The Oldest Available Pipe Tobacco Blend
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...yeah, I think most tobo was sun-cured/air-cured back then?
This page has some interesting data:
http://www.longwood.edu/staff/hardinds/tobacco/maps_and_graphs.htm
...and includes this bit:
Sun-cured tobacco may be the least important today, but it once ruled the Virginia economy. Sun-cured tobacco is a dark air-cured variety that I believe is the descendant of the tobacco known as "sweet-scented" during the colonial period...What makes sun-cured tobacco a likely candidate as heir to the sweet-scented legacy? First, it is a dark tobacco, just like sweet-scented. Second, it is cured in the same manner as sweet-scented was during the colonial period: by cutting the whole stalk, setting the cut plants out to dry in the sun, and by hanging the entire plant for air-curing. Third, it still is prized as a pipe tobacco in Europe. It is a shame that it is nearly extinct.
This pdf explains well how fire-curing came to be (due to damp conditions) and how eventually this led to the more controlled method of flue-curing...
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/documentStore/g/k/c/gkc79h00/Sgkc79h00.pdf
This page has some interesting data:
http://www.longwood.edu/staff/hardinds/tobacco/maps_and_graphs.htm
...and includes this bit:
Sun-cured tobacco may be the least important today, but it once ruled the Virginia economy. Sun-cured tobacco is a dark air-cured variety that I believe is the descendant of the tobacco known as "sweet-scented" during the colonial period...What makes sun-cured tobacco a likely candidate as heir to the sweet-scented legacy? First, it is a dark tobacco, just like sweet-scented. Second, it is cured in the same manner as sweet-scented was during the colonial period: by cutting the whole stalk, setting the cut plants out to dry in the sun, and by hanging the entire plant for air-curing. Third, it still is prized as a pipe tobacco in Europe. It is a shame that it is nearly extinct.
This pdf explains well how fire-curing came to be (due to damp conditions) and how eventually this led to the more controlled method of flue-curing...
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/documentStore/g/k/c/gkc79h00/Sgkc79h00.pdf
I just double checked again. Unfortunately, alot of old (1960s or so) books on tobacco talk about going to the local shop and buying it in bulk to mix with various blends but it seems to fallen out of favor outside of an agent for Danish aros or in mixtures with a large number of components.
I found this by browsing the RYO boards:
http://www.wholeleaftobacco.com/Maryland-609-MD609.htm
...not sure what qty:1 means? Just one leaf for $17 ?!?!? LOL
http://www.wholeleaftobacco.com/Maryland-609-MD609.htm
...not sure what qty:1 means? Just one leaf for $17 ?!?!? LOL
I've looked at whole leaf before and thought about purchasing it... but then I'm like, "What would I do with it?"
At least in the seventeen hundreds, there were elaborate records kept on agriculture. Thomas Jefferson was
a famous example, but I think all large farming operations left behind account books and records. Much
must be known about early American tobaccos, how they were grown, cured, sold and perhaps used. If
you're interested enough, a staff historian at either Colonial Williamsburg or Monticello could probably provide
some information and a bibliography, depending on how much time and energy you want to spend.
a famous example, but I think all large farming operations left behind account books and records. Much
must be known about early American tobaccos, how they were grown, cured, sold and perhaps used. If
you're interested enough, a staff historian at either Colonial Williamsburg or Monticello could probably provide
some information and a bibliography, depending on how much time and energy you want to spend.
I smoke Cotton Boll quite frequently. I highly recommend it. I just think that many of the hobby pipe smokers never develop any sort of appreciation for the affects of nicotine.
I think some of the air cured burley from Puerto Rico and Haiti comes close, leaves rolled and dried under shelter. The less technology, the more likely it would have been available back into the sixteen hundreds. After that, you have to look to First Nations, though lack of written records makes this more difficult.
Wow! This is an old thread :lol: I must say though, that I did indeed get that clay tavern pipe and I have enjoyed a few twists while watching the above mentioned movies. I still haven't found myself a tricorner hat though Lol
I had no idea that this was such an old thread when I posted on it. I have no idea... I didn't go looking for a necrobump.
It was actually kind of cool revisiting the thread though. And sort of humbled me. The other day I saw a thread (don't remember if it was here or on Facebook) with a guy asking about churchwardens... "another Lord of the Rings fan wanting to be Gandalf," I thought and rolled my eyes. And I feel sort of bad about that because I'm a huge fan of the books and movies as well. I guess I just see that so often it just seems to get old. But then this thread comes up, and it's me, wanting a clay tavern pipe with an old fashioned tobacco because I want to pretend I'm in another time period while I smoke. I admit I also did the same, while watching the Lord Of The Rings movies or reading a book. So I'm glad you bumped it, as it brought me back down to earth. And that being said, I'm now trying to make up my mind between watching The Hobbit, or The Patriot, while I load up the long tavern pipe so I can "pretend" for a bit. :D
If you are looking for old tobaccos I'd suggest peeking in the back of Peck's cellar. I bet he's got stuff in there from the seventeen hundreds he purchased fresh.
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