Looks like C&D is 20% off on smokingpipes right now. I grabbed some Black Frigate and Epiphany to see if the turkish latakia makes them any different.
Turkish Latakia v. Cyprian Latakia
- Thread starter Mike N
- Start date
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I recently smoked a few bowls of Seattle Pipe Club’s Wild Man, which is made with Cyprian Latakia, and found it underwhelming compared to the Turkish Latakia blends. (See the JimInks review of Wild Man, where he gave it only two stars.) I am going to continue comparing those two (Syrian v. Cyprian), as I tend to believe the quality difference is quite noticeable to my palate at least.
Man, if Jim gives a blend 2 stars I pass on it. His reviews have helped me make a lot of good decisions.
I will agree, Jim's 2-star review gave me pause, but I was able to snag 2 tins of SPC Wild Man for $10 each, and at about half-price from the going rate, I consider it worth a try.
IIRC JimInks's low rating was due not so much to the type of Latakia in the blend (he refers specifically to Cyprian Lat), but more to his perception of inconsistency in the blend, which at least one other reviewer (Spurgeon Piper) also called out (in the context of his own 4-star review).
IIRC JimInks's low rating was due not so much to the type of Latakia in the blend (he refers specifically to Cyprian Lat), but more to his perception of inconsistency in the blend, which at least one other reviewer (Spurgeon Piper) also called out (in the context of his own 4-star review).
I've enjoyed quite a few 2 star blends. Sometimes you don't want a filet mignon, sometimes a greasy spoon cheeseburger is what hits at the time.
I'm very fond of @JimInks' favorite 4 star tobacco, Holly's Non Plus Ultra. 
Senility came early to you, didn't it, Sam?I'm very fond of @JimInks' favorite 4 star tobacco, Holly's Non Plus Ultra.
That's not far from the truth . . .
What I'd read about Turkish vs Cypriot Latakia is that tobacco was grown in Cyprus, cured and processed into Latakia in Turkey and then sent back to Cyprus to be packaged and exported as "Cypriot Latakia".
@mingc indeed the Syrian government had banned the production of Latakia for decades before the civil war etc, whatever was being used was already very old stock.
@BrightDarkEyes you may be getting Latakia burnout, it's been commonly reported in this forum, my own experience was that I smoked Dunhill Nightcap for 10 years straight before branching out due to it being discontinued (and before being picked up by Peterson), now leaning a lot more towards Virginias, Latakia I find overpowering, but like it from time to time.
@mingc indeed the Syrian government had banned the production of Latakia for decades before the civil war etc, whatever was being used was already very old stock.
@BrightDarkEyes you may be getting Latakia burnout, it's been commonly reported in this forum, my own experience was that I smoked Dunhill Nightcap for 10 years straight before branching out due to it being discontinued (and before being picked up by Peterson), now leaning a lot more towards Virginias, Latakia I find overpowering, but like it from time to time.
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I just had a large bowl of the Black Frigate and it was amazing. The latakia was more present but it was smoother and sweeter than what I remember. The date on the bottom of the tin says 06/24/24, so this is the freshest I've had it. I don't know if it's youth is a contributing factor but if this is Turkish latakia, I'm all for it.
I picked up this 2021 tin of Mac Baren’s Latakia Flake at Iwan Reis in Chicago to add to a few blends. I’m not sure if it’s Cyprian or Turkish, but it is tasty. I also posted this under the show your open tin thread but thought it was relevant here too.
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Talking with a local blender this is what he said as well. It's still technically "Cyprian" Latakia. He seemed to think it was borderline a marketing gimmick. I don't remotely have the lat palate to really discern the two but I have quite liked both 2023 From Beyond and the 2023 Christmas blend Hearthside which both have "Turkish" latakia.
Smoking Pipes still describes C&D's available blending latakia as Cyprian. It'd be interesting to try their pure Turkish latakia against something like Sutliff's TS18 blending latakia which I'm pretty confident is still run of the mill Cyprian.
I haven't tried anything because I have more than enough Latakia and have somewhat lost taste for it, however ages ago there was a Greek company called Wolfway who had a blend with "Egyptian" Latakia. It had a markedly softer and more leathery taste than what I'd known to date.
I just realized that I scored on tin bids a sealed 2001 tin of C&D Longevity, a light/medium Balkan blend that features Syrian Latakia. I know that the peak flavor probably went barreling over the hill long ago, but as this is my one guaranteed chance to taste Syrian Latakia, I'll be grateful when I open it.
I'll have to figure out a 3-way compare and contrast with some Cypriot and Turkish Latakias. Any suggestions from the board on comparable blends featuring the extant versions of latakia for such a test?
I'll have to figure out a 3-way compare and contrast with some Cypriot and Turkish Latakias. Any suggestions from the board on comparable blends featuring the extant versions of latakia for such a test?
Yes.
The Syrian Latakia was made with a certain strain of tobacco that apparently is not grown anymore. The tobacco had more nicotene than the leaf used for Cyprian Latakia, which is made with various Oriental tobaccos. It's been a long time sinse I've learned this, but that is the gist.
According to Greg Pease, they generally used less Syrian in blends due to the greater amount of nicotene. This is all over on his website...at least it was years ago.
I'm not sure about the Turkish Latakia. This thread is the first I've heard of it I believe.
I was out of the piping game for about 8 years.....a lot changed.
Ashton Atrisans Blend was made with both Syrian and Cypriot Latakia. Snag a new tin and a tin that is a few years old. Otherwise, I am sure the other components are the same. If you do this test, let us know the outcome. BTW - see if the latest tins are Cypriot or Turkish Lat.
Have you noticed much of a difference? I still have quite a bit of the Frigate so I don't believe I've ordered any since they switched to Turkish. I may need to order a few.
It seems a bit dull. BF really hasn't been right since C&D changed their machinery around 8 or 9 years ago. The cut is odd and the cakes aren't as dense. My newest tins now are from 2014.
Yikes. Seems I may have to order just a tin to compare the two. I believe it was actually after 2014 when I first found the blend. Actually you turned me on to it if I remember correctly, and it's one of my favorites as you know. But I'm pretty sure I've not purchased any since the switch to Turkish Lat. I'll be adding one to my next round.
I was a big fan of it for 15 years prior to joining the forum.