a large or a small quantity, the dish has to be formulated in such a fashion as to accommodate the paprika or it'll become unbalanced and nasty.
Orientals are already finicky. They're the smallest, densest, must flavor-filled of all tobacco leaves and it's very easy to overfill a blend with them. Latakia involves taking Orientals and preparing them like Dark Fired Kentucky, stretching an already-strong palette into the stratosphere.
For me, just as with smoked paprika, I have to be in the mood for Latakia. For one reason or another, that tends to happen in the spring and the fall. I think it has to do with the feel of the air quality/density, I'd say. I like Latakia on the same days that I might like to sit near a bonfire.
Orientals are already finicky. They're the smallest, densest, must flavor-filled of all tobacco leaves and it's very easy to overfill a blend with them. Latakia involves taking Orientals and preparing them like Dark Fired Kentucky, stretching an already-strong palette into the stratosphere.
For me, just as with smoked paprika, I have to be in the mood for Latakia. For one reason or another, that tends to happen in the spring and the fall. I think it has to do with the feel of the air quality/density, I'd say. I like Latakia on the same days that I might like to sit near a bonfire.
One of my favorite uses for lat is to put a pinch of it in a VaPer bowl. it peeks in and out making the smoke more interesting. I started my lat adventure by blending about 1/3 english blends with a 2/3 Virginia/burley blend. I developed a taste for it and worked my way up. Since you have English blends why not play with it a little.
I'll smoke it occasionally but it's not my favorite. Which is weird, I love smoking meats or anything smoked really, but most blends with Latakia are just kinda boring imo
It took me a while to warm up to latakia. But, when the season is all orange, grays, with that sparkle of crystal crackle in the wind, I like me a good balkan to wisp away the chill with a kaleidoscope of flavors.
And, for the rest of the year the occasional hint of leather, old books, and the damp aroma of a hearth gone cold is welcome… with mere pinches of latakia in my virginias or burley… momento mori of the season to come.
And, for the rest of the year the occasional hint of leather, old books, and the damp aroma of a hearth gone cold is welcome… with mere pinches of latakia in my virginias or burley… momento mori of the season to come.
I am fond of Latakia, and smoke it daily.
But my reason for posting is to invite all to re-read cosmic's post above. It's a classic.
But my reason for posting is to invite all to re-read cosmic's post above. It's a classic.
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