Looking for a place to buy Oriental Varietals

[lukifer]

Not sure if this is the right section of the forum to be posting this in but, here goes:

I recently bought a bunch of individual ounces of blending tobaccos(Red VA, Latakia, dark Burley etc) from Pipes&Cigars in order to learn more about the individual flavors that these types of tobaccos provide in a blend. In regards to Orientals, I was only able to find Izmir, Smyrna(sounds like it is basically the same as izmir...?) and Turkish. They did not have any Basma or Samsun on their site and I am unable to find these elsewhere. I did find a website where I could purchase a quarter pound of whole leaf Basma but that is a bit much for my purpose which is primarily experimentation. Also I feel like there would be a bit more to it than ripping up whole leaves and drying them before they are ready to smoke.

It sounds like the market for Orientals is declining significantly and there are a great many varietals that are hard to find/no longer grown and I don't want to go too far down the rabbit hole of spending a small fortune locating an amazing tobacco and finding out that it isn't used in any professional tobacco blends. But I have seen Basma, Izmir, Turkish and Samsun listed as parts of various blends sold online. Many simply state "Oriental tobacco" and I am not entirely sure which varietal they are using(probably the point). My main purpose behind all of this is to learn what all these "components" taste like to be able to discern what it means flavor-wise when a blend is described as "orientals, light and red virginias with a hint of latakia". The goal is to become a more informed consumer capable of reading an item description and understanding what to expect.

Does anyone know of a place where I could purchase 1-2 ounces of Basma, Samsun or other Oriental Varietals?
Also, if anyone has any information on Oriental tobacco in general, let me know, Orientals seem very flavorful and I would love to know more. I fell madly in love with my first bowl of Izmir, it had a surprising and unexpected extra dimension of flavor that was not present in the unburnt tobacco that I found most intriguing. I cant shake the feeling that other oriental varietals might yield a similar experience and am very eager to experiment further.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I suggest looking at some of retailers which sell whole leaf tobacco.

Wholeleaftobacco.com
Totalleafsupply.com
Leafonly.com

 

[makhorkasmoker]

You might try sutliff ts 24

 

[rmbittner]

I have nothing useful to add regarding sourcing orientals, but I can tell you that there are varietals that are no longer available—or not easily obtainable, such as the great Yenidje, which you didn’t mention. This was a staple in some of the greatest blends of the past.

Around 2007/2008, McClelland released a series that highlighted a variety of oriental leaf: The Grand Orientals. There were at least six blends; only one included latakia (Yenidje Highlander). If you can find these, they would definitely help your oriental education.

I know you’re seeking individual ingredients, but I’d encourage you to also look for blends that mention highlighting a specific leaf. I want to especially mention Basma, since that’s a beautifully delicate sweet leaf that is really worth exploring (IMO).

But, again, over the last 15-20 years, some of these varietals have been in extremely short supply…if not gone entirely.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yenidje Highlander

Greatest blend I've ever smoked.

 

[rmbittner]

Greatest blend I've ever smoked.

View attachment 189942

I stocked up too! (Although clearly not as much as you! And now, sadly, just 5 tins remain…)

I didn’t have a lot of experience with the original Balkan Sobranie White, but this blend was the closest reminder I’d ever smoked—and I love Balkans where the orientals and the latakia are balanced to the point where they deliver this wonderful creaminess in the smoke. This one definitely did that for me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

How much was a 1/4 pound? Or said differently, how much do you think you'll save buying 2 ounces vs 4? Seriously? $5 or $10 saved maybe. You wasted more money in time invested in typing your post than you saved.

 

[lukifer]

How much was a 1/4 pound? Or said differently, how much do you think you'll save buying 2 ounces vs 4? Seriously? $5 or $10 saved maybe. You wasted more money in time invested in typing your post than you saved.

I have found a site that I can buy individual 4 ounce whole leaf samples of Basma and Samsun for about $6 each per sample not including tax and shipping.

But then I would have a half pound of uncut tobacco and in need of either a good pair of scissors and more patience than I own or a $40 shredder that I would use only once most likely. Also, my lack of experience and knowledge regarding tobacco leaves me with the impression that there is going to be a little more to it than just cutting and drying the leaf.

So I am estimating it would run me ~$75
simply to find out what these two tobaccos taste like and then be stuck with a quarter pound of each(I BETTER like them at that point), not entirely sure that's worth it.

I was hoping someone was aware of a website that has already done all that legwork and is selling individual ounces of ready to smoke tobacco at a slight markup, like the way P&C does.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I have found a site that I can buy individual 4 ounce whole leaf samples of Basma and Samsun for about $6 each per sample not including tax and shipping.

But then I would have a half pound of uncut tobacco and in need of either a good pair of scissors and more patience than I own or a $40 shredder that I would use only once most likely. Also, my lack of experience and knowledge regarding tobacco leaves me with the impression that there is going to be a little more to it than just cutting and drying the leaf.

So I am estimating it would run me ~$75
simply to find out what these two tobaccos taste like and then be stuck with a quarter pound of each(I BETTER like them at that point), not entirely sure that's worth it.

I was hoping someone was aware of a website that has already done all that legwork and is selling individual ounces of ready to smoke tobacco at a slight markup, like the way P&C does.

The stems in oriental whole leaf varieties can be smoked. I suggest you purchase these 4oz samples, jar most of it, and then make a small pile on a chopping board and use a knife.

