What Latakia Are You Using To Blend?

[Cotton1]

I'm just dabbling with blending in hopes of learning something in case my "grow your own" project works out in 2021.

I made a blend of store bought blends yesterday and used Billy Budd for the Lat.

Is there a straight Lat that is best for home blends?

I'm thinking the best I will be able to do with the home grown will be more of a Kentucky fired deal.

 

[canucklehead]

This is what I use, but it's been out of stock for a bit.

Cornell & Diehl Latakia | Buy Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobacco at Smokingpipes.com

Smokingpipes.com is your one stop shop for Cornell & Diehl Latakia Pipe Tobacco and all your tobacco smoking needs. From new tobacco pipes and estate tobacco pipes to tin pipe tobacco and bulk pipe tobacco, we have everything you need

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[DangerStranger]

I like this one.

Latakia Leaf Tobacco, 1lb.

Latakia is fire cured for almost a full year over local hardwoods and aromatic herbs of the Mediterranean.

wholeleaftobacco.com

 

[dino]

Although I use the Syrian Latakia from my 20+ year old stash, I have used G H and Co.'s Cyprian Latakia with much flavorful success.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I use this:

Fire Cured Filler Grade Latakia Tobacco For Sale - Total Leaf Supply

Latakia Tobacco is a fire cured filler grade tobacco. A product of Syria and Turkey's arid climates, this leaf has a robust smokiness. Buy at Total Leaf Supply today!

totalleafsupply.com

 

[Chasing Embers]

Pirate Kake and Penzance.

 

[Cotton1]

Thanks for the replies all. I'm thinking about buying some whole leaf so that might work for me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Thanks for the replies all. I'm thinking about buying some whole leaf so that might work for me.

You might want to get a shredder too.

 

[Cotton1]

You might want to get a shredder too.

From Whole Leaf?

 

[Ahi Ka]

He means for processing whole leaf. I personally find marking ropes or pressing plugs and then slicing the easier way to go than shredding

 

[DangerStranger]

He means for processing whole leaf. I personally find marking ropes or pressing plugs and then slicing the easier way to go than shredding

I agree. Shredding is time consuming and messy. Plus I think ropes, twists, and plugs are just cool.

@Cotton1 if you're only going to use latakia from WLT you don't really need a shredder. It will crumble quite easily.

 

[Cotton1]

I might pick up one of the cheap ones and try a little shredding and try making twists. Either will be new territory for me.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I might pick up one of the cheap ones and try a little shredding and try making twists. Either will be new territory for me.

Also try “bobs chop”. Roll a leaf into a cigar stick, slice into thin coins, split the whole lot down the middle, and you’ll end up with a nice ribbon cut

 

[Chasing Embers]

From Whole Leaf?

Budget Manual Shredder 1.5mm wide cut

This shredder has a wider cut than our 0.8mm shredder and is typically used for traditional pipe tobacco.

wholeleaftobacco.com

 

[RSteven]

I've created blends using Peter Stokkebye Blending Latakia, Gawith & Hoggarth Blending Latakia and Cornell & Diehl Latakia. I made the mistake of thinking that they all probably sourced the latakia from the same processor. On a ten point scale, rating both the smokiness and intensity of the tobacco, the Stokkebye rates a 4, Gawith a 6 and the C & D a solid 10. I usually blend with the Stokkebye, both out of habit and because it's pretty inexpensive. When it hasn't been available I've used the others, but made a critical error using the C & D, as it absolutely dominated the blend. I had no idea that it would differ so greatly from the P.S. You can find the Stokkebye Blending Latakia for $30.00/lb. which is quite a bit less than the others.

 

[Ahi Ka]

@Cotton1 if you're only going to use latakia from WLT you don't really need a shredder. It will crumble quite easily.

Totally agree with this. Like perique and the other orientals I smoke the stems of the leaf too.

 

[logs]

I have one of the Whole Leaf hand crank shredders. It works well enough for flat leaf like VA. It's difficult to use for latikia or perique because these leaves come curled up and tangled. You'll have to uncurl them by hand and flatten them out prior to sending them through the shredder. It can be done but it's a slow process. Probably easier to do the rolling and chopping method that Ahi Ka describes. Some of it depends on how consistent you want all your ribbon to be. You have to use care to ensure everything you're blending has basically the same kind of cut or the different leaf will likely separate with smaller pieces going to the bottom of your jar--which is not ideal.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Yeah @logs is correct about leaf distribution in a jar. There is also the Brazil nut effect (I think that’s what’s it’s called) where even when a blend is cut evenly, Latakia will settle at the bottom. I’ve found the easiest way to avoid this is to keep blends in loose crumble style cakes and just rip off a chunk for a bowls worth or two

 

[kola]

My prized stash of Wellauers Syrian.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’d be interested if anyone is really familiar with Syrian Latakia to do a comparison with the stock from totalleafsupply. I spoke to the owner and he informed me it is old Syrian stock, that was originally imported via Cyprus. I’m not holding my breath on it actually being Syrian leaf, and at the price point I don’t mind either way. It’s incredibly oily and aromatic. I’m just curious as I have never tried a blend with Syrian Latakia in it so have no point of reference.