Turkish Latakia v. Cyprian Latakia

[Gerald Boone]

It’s probably the same type of leaf but unlikely to have come from the same growers. Especially the Syrian which ceased to be available many years ago.

The materials used to cure the leaf will definitely be different. The woods used to smoke the Syrian were one of the things that made Syrian Lat taste like Syrian Lat.

Jeremy could chime in with first hand info. If you shot him an email at C&D he’d be able to let you know.

Syrian latakia is something I really wish I could try sometime but I think it would be extremely hard to find. Even if it is somehow made again I wonder if those curing it would have the wisdom of previous generations of those that cured it. I haven't had the Turkish latakia, just the Cyprian and now I want to try some Turkish latakia.

 

[fireground_piper]

Syrian latakia is something I really wish I could try sometime but I think it would be extremely hard to find. Even if it is somehow made again I wonder if those curing it would have the wisdom of previous generations of those that cured it. I haven't had the Turkish latakia, just the Cyprian and now I want to try some Turkish latakia.

I believe if you have smoked anything from C&D made in the last 2.5 years or so, you’ve already had Turkish Latakia.

 

[craiginthecorn]

I spoke with Per Jensen at the Chicago Pipe Show yesterday. IIRC, he said that the Turkish Latakia is currently being made using Izmir leaf, but they are experimenting with growing the specific variety that had been used in Syria. C&D had been using Turkish Latakia for, I think, a couple years.

I have smoked a bowl C&D's supply of Turkish Latakia straight. It was quite pleasant. Mellow and fragrant. More like Syrian than the Cyprian.

 

[Gerald Boone]

I believe if you have smoked anything from C&D made in the last 2.5 years or so, you’ve already had Turkish Latakia.

Thank you I checked my orders records; the blending latakia I have had is Cyprian but I believe you are right that I have probably smoked the Turkish variety in some of the tinned blends I have consumed. I have had some C&D blends with latakia. All of it has been a good smoke.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I spoke with Per Jensen at the Chicago Pipe Show yesterday. IIRC, he said that the Turkish Latakia is currently being made using Izmir leaf, but they are experimenting with growing the specific variety that had been used in Syria. C&D had been using Turkish Latakia for, I think, a couple years.

I have smoked a bowl C&D's supply of Turkish Latakia straight. It was quite pleasant. Mellow and fragrant. More like Syrian than the Cyprian.

Craig, do you know if C&D's bulk Latakia is now the Turkish kind? I'm interested in trying it on its own, too.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipe-tobacco/cornell-diehl/latakia/product_id/79414

 

[khiddy]

I wonder a lot about the in-house process that C&D is using to finish their Turkish Latakia. I've seen comments by professional blenders elsewhere that indicate that stoving Cyprian Latakia will tone down its smokiness, and I have wondered if applying a smidgen of wine as a casing to the leaf in advance of stoving could bring those notes that are so highly prized in Syrian Latakia. I may give it a go sometime just to see what comes of it.

 

[craiginthecorn]

Craig, do you know if C&D's bulk Latakia is now the Turkish kind? I'm interested in trying it on its own, too.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipe-tobacco/cornell-diehl/latakia/product_id/79414

I don't know for certain, but the tin of Latakia my friend received from Jeremy Reeves said it was Cyprian, but Jeremy assured him it was Turkish. I think it's mostly a matter of using the in-stock labels, like Brebbia did when their Balkan switched from Syrian to Cyprian. They still said "Syrian" on the label for a year or so.

 

[senpai]

I spoke with Per Jensen at the Chicago Pipe Show yesterday. IIRC, he said that the Turkish Latakia is currently being made using Izmir leaf, but they are experimenting with growing the specific variety that had been used in Syria. C&D had been using Turkish Latakia for, I think, a couple years.

I have smoked a bowl C&D's supply of Turkish Latakia straight. It was quite pleasant. Mellow and fragrant. More like Syrian than the Cyprian.

Thanks for posting this. Interesting to know. I currently have some Frog Morton in my cellar from about 10 years back that contains Syrian Latakia, when it was available. I only thought about it just this very day that Syrian Latakia is as rare as chicken teeth now. I found myself wondering if the majority is actually Izmir leaf given the latakia treatment, and you confirmed my suspicions.

Thanks for the information, sir.

 

[Bodicea]

i remember,when i started smoking latakia blends,i didn't have a clue ,what it was at all.so,i asked my tobacconist what it was.he told me,the tobacco leaves where actually "smoked" like eal or herring.and without even a blink of his eyes,he told me :the only difference between syrian and turkish was,the syrians used camel dung to make them fires instead of cow dung like the turks,or sheep dung as the cyprians do.untill the internet came available for me,i thought it was a true story.( poor ignorant me ).

 

[Gerald Boone]

You had me going.... LOL Had a lat bomb today; actually a bit more latakia than to my liking. I'm actually blending it down more than I used to.