Non-Lat/English Oriental Recommendations?

[Sobrbiker]

I’m thinking I need to start exploring some orientals, but I’m not a big fan of English or Latakia type blends.
Are there any strong Va/Dark Fired blends that also have enough Orientals to see what they’re about?
I’m looking for currently available blends, nothing from the unobtainium side of TAD.

Oh and if it matters, rustica doesn’t play well with my chemistry (which is a bummer, because I like strong blends).

 

[Steddy]

C&D Riverboat Gambler-Burley, Va, Perique, and Turkish. I haven’t tried it yet but it gets four stars for strength on Smokingpipes. Looking forward to trying this one.

C&D Dreams of Kaddath has Dark Fired and Katerini, haven’t tried it but it’s in the cellar waiting on me.

Are you looking for Va and Dark Fired in the blend?

I’ve smoked a few good blends that show the Oriental but they weren’t strong.

 

[filmguerilla]

C&D Sunset Harbor flake is pretty awesome. Virginia/Oriental blend. If it's still out there, C&D Steamworks is the same combo, but with perique (also great).

 

[Chasing Embers]

C&D Sunset Harbor

That one has Latakia in it.

 

[VDL_Piper]

Capt Earl Honor Blend
C & D Bijou
C & D String Duster
C & D Sunday Picnic
GLP Cairo
GLP Geometrie’
GLP Embarcadero
GLP Temple Bar
All these are VaOriental, no DF in them that I’m aware of anyway. Another very good one is Savinelli Janus

 

[Oddball]

C&D Oriental Silk and Sunday Picnic are great Non_Latakia Oriental blends.


I'd open, smoke a bowl or two and decant the rest for a month in a jar before trying them again.

 

[wilblee]

Watch City has a couple you should definitely try. Simply VOriental is a very good straight up blend. Glass Slipper (a favorite of mine) is great from the git, but after a little time in a jar becomes fantastic. One you might try is English Ernie-ental. It does have Latakia, BUT Ernie does something to it. It is unlike any of my other Lat blends.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Good stuff!
I’m not only looking for blends with dark fired, but it would be nice.

Riverboat Gambler sounds good in theory, but the majority of positive reviews are from folks that like Haunted Bookshop and that leaves me out.

WCC Simply VOriental sounds pretty good, and may be where I start.

 

[Peter Turbo]

You might like some of the Wilke Pipe Tobacco Orientals.

Vice Cat
Mediterranean Nights
Oriental Red
Oriental Dark

Im sure hes got others but I enjoy those a lot.

 

[RookieGuy80]

Have you used the search function on Smokingpipes? You may get more relevant help if you had questions about certain blends that peaked your interest there. Otherwise, as you've seen, we'll all jump in with our favorite blends that have a)orientals and b) no latakia. It's simple enough to plug in including orientals and dark fired, excluding latakia and rustica.

Fwiw, I found no similarities between Haunted Bookshop and Riverboat Gambler.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Have you used the search function on Smokingpipes? You may get more relevant help if you had questions about certain blends that peaked your interest there. Otherwise, as you've seen, we'll all jump in with our favorite blends that have a)orientals and b) no latakia. It's simple enough to plug in including orientals and dark fired, excluding latakia and rustica.

Fwiw, I found no similarities between Haunted Bookshop and Riverboat Gambler.

I have, thx. I appreciate the comment about not finding similarity between RG and HB.

One of the best things about being on this forum is the thousands of participants and their activity. Participating in threads such as the WAYS thread over time gives one a feel which smokers share similar tastes and preferences, and the likelihood of good, actionable intel is much higher than just selecting components or reading reviews.
The key to Internet forums is the process of figuring out whose opinions and experiences are theirs, and whose are just regurgitated internet/social media noise, then balance everything with knowing that YMMV is always at play
I’ve grown to know many who usually smoke blends I prefer, and also those that routinely smoke blends that I’ve found already to not be my cup o’ tea and adjust accordingly.

 

[Manawydan]

Another vote for Steamworks -- my current fave overall. Delicious and the most complex smoke I've had that didn't include Latakia.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Just saw McConnell’s Oriental in the WAYS thread-that may be worth a try if the lat is truly low enough condimental that there’s debate whether it’s there or not..

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

Maybe give Pease’s Temple Bar a try. If you’re able to fine it, McConnell’s Mature.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

Just saw McConnell’s Oriental in the WAYS thread-that may be worth a try if the lat is truly low enough condimental that there’s debate whether it’s there or not..

It has a very low Latakia content. Maybe 3-5% if that? The other black featured in the blend is black cavendish. It is definitely more of an oriental forward with Virginia sweetness kind of blend. I actually thought about recommending it, but refrained due to the low Latakia content. The Latakia is there just to add smokiness and punch to the Orientals.

 

[Sobrbiker]

It has a very low Latakia content. Maybe 3-5% if that? The other black featured in the blend is black cavendish. It is definitely more of an oriental forward with Virginia sweetness kind of blend. I actually thought about recommending it, but refrained due to the low Latakia content. The Latakia is there just to add smokiness and punch to the Orientals.

It’ll be on a wish list soon, thx!

 

[ThermionicScott]

Definitely try GLP géométrie!

I'm not aware of any Va/Or/DFK blends right off, seems kind of an unexplored or maybe just not popular style. C&D has a few Va/Or/Burley/other mixes in their Hebraica series.

 

[krizzose]

Low Country Waccamaw may be an option. It’s a VaPerOr. I don’t know that I could call it stout, but it definitely isn’t mild. Being a Low Country blend, it’s readily availble at smokingpipes and not particularly expensive.

 

[vosBghos]

Just saw McConnell’s Oriental in the WAYS thread-that may be worth a try if the lat is truly low enough condimental that there’s debate whether it’s there or not..

If you really want to taste the Orientals sans Lat stay away from this one to me it's just a light English , Presbyterian has just a wee bit of lat in it, and the Macedonian Oriental is way up front , Sunday Picnic is another and Bjou are great lots of Orientals Not Lat at all.

 

[damacene]

Have you tried Presbyterian? The lat is so miniscule people still argue to this day if it's even in there.