Among a couple of other adjectives, you are correct. The original poster was not specific in describing my adjectives regarding Latakia. He was generalizing.
Latakia Paradox?
- Thread starter diverdoc
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I think those adjectives are "smoky, delicious, ethereal, exquisite, heavenly, delightful, etc."
I'm a self confessed lover of Latakia, although my first smoke with it was nearly my last. I'd been an aromatic smoker and when I tried my first English blend it nearly killed me. It took me years to try it again. Now I can't stand a sweet topped aro and I love a slow burning, creamy bowl of Latakia heavy tobacco. I was turned on to Syrian latakia and it's so much smoother than Cypriot. Unfortunately it's no longer available and I have to ration my remaining supply. Try mixing it with some mild black tobaccos. If you enjoy adult beverages try it with a glass of port.
A hobo armpit that's sweaty to boot... Ouch..
Only way to really get that certain, zesty je ne sais quoi.
That’s an amazingly accurate description.
Latakia has a finicky relationship with me over the course of 44 years with the pipe. During that time I've repeatedly gone through cycles of love, like, and dislike/hate. Currently in a like phase but find that's only true if I restrict my smoking of latakia blends to once per day at night. Tending to think that once my 2 latakia blends, (about 3/4 pounds total left), are gone, will probably not buy any for awhile again.
I think many of us are like this. Some how our taste buds just flip. I wouldn't touch English blends for 20 years, with or without Latakia. Then one day, boom! It's all I craved. 10 years later, non-Latakia English 's were included. I think it has something to do with Kate Beckensale.
You realize when England can invent such fabulous things like Charatans, Upshalls, Ferndowns, Barnes pipes, etc. along with McLarens, Brooks bike seats, the steam engine, the tin cans, the BAD Mono, the tank, the modern industrial loom, reflecting telescope, etc... You have figure their tobaccos that have been around for 150 years will be pretty good.
Then they go and destroy the competition by releasing a Kate Beckesale without even trying and without any warning and you just know their Gawith's and Germains are going to rock.
For me, Latakia is best consumed sparingly and as condiment. I do like it, but only in moderation.
That's a pretty good description, especially the sweaty hobo armpit!
Latakia is the Grace Jones of tobacco. Strong, sexy, and sometimes scary, but always hard to ignore.
I really don’t appreciate how you all are objectifying hobos. 
If all Englishes are tasting the same, I would say pick one and smoke only that one for a while. After that, you’ll probably pick up on the differences between it and other English blends.
I love Latakia. Sometimes I want mixes with a lot, other times just a little. But I almost smoke Englishes exclusively. I would say 85% English, 10% VaPer or Va, 5% other.
I think longer you have been smoking, better your senses become, at least for being able to detect things in smoke. Surprisingly, retrohale is now making sense. I still can't tell everything that's in the smoke, but recognize whole lot more. I smoke only a bowl a day, but usually don't smoke same blend two days in a row. Latakia has very strong flavor, but the "strength" goes down as it settles in a jar. Even after few days from being opened from tin, you will notice change in the latakia. You should be able to notice different tobacco then. But I think everyone's little different in how they find latakia to their palettes.
"Latakia" blends bring a lot of nostalgia for campfires and barnyards, if you don't have any experience with either I can see it being very difficult to pin down what you're smelling.
Needs another ten years of age, like most Virginias.