Don’t worry about rehydrating the leaf. Just load a bowl and clench your pipe for a minute before smoking, or breathe gently through the top of the chamber. That will sort the case of the sample out

If the leaves are bigger, you can roll them into small sticks/sausages and then slice.

Or alternatively just shove a bunch into a ziplock bag, maybe with a spritz of water to soften, roll the bag up so the leaves are pressed together and then put in a vice. If you don’t have a vice, just roll your car over it and let it sit under the tyre for a day. Then it will be a nice loose brick which you can slice up.

Obviously there are “better” ways to go about this, but just trying to show you that sampling whole leaf is as easy, if not easier than making a salad.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have found a site that I can buy individual 4 ounce whole leaf samples of Basma and Samsun for about $6 each per sample not including tax and shipping.

But then I would have a half pound of uncut tobacco and in need of either a good pair of scissors and more patience than I own or a $40 shredder that I would use only once most likely. Also, my lack of experience and knowledge regarding tobacco leaves me with the impression that there is going to be a little more to it than just cutting and drying the leaf.

So I am estimating it would run me ~$75
simply to find out what these two tobaccos taste like and then be stuck with a quarter pound of each(I BETTER like them at that point), not entirely sure that's worth it.

I was hoping someone was aware of a website that has already done all that legwork and is selling individual ounces of ready to smoke tobacco at a slight markup, like the way P&C does.

Wow. Use a scissors, cut the small amount you need to create your samples and move on.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Seems the friendliness of pipe smokers is way overrated. Lukifer was just looking for answers like many new members.

@lukifer

PM sent

 

[Ahi Ka]

Seems the friendliness of pipe smokers is way overrated. Lukifer was just looking for answers like many new members.

@lukifer

PM sent

Hoosier is just grumpy cos the undies he got for Christmas are too small.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Hoosier is just grumpy cos the undies he got for Christmas are too small.

While that is funny, nastiness isn't necessary. We were all new once.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Hoosier is just grumpy cos the undies he got for Christmas are too small.

Chasing Embers may be butt hurt because I've had him on ignore for months. Don't know, can't see his posts.

 

[Ahi Ka]

IBTL….man @lukifer i wish my first threads were this popular.

If you can get whole leaf prelip this would be the closest thing available to yendije. Not the same, but heading in that direction.

Also, if you are really interested in oriental varieties, get some seeds and grow your own.

 

[lukifer]

I do understand Hoosier's point, the difference monetarily between buying 2oz and 8oz is insignificant. In light of this, I do understand it seems I am being overly picky. My aversions to purchasing a half pound of whole leaf were primarily the abundance of tobacco I am already sitting on as well as my lack of confidence in my ability to properly store and prepare whole tobacco leaves also the hope that it could all be avoided by purchasing individual ready to smoke ounces.

In light of the responses and fruitless research on my part it seems like my best course of action is the one Ahi Ka stated previously which is to purchase whole leaves, skip the shredder and prepare them myself using a razor blade and cutting board and experiment with storage and prep. If tobacco spoils or goes to waste, it only cost me ~$25 and I will have had a chance to sample them. Also if I lack the patience to prepare these properly, I don't really deserve to enjoy them now do I. :P

It sounds like many members here store tobacco for extended periods of time without any adverse reactions or mold. Upon learning this magic spell, having an abundance of tobacco hardly seems like a curse lol. It surely cant be as simple as putting it in a jar and forgetting about it... Do I need to attain a certain moisture level before storing or replace Boveda packets regularly? Proper storage is probably something I should have looked into before allowing my tobacco supply to grow to be several pounds... Better late than never.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I do understand Hoosier's point, the difference monetarily between buying 2oz and 8oz is insignificant. In light of this, I do understand it seems I am being overly picky. My aversions to purchasing a half pound of whole leaf were primarily the abundance of tobacco I am already sitting on as well as my lack of confidence in my ability to properly store and prepare whole tobacco leaves also the hope that it could all be avoided by purchasing individual ready to smoke ounces.

In light of the responses and fruitless research on my part it seems like my best course of action is the one Ahi Ka stated previously which is to purchase whole leaves, skip the shredder and prepare them myself using a razor blade and cutting board and experiment with storage and prep. If tobacco spoils or goes to waste, it only cost me ~$25 and I will have had a chance to sample them. Also if I lack the patience to prepare these properly, I don't really deserve to enjoy them now do I. :P

It sounds like many members here store tobacco for extended periods of time without any adverse reactions or mold. Upon learning this magic spell, having an abundance of tobacco hardly seems like a curse lol. It surely cant be as simple as putting it in a jar and forgetting about it... Do I need to attain a certain moisture level before storing or replace Boveda packets regularly? Proper storage is probably something I should have looked into before allowing my tobacco supply to grow to be several pounds... Better late than never.

Do you have any locals who smoke pipe? If so, offer them some of what you have left over. Our dide it up, Roll it up and smoke yourself some Turkish cigarettes. If worse comes to worse, discard it. On the bright side, if you make a combo you like, you have plenty extra.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It surely cant be as simple as putting it in a jar and forgetting about it.

That's the beauty of it, it is.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Please don’t add moisture to oriental whole leaf before jarring. It doesn’t have any humectants in it. It should come dry.

 

[lukifer]

You might try sutliff ts 24

This was one of the ounces I purchased from P&C. Very pleased with it. It has a very interesting flavor but I found the smoke to be very thin. I plan on experimenting with drying it more but maybe it is simply the nature of that variety.