My First Taste of Orientals

[gord]

No, my order has not come in yet, but a buddy coughed up a hundred bucks he owed me, and being an impatient man, I moseyed on down to the local (ie only) tobacconist in Prince George, and decided to cast the die. All he had in the genre was Amphora Absolute, which I know from reading promos it's burley and virginia with lots of Orientals in it. Now I have 20 bucks in my wallet.

Got home, selected a small volume briar, filled it with Absolute, and smoked it. Verdict? It is a really really nice tobacco. I tasted notes (floral, pungent, sweet . . . . ) I had never experienced before. Light medium in strength to me at least. I would buy it again, and probably will on occasion to keep Sheffields PG alive. Hard to believe there is only one tobacco shop for 65,000 people, eh?

Also surprised that nobody on the forum mentioned this blend in my original post. It's a keeper, 4 out of 5 on the Gord scale.

 

[anotherbob]

never heard of Absolute from Amphora before.

 

[dottlejockey]

...a buddy coughed up a hundred bucks he owed me, and being an impatient man, I moseyed on down to the local (ie only) tobacconist...

LMAO - i go through spurts like this, too. When life's not busy and i get a little to-try list going the impulses begin and i'm off to the races till i've got everything off the queue and on my shelf.

I, too, was unaware of this blend. I had my first Amphora recently (Burley Blend). Never even considered them. So many good tobaccos out there and the last time i really stocked up was some years ago.

Enjoy!

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

The first blend that made me "get" orientals was Watch City's Glass Slipper. Like you I got spicey, sour, soda cracker notes I'd never gotten before, it was great. I usually reach for the familiar comfort of a straight virginia but occasionally I'll try chasing that Oriental dragon with mixed results.

 

[gord]

never heard of Absolute from Amphora before.

Apparently, Absolute is known as Amphora Full Aroma outside of Canada.

 

[RookieGuy80]

I'm glad you are starting to find out about this wonderful little leaves! Those floral and incense flavors can sometimes really add a bit of complexity to the smoke.

 

[burleybreath]

Apparently, Absolute is known as Amphora Full Aroma outside of Canada.

If that's the case, I smoke it all the time. Didn't know it had any orientals. I only know that the current version is an "absolute" favorite of mine, and tastes nothing like the Amphora Full Aroma of yesteryear, which I couldn't even begin to like. Wish I could buy it in bulk.

 

[ParkitoATL]

Orientals have been big on my list lately: Embarcadero, Sam's Flake, my own blend of Turkish and FVF, even got to sample some 10 year old MCC #24. I've really been enjoying all of these. Oriental tobacco greatly enhances VAPER mixes as well. I am not a big fan of perique but the mustiness of Oriental complements the mustiness of Perique beautifully. I highly recommend grabbing an ounce of Turkish or Oriental blend bulk and blending it with some Virginias.

 

[ItsKarl]

No, my order has not come in yet, but a buddy coughed up a hundred bucks he owed me, and being an impatient man, I moseyed on down to the local (ie only) tobacconist in Prince George, and decided to cast the die. All he had in the genre was Amphora Absolute, which I know from reading promos it's burley and virginia with lots of Orientals in it. Now I have 20 bucks in my wallet.

I can't help but picture some sort of Michael Cainean shakedown. I guess when you gotta have it, you gotta have it.

 

[rmcnabb]

Good for you for supporting your local tobacconist. Amphora has several blends that even the choosiest hoarders approve of.

 

[gord]

Good for you for supporting your local tobacconist. Amphora has several blends that even the choosiest hoarders approve of.

Thanks. I believe that we have to do this. You don't support them, you lose them. I also very much appreciate your comment.

 

[Sig]

Back when I started smoking a pipe FOR REAL, there were certain tobacco blends that really intrigued me. I had no idea, but I later found they all contained a healthy portion of Oriental tobaccos.
Sinse then they have been a mainstay in my cellar.

 

[ParkitoATL]

Back when I started smoking a pipe FOR REAL, there were certain tobacco blends that really intrigued me. I had no idea, but I later found they all contained a healthy portion of Oriental tobaccos.
Sinse then they have been a mainstay in my cellar.

What are some of your favorite Oriental blends?

 

[Sig]

What are some of your favorite Oriental blends?

GLP Cairo and Sumara, C&D Red Stag, McClelland Grand Oriental line......
Too many to name really.

 

[Fralphog]

++ on GLP Cario
Also enjoy GLP Temple Bar.

 

[seanv]

Try low country virginia oriental. Super cheap and very reliable. If you don't some larakia, try red rapparre from rattray

 

[Peter Turbo]

Ken Byron Ventures The Oriental Affair has been hitting the spot lately.

 

[londonbriar]

My first proper discovery of Orientals was Rattray’s Red Rapparee. It blew me away, I thought it was manna. There are many more in a similar vein, I later discovered, but RRR was such an eye opener for me.

 

[dottlejockey]

Ken Byron Ventures The Oriental Affair has been hitting the spot lately.

I need to try this one. I enjoy a few blends from KBV, namely, Burley Morning Pipe (want to try Burlier MP, too), Uzumaki and Acadian Flek. Thanks for the mention.

 

[Warlee]

I’ve fallen in love with GL Pease Embarcadero. It really sings with a couple years of age on it.

I rarely smoke anything outside of straight virginias or VaOr anymore. With Three Nuns being the only notable exception.