Not Sure What I Don’t Like

[cosmicfolklore]

And this is why they case their tobacco and why a blend tastes the same year to year.
I have blends from 25 years ago that are indistinguishable from 15 year old, 10 year old and 5 year old of the same blend.
Although there isn't technically a "Virginia" tobacco seed, you absolutely can buy Virginia tobacco seeds. It's kinda like a Labradoodle, technically there is no such thing, but you can buy one. It is all Nicotina Tabacum, that was found to be lighter tasting and less harsh when grown around Virginia than tobacco grown other places. Virginia is named from where it's grown, in and near Virginia. There are hundreds of varieties, but many are known to grow well and have optimum flavor and are sold as "Virginia" tobaccos, which again, are lighter, brighter and less harsh than the same varieties grown in Africa, South America and the Caribbean.
My point to the OP was that maybe he isn't opposed to the tobacco, as much as he is the process of which it was created. This is common in the pipe tobacco community. Tobacco ftom the exact same bale can be made to taste vastly different.....like I mentioned in my previous post.

I think we are on the same page, but different angles, ha ha.
But, anyways… one other thing that keeps blends tasting the same over the decades is casing. A great blender can alter the casing from batch to batch to keep blends tasting the same.
But, if the growing end interests you, you can really learn a lot by exploring the seed varieties as a start.

Happy smokes

 

[sablebrush52]

I haven't tried the John Cotton. Golden slices I found so distasteful that I renamed it Golden Showers. I've tried several Borkum Riff tobaccos and I'm not even sure that they are tobacco. Honestly some of the nastiest leaf I've ever smoked.

If you get the opportunity, check out some of the GL Pease offerings, like Union Square, some of the Rattray's blends, or HU blends, like Director's Cut. And for sure try out a few of the Gawith and Gawith Hoggarth & Co offerings.

But, give yourself some time to get your technique up to snuff. Virginias will school you.

 

[Jakers]

I started with straight Virginias, and I am glad that I did, because it made pulling flavors out of other blends much easier. But, I can totally understand if someone doesn't like Virginias. That is ok. Luckily for you there are many other type of blends out there. There are also many other type of Virginias.
For me, it's about the pleasure of perusing the choices. It's about the search more than the goal. Enjoy yourself as you search.
I don't think I ever found one blend that blew my mind as being the best ever. But, I enjoyed looking.

Yeah, I’m not sure if it’s a topping, a casing, or just the curing processes. I do like finding and trying different blends. Just was curious if it was a Virginia heavy thing. I thought my other blends were Virginia heavy but turns out it’s Latakia (guess I have some more research to do).

 

[Jakers]

Sounds like you're a bit too green to really be saying what you don't like.

You just don't like that stuff now, and it could be due to an under-developed palate for pipe tobacco. Don't write them off, just put them away and come back to them later and keep trying new things.

Don't get in the habit of thinking you just don't like X type of leaf or X type of blend. Seen too many threads where someone says "been smoking forever, thought I hated ___ blends, avoided them forever, tried them again on a whim and wow, I've been missing out this whole time!".

I’ve been hearing this a good bit; both let it age and let my tongue mature.
I think I’ll hang onto the tins for a bit and try them again in a few months… and maybe a year or so after that.

 

[Jakers]

I suspect that you are used to the bold Latakia flavors found in English blends you note and as such are having a tough time enjoying the more subtle flavors of a Virginia/vaper blend. You’ll need to slow your cadence down and focus on picking up those notes you’re missing and give it some time. It might click or it might not.

As for Borkum Riff, that’s a typical drug store aromatic that’s nothing but hot air and disappointment. Set that one aside until you’re ready to venture more into an aromatic blend that takes some skill to enjoy.

Awesome, thanks for mentioning the Latakia - I do like strong flavors in other things (coffees, teas, foods) so I guess it just carried over into tobacco.
I do try to keep a relatively slow and easy cadence (but I’m sure all newbies say that with a bowl full of red hot ash after 10 minutes).
I am glad to see the opinion on Borkum is relatively the same throughout the thread. Not sure what I’ll do with that one.

 

[Sig]

I think we are on the same page, but different angles, ha ha.
But, anyways… one other thing that keeps blends tasting the same over the decades is casing. A great blender can alter the casing from batch to batch to keep blends tasting the same.
But, if the growing end interests you, you can really learn a lot by exploring the seed varieties as a start.

Happy smokes

My family has been growing tobacco in NC, SC and WV for over a century.
I grew up baling and hanging tobacco.....ahhh, good days. I have grown several varieties of broadleaf here in WNY for years.
And I believe we aren't just on the same page, you pretty much repeated everything from my first post.

 

[Sigmund]

I can only comment on orlik and while I never hated it I never found a reason to like it.

Part of it is me but so far I find what would be considered more straight VA a tad on the mundane side. I can occasionally enjoy some FVF. On the whole I tend to like a few more condiments thrown it. I realize orlike supposed to have perqiue but I couldnt find it way back when.

It not a straight VA but Im learning to love Reiner's golden flake. Its got some perqiue, a little white burley and a really mild addition thrown in.

so dont write off Virginia tobacco becuase of these experiences. At this point Id just put them away and decide that I dont care for those blends.

Basically, you have too little information to make a broad sweeping judgement call. If you do make that call you may miss some fantastic blends.

Like Sable said...try some blends that are a bit more dressed up. You may find you work you way to more subtle blends as you go. If you dont its no biggie...there are plenty to choose from.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My family has been growing tobacco in NC, SC and WV for over a century.
I grew up baling and hanging tobacco.....ahhh, good days. I have grown several varieties of broadleaf here in WNY for years.
And I believe we aren't just on the same page, you pretty much repeated everything from my first post.

Awesome, what part of NC?

 

[wyfbane]

Don't sweat it if you don't like something. Jar it up and try it again in a few years.

Your palette and technique will grow and change over time. You may end up liking one of those later on.

 

[InWithBothFeet]

Just go with what you like in the moment and jar up what you don't. You can try them again later. If it's a completely revolting flavor that you don't want to try again, chuck them out or give them away.

 

[Pypkė]

Like the others wrote, just jar up the ones you don't like and try them again in a year or two. Go with what you like, and follow that path. Try some GLP blends while you explore what's out there.

 

[Sig]

Awesome, what part of NC?

They used to be all throughout North Central and Mid-Central NC.
Now there are only 2 left.
My uncle and cousin have a farm a bit West of Reidsville. And another cousin, same family, is down near Sanford NC.
The same family used to have thousands of acres all over the old belt area of NC, South Central Virginia and Eastern WV.
Due to many reasons, including dwindling interest by the younger generation, the land was sold off in the 1980-2000s.
Fortunately the youngest of the cousins still interested is only 17 years old and is learning the business from his father. This kid operates around 3000 acres through 2 counties with plenty more area to grow.

 

[mortonbriar]

I did not have the grace to read all the other posts, but I am confident what is missing in this thread is another opinion.

Try some virginia/burley blends, they tend to balance each other out, sharp/smooth, light/strong etc. C & D Winchester might be a hit, because the burley is a cavendish, so you will appease the sweet tooth too.