Same Blend. Looks Completely Different

[danielplainview]

I noticed a huge difference in appearance of this new batch when I jarred it. In the picture below, are two different batches of Margate. From the sellers info, the batch shown on the right is a few years old. The left batch is from 2017. All Margate I’ve seen looks pretty dark. So I guess my question is: WTH?

 

[Chasing Embers]

The old gray mare ain't what she used to be?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just checked. Mine is from 2010. Still pretty dark.

 

[lazar]

I would've said age, but the darker should be the older. I had the same experience with Seattle Evening. Like two completely different blends.

 

[danielplainview]

@ lazar
My thoughts exactly. All the Margate I’ve seen has been consistent with the example on the left. I don’t want to put this in stone after just one smoke, but it doesn’t taste the same either. It’s Margate, but tastes like something has been added to the recipe.

 

[smokeyweb]

Looks like you got some dank leaf... some bunk Margate cut with filler. Bait and switch! Bamboozled!

 

[gkr1]

Just got some 2018 and it looks like your 2017. Have you tried the blend in question?

 

[jzbdano]

I've got some jarred from 7/2016 and it is similar to the one on the left. That's a bummer that they are so different.

 

[mso489]

I don't know the tobacco source or process on this blend, but those could be factors. Different crops, different locations, of the same general varieties might stove quite differently, because of moisture or other variables. Tobacco is like wine in that regard, that no two years, or even different dates of harvest, might come up quite differently, without any misbehavior involved. Or, there's misbehavior involved. Mostly, consumers don't have the experience to make the comparison, so it would get by. Members have commented on how favorite blends change noticeably from purchase to purchase.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

When they go to buy the tobacco for the next batch, they probably relied on taste and flavors, more than looks. I don't give a rat's scrotum what it looks like, as long as the flavors are great. Esoterica is a very small operation.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Besides, WTF, why did you open it? Esotericas are like fruit cakes, you're just supposed to keep selling it to make a few bucks and pass it on further down the line. ::

 

[crashthegrey]

He didn't know that secret, yet, Cosmic. Cat is out of the bag, like that Margate. He'll do better next time.

 

[derekflint]

What did the dark one ( left ) look like when you first jarred it ?

 

[virginialover]

I had a similar experience, my first bag of Margate was great the second one, a cloying mess. Two of my fellow pipe smokers related the same thing to me. I think the problem relates more to their casing/flavoring application than the leaf itself. Maybe they are trying to compensate for the tobacco quality by applying more of their "secret recipe". This is all speculation on my part of course but after mishaps with And So To Bed, Margate and Kingsbridge and the worshiped Penzance, I have discarded the entire Esoterica Tobacciana line all together. Now J. F. Germain & Son tobaccos are another story.

 

[sablebrush52]

This happens a lot.

 

[danielplainview]

@cosmic
I’ve actually been smoking my stash of Margate. I knew I was doing it wrong.
So... hoard, gouge, resell? Got it.

 

[cigrmaster]

The people who are buying Esoterica to just resell are are angering the pipe gods and their entire cellar is going to be infested with mold. You heard it here first.