What's So Good About English Blends?

[cortezattic]

One of my most memorable smokes, of the kind that surpass other pleasures, was with an English flake back in the mid 1980's.

But eventually I recognized that Latakia was desensitizing my taste buds, nose, etc., to other tobaccos, especially Virginia flakes.

I quit those full English blends, and neither I nor Mrs. Cortez miss them; and the Virginia's have been singing ever since! :: ♪♫

 

[whitebriar]

>>>>>>I dunno, maybe my stomach just wasn't made for Latakia blends.>>>>
for more years than i care to remember i couldn't smoke Latakia--gave me an intense headache--

about 12 or 15 months ago i tried it again--NO headache--i can now enjoy "English", although i don't attempt

any Latakia bombs--

chemistry and tolerances do change--try another blend or two--if you still have trouble, there are many other tobaccos to be enjoyed--check "English" out every so often to see if anything has changed--

 

[unclearthur]

I love English blends as well as almost all others. Goopy Aros and a very few Drugstore blends are OUT!

 

[teddy]

LOVE ALL ENGLISH BLENDS THE MORE LATAKIA MORE I LIKE THEM. ::

 

[cyndi]

I can't do heavy Latakia blends either and I have an allergic reaction to many aros. I definitely lean towards the Va/Per end of the spectrum. My brother just started smoking and he's had the same reactions - not just a tight in the chest feeling, but all out facial swelling. I think it has a lot to do with body chemistry. With so many tobaccos in the world, why let that slow you down?

 

[baronsamedi]

I took to English like a duck to water, but I was a cigar smoker before smoking a pipe and I've put so much weird crap in my body over the years, I should probably glow in the dark. The only time my stomach gets a bit wobbly is if I get whacked by nicotene. I like aros too, though.
nothing wrong with liking one thing over another. I'll eat some things a lot of my fellow Americans wouldn't step in, but if you put a 3-bean salad in front of me, it's going to be airborne so you'd better duck. some peole just have weird tastes. Ain't no shame.

 

[jcsoldit]

Like Irish I just reach for an English blend once in awhile, but if you’re going to try a Dunhill blend I think EMP would be an excellent choice.
A couple other blends you might want to consider a very good crossover "Shortcut To Mushrooms" or and English from Boswell "Northwoods". Both contain Latakia but neither should be over powering... ::

 

[mp31guitar]

I'm with you lordofthepiperings. I dont really care for the english blends. I have tried a few. Also tried some crossovers. The crossover were'nt too bad though. I still keep the english blends I've bought though, who knows my taste may change.

 

[smokindawg]

I started out as many new pipesmokers, thinking if they smelled good they would be good. So did aromatic blends for a few days. Then I tried my first English and have been a Latakia hound ever since. I love strong blends and mix in lighter blends from time to time.
My only question would be "What isn't so good about an English blend?"

 

[romeowood]

Its best not to think on it too much. Categorical definitions tend to limit ones ability to enjoy w/o preconceptions. I became fond of English and Balkan blends prior to knowing a thing about pipe tobacco. Most of the time ignorance is bliss; it just limits ones persuasiveness.

Well said. :clap:
Regarding some milder blends with Latakia in them, I'd suggest GL Pease Fillmore, a VaPer with a tiny (but very noticeable to me) ~2% Lat content, or Sterling's Royal London Dock as a light English.
Regarding your reaction to it, I've been doing a little of my own hackneyed research into this, and tend to agree with the anecdotal evidence of an incompatibility with body chemistry in certain people (and at certain times--i.e., dependent upon weather, what you've eaten, etc.). Further, I believe the main culprit in this symptom could be the wood used to smoke the tobacco--pine and oak from the region that are heavily laden with tannins. How do those with Latakia sensitivities react to heavy red wines or unripe mangoes? The effects of the polyphenolic compounds on the palate produce the astringency and also bond with alkaloids possibly present in other constituents of the blend, particularly burley. So, if you're sensitive to tannins in wine, fruits and even wood (I know a lot of you are woodworkers or hobbyists out there) then I would forward the presumption that you'll be sensitive to Latakia as well. Just some food (or tobacco in this case) for thought....

 

[lordnoble]

Romeo, that is a very interesting theory about tannin sensitivity. I've never really paid attention to it before, but then again, I've got no problem with latakia blends.
-Jason

 

[markw4mms]

I started with aro's as well, but after about a year I tried my first English... TB Philosopher, it was love at first puff. I still smoke an aro occasionally, but prefer my lat bombs. :puffpipe:

 

[dojomatic]

They are tasty! I've only been smoking pipes (or anything else) for a couple of months and I wish I would have started with English. About 2 weeks ago, I had been smoking Boswell's Christmas Cookie over a couple of days, and I decided to try Billy Budd just for the heck of it. And to my surprise, I loved it. Wow, that was a wallop of flavor goodness!
I think whether you like English blends or not, depends on your overall tastes. I tend to like very strong, hoppy beers, I like strong coffe and never with sugar, and I've only ever drank dry wines.

 

[locopony]

latakia.............I can smoke it straight um um good.