Pipe Tobacco Classification

[kashmir]

A while back on another forum I published a thread on my views of pipe tobacco classification. My friend Steve Laug kindly republished it on his blog Reborn Pipes. Here's the link for those so inclined.
reborn pipes | reclaiming old and worn estate pipes
http://rebornpipes.wordpress.com/
My Tobacco Classification / Touchstone Blends
There are as many ways to classify pipe tobacco blends as there are pipe smokers, and then some. However, I have found the following list suits me. I see tobacco blends for the pipe smoker divided into 16 categories. An alternative, earlier, classification was provided by the Pipe Club of Norfolk UK, from which some of the categories originated. However, since this early list, a number of new categories have arisen, such as the Cigar Leaf Blends. Also, a number of pipe smokers have advocated against the terms “English Blends” and “Balkan Blends”, as many tobacco blends actually span the two and there really exists a continuum of sorts. So the terms "English Blends" and "Balkan Blends" have been dropped by many, in favor of the more descriptive terms "Latakia Mixtures", which in turn is divided into "Light / Medium" and "Medium / Full".
I am aware that this is a highly subjective exercise. And it is to be expected that everyone will have a different take on what constitutes a Touchstone Blend. Also, there will be "lumpers" and "splitters" - that is, those who feel there are too many categories and those who feel the need to split even more. What I hoped to do here, for myself really, was to set up a series of benchmark blends that I could later use as "standards" by which to judge future blends within a category. It is hoped that these lists will provide a jumping off point to begin exploring the wonderful world of pipe tobaccos for others as well.
1. Straight Virginias (non-flake, -rope etc.).

2. Virginia Flakes (Light).

3. Virginia Flakes (Full).

4. Virginia Plugs.

5. Virginia Ropes and Twists.

6. Lakeland Style.

7. Virginia / Kentucky Blends.

8. Virginia / Burley Blends.

9. Burley Blends.

10. Virginia / Perique Blends.

11. Virginia / Perique / Burley Blends.

12. Virginia / Oriental Blends.

13. Light / Medium Latakia Mixtures.

14. Medium / Full Latakia Mixtures.

15. Cigar Leaf Blends.

16. Aromatics.

 

[northernneil]

Interesting list Kashmir. I am a little curious why you have sa many categories for straight virginia's (straight, flake, plug/ etc.), and so few categories for English / Latakia blends. IMHO, the questionable classifications fall under the latakia blends and that is where we need some help clarifying as a community.

 

[plateauguy]

Aros at the bottom. What can I say? Give me an aro to smoke and a bottle of cheap wine and I'm a happy guy.

 

[Dutch Pipe Smoker]

Excellent list! It really helped me in my first pipe smoking year when I read it on Smokersforum.

 

[easterntraveler]

Seems a little complicated to me.

 

[northernneil]

Peterpiperuk, I did read the narritive, and took full note of the comment that everyone's view's on the subject will vary. Nonetheless, I am still confussed why virginia's would be separated by there cut, and other blends are not. Just looking for clarification on the process behind the list.

 

[kashmir]

Appreciate your comments northerner. This classification scheme was not meant to be the final word. I only put it out there because it helped me to understand the different types of pipe tobacco blends. I used it as a sampling tool to find out what I liked and what I didn't like. Thought it might be useful for others. That's why I posted the link here. And why its been reposted on a number of different sites including Steve's blig Reborn Pipes. Over the decades I've found that many that are new to the pipe smoking lifestyle are often perplexed at the number of blends out there. Many don't know where to begin their search for their "perfect smoking mixture". The scheme helped me to sort out my sampling strategy. Thought it might help out others too.

 

[phred]

Seems a little complicated to me.

And now you know why database architects make the big bucks...
Classification is not always obvious - subtle differences that make a tremendous difference to one client may be irrelevant to another, who has an entirely different set of criteria for sorting exactly the same data set. Do you want to sort by major flavor profile? Average price per ounce? Color? If you want a data set that will satisfy everyone, good luck - as noted over in the thread on online pipe vendors, some people have very different ideas about what constitutes a critical piece of data - and not all products include all of the potentially relevant data. And when the data set includes subjective measures like "taste", "strength", etc., all bets are off.
Thanks for sharing this, Kashmir - my own spreadsheet is pretty basic, and as I tinker with a database app instead, it helps to know what classification schemes others have come up with to describe the variety that is out there.

 

[phred]

With that said, what sub-categories would help sort out the different Latakia blends? Subdividing by presentation (flake, cake, ribbon/shag cut)? Perceived or verified % of Latakia leaf? Type of Latakia (Syrian, Cyprian)?

 

[daytonsean]

I would definitely separate the Latakia. Syrian and Cyprian are very much different. And, I would also separate the Orientals.

 

[mso489]

A worthy quest. At first glance, I'd say the Virginias might be separated into their constituent types,

then divided into the method of preparation -- flake, ropes, twists, etc. If you got off into Cavendish,

that involves different kinds of leaf. So it is difficult to have it look simple and accessible. It is something

like a turbulent family tree. But it certainly has me thinking about how it might be done.

 

[northernneil]

Just for fun I tried writing out all combinations of the various leafs, and had to give up. I am not a math guy, but I am confident that the number of combinations are in the thousands. To try and develop a categorized system that would track this would be next to impossible. Infact, I feel it would be impossible to categorize all blends as the slighest difference would technically change the category. And this doesn't even take into account flavourings or casings.