I just got educated

[sixmp]

I decided a while ago i was going to buy some blending tobacco to smoke straight so i could educate my taste buds. Today my largish samples of Latakia, Perique and Turkish arrived.
I had a good sniff of each tobacco and was taken aback by the Perique which smelled like an old hunk of cheese that had been kept in an old sock and stored in a wet basement. It was awesome!
I loaded each one into my meerschaum and set off on my taste adventure.

As i tasted each blend i found i could instantly recognize each tobacco and even remember which blends i had tried that contained them. It was like the world of tobacco had finally opened up to me. All the unanswered questions were now answered.

I cannot say i would enjoy smoking them on their own. I will be throwing them into a large jar and over the coming months i will add all my leftovers to make myself a nice "suprise" blend to enjoy/endure at some point.
I think the perique ghosted my nostrils... you think i can salt and alcohol my nose? hehe

 

[captainsousie]

I think the perique ghosted my nostrils... you think i can salt and alcohol my nose?

:rofl: :clap:

 

[numbersix]

That's a really interesting idea - I am sure you learned a lot from doing that. Some day I should the same.

 

[shawn622]

I just received 5 oz of blending Perique today and wouldn't dare smoke it strait 8O I learned my lesson about blending tobacco when I tried smoking strait Latakia. I did make some amazing Vaper from some raw Virginia I had cased and pressed mixed with the Perique. I was really surprised at how good it came out. I'm making a pound of it this week. I will offer sample to those brave enough to try one of my creations.lol

 

[whitecloud]

I was thinking I should do that. You've inspired me to follow thru on the idea. I'm glad your experience was a success!!

 

[mightyblaze]

Learning is good.

 

[mightyblaze]

knowledge is good.

 

[pstlpkr]

I had a good sniff of each tobacco and was taken aback by the Perique which smelled like an old hunk of cheese that had been kept in an old sock and stored in a wet basement. It was awesome!

:rofl:

I love me some Perique!

I've been adding a pinch to bowls for a looooooong time.

PS Luxury Bulls Eye Flake

Plumbcake

Haddo's Delight

Escudo

Etc.
If you stash some of that Latakia away for a year or so... give it a go... straight.

It mellows and isn't a bad smoke at all.

::

 

[sixmp]

Sounds like fun. :D
*stashes it away*

 

[judcole]

I remember smoking straight latakia years ago. The big thing I remember is that it was a bear to keep lit. :D

 

[baronsamedi]

I'm glad you did that! I was already smoking about a year before I tried buying blending tobaccos. I wish I had done it much sooner because I learned so much about my own taste from trying each one individually. I smoked each one and then I tried mixing different ones half and half to see what they tasted like together. It was great fun and very edjumacational.

 

[spartan]

I will be throwing them into a large jar and over the coming months i will add all my leftovers to make myself a nice "suprise" blend to enjoy/endure at some point.

I don't think you should mash em into a jar for a surprize later.
You should keep them on their own so when you come across a blend that you like but think it's missing something you can add a pinch of one of the blending tobaccos. Or spice up an old favorite.
I think that is a better idea than mixing equal parts of them.
Good luck!!

 

[baronsamedi]

If you do mix them take notes or you will hate yourself later.

 

[sixmp]

Keeping some back to help a blend here and there and keeping track by making notes for the whole thing is the way to go.
Thanks for the good idea's guys.

 

[clyde]

Went through the urge to blend many years ago and it was definitly worthwhile. Perique has a very important role but IMHO should be used sparingly as it can spice things up nicely but just a little to much and it overpowers the combined flavors of the other tobaccos. Also discovered a deep and lasting love for Latakia which you can use at around 45% and still have a delicous blend. If you want to try something that will ghost your tonsils try "dark irish aromatic" that is if you can keep it lit. We are strange creatures in our likes and dilikes, an example is I enjoy Prince Albert cherry vanilla (the only aro I smoke) for awhile but will change to an American English blend at the drop of a hat. Go figure. Some of the true English blends are great but not always easy to get and are expensive.

 

[clyde]

Forgot to mention, for those experimenting with blending. One valuable tool to use is to cautiously exhale whatever tobacco you are evaluating through your nose. If it burns your nose and how much so are valuable clues.

 

[mrenglish]

Where can you buy good quality blending Perique?

 

[sixmp]

http://www.smokingpipes.com/ has various forms of Perique
I got mine from a UK shop though

 

[mrenglish]

Thanks. The only two I know of are McClelland and a granulated Perique from C&D, I will check them out.