Oriental leaf identification?

[schmitzbitz]

So as I dive deeper and deeper into the hobby of pipe smoking, I come across more and more posts containing mystical words like Yenidje, Basma, Dubeck, Bashi Bagli, Smyrna, and Xanthia (to list a few). Now, I can identify Latakia in a blend, the aroma and flavour of the leaf is pretty obvious, but is there anywhere I can look to to find the different characteristics of the other Oriental leaves, or conversely, are there are any blends that highlight individual Orientals to try?

 

[twss]

I recently had the same question and found McClelland's Grand Orientals. They have one for each oriental(I believe). Right now I'm on Yenidje and loving it. Highly recommend.

 

[papipeguy]

Here's an article to helpyou get started.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/pipe-tobacco-its-not-all-the-same/#more-1654

 

[marmal4de]

That's a great, and informative article! It doesn't say who wrote it, so I am gonna guess Kevin.

 

[twss]

I loved the last line in that article. My brother wouldn't be able to smoke anything after he read that.

 

[cortezattic]

All About Tobacco, 1970, by Milton Sherman, devotes chapter 3 (pp. 18 - 26) to a description of the various Orientals. Just scroll down to it. It may help.

 

[schmitzbitz]

Awesome; thanks for all the resource material and turning me on to the McClellands Grand Oriental line, exactly what I was looking for!

 

[sparroa]

I have bought Yenidje Supreme but have yet to try it. I'm thinking about getting three or four other McClelland Grand Oriental varietal blends just to see what they're like.
Let us know what you think, schmitzbitz. I may just dip into the Yenidje myself, though I half too much tobacco opened at the moment!