What is Cavendish?

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chlogeo3

Starting to Get Obsessed
Aug 27, 2010
152
0
Is Cavendish a special blend of tobacco or is it a certain type of cut? 8O
Thanks mates,

Forrest

 

greggors

Can't Leave
Oct 5, 2010
313
187
43
Mississauga ON Canada
From what I gather its the process (basically blend, correct me if im wrong). Im bad at explaining so I'll just paste what Pipedia says lol

http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Pipe_Tobaccos#Cavendish

Cavendish
Cavendish is more a process of curing and a method of cutting tobacco than a type of it. The processing and the cut are used to bring out the natural sweet taste in the tobacco. Cavendish can be produced out of any tobacco type but is usually one of, or a blend of Kentucky, Virginia, and Burley and is most commonly used for pipe tobacco and cigars.
The process begins by pressing the tobacco leaves into a cake about an inch thick. Heat from fire or steam is applied, and the tobacco is allowed to ferment. This is said to result in a sweet and mild tobacco. Finally the cake is sliced. These slices must be broken apart, as by rubbing in a circular motion between one's palms, before the tobacco can be evenly packed into a pipe. Flavoring* is often added before the leaves are pressed. English Cavendish uses a dark flue or fire cured Virginia, which is steamed and then stored under pressure to permit it to cure and ferment for several days or weeks.
There are several colors, including the well-known Black Cavendish, numerous blends, and a wide range of flavors. Modern blends include flavors and ingredients such as cherry, chocolate, coconut, rum, strawberry, vanilla, walnut, and bourbon.
Cavendish tobacco originated in the late 16th century, when Sir Thomas Cavendish commanded a ship in Sir Richard Grenville's expedition to Virginia in 1585, and discovered that by dipping tobacco leaves in sugar it produced a milder and more mellow smoke.
Different cuts would be: Ribbon, shag, flake, plug, rope, disks

 

cortezattic

Lifer
Nov 19, 2009
15,147
7,637
Chicago, IL
From Milton M. Sherman's book, All About Tobacco, 1970
The word "Cavendish," when applied to pipe tobacco, seems to intrigue the American pipe smoker. It is also a confusing word, probably because Cavendish is a description of both a type of pipe tobacco and a manner in which tobacco is cut.
Cavendish pipe tobacco has been growing in popularity in recent years, to the extent that today, even a few American tobacco companies are manufacturing it. There is no tobacco grown anywhere in the world that is known as a Cavendish tobacco.
The basic process in the manufacture of a Cavendish tobacco is to impregnate the leaf with a great quantity of casing sauces. The taste factor, rather than the aroma, is the primary concern of the manufacturer, and each processor may use different types of equipment and different methods to achieve this end.
The tobaccos used in the manufacture of Cavendish may be Virginia, Burley or Maryland, or any combination of these three types. In the process, the tobaccos are heavily cased with any or all of the following flavors: rum, maple, sugar, chocolate, licorice, honey, fruit and a few more that individual manufacturers may find on the chemists' shelves.
The creation of a Cavendish tobacco varies from country to country and from manufacturer to manufacturer. We will only discuss those areas from which the most widely known Cavendish tobaccos originate -- The United States, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Denmark.
Cavendish Manufactured in the United States:

In order to get the tobacco to accept the required amount of casings, it may be dipped (especially the Burleys) into a casing sauce or heavily sprayed with flavoring sauces. The tobacco is then allowed to bulk for a period of time, so that the tobacco and casings are wedded, after which it may be subjected to pressure. It can take weeks or months until the blend has properly accepted the casing materials. The color of the processed Cavendish ranges from a light brown to black, depending on the leaf and casings used.
Cavendisb Manufactured in the United Kingdom

The English manufacture their Cavendish only with a heavier grade of Flue-Cured Virginia tobacco. The tobacco is placed in molds and subjected to heavy pressure for three to four days. The pressure exerted on the processed tobacco causes the natural oils to rise, and because of the heavy natural sugar content of the Virginia leaf, the tobacco develops a sweet taste. Most of the Cavendish produced in Great Britain is then cut and incorporated into a blend.
Cavendish Manufactured in The Netherlands and Denmark

The Dutch and the Danes employ a slow manufacturing method, first steaming the tobacco to open the pores and then casing it very heavily. The tobacco is then placed in molds and subjected to pressure until a cake is formed. The cake completes the process and can be cut into bars and again into smaller pieces.
Black Cavendisb Tobacco

The unusual Black Cavendish is a processed tobacco that each manufacturer prepares in a different manner. The two important steps employed, however, in all manufacturing of Black Cavendish are: 1. The dipping of the tobacco into various casing (flavoring) sauces (usually licorice) and 2. The steaming of the tobacco, which turns it black. Black Cavendish tobaccos can be manufactured from either Burley or Flue-Cured Virginia leaf. Usually, the heavier and darker leaf grades are used. Since this tobacco is heavily impregnated with flavorings, the taste is naturally influenced by the type of flavorings used.
Black Cavendish tobaccos usually have a slightly sweet taste and can either be smoked straight or incorporated into a mixture. Variations of the long cut are generally employed for better burning qualities.
Black Cavendish Manufactured in the United Kingdom

The Black Cavendish tobacco manufactured in the United Kingdom is made from the heavier and darker grades of Flue-Cured Virginia tobacco. As we will point out, the use of additives is severely restricted in the United Kingdom, so that the usual method of processing this tobacco is to "sweat" and steam it, causing it to turn black. The tobacco is then placed in a mold and subjected to pressure for one to several days. During this phase, additional steam may be applied. Eventually, a cake is formed, which is cut into bars and then sliced to the desired thickness. The result is a very mild, slightly sweet tobacco that can be smoked straight or incorporated into a blend.
Cavendish Cut Tobacco

The term "Cavendish cut" simply means a type of cut that is between a long or ribbon cut and a heavy fine cut.

What I take from this discussion, besides the obvious descriptions, is that if you're looking to taste the casing flavors, then smoke a Cavendish; if you merely want to smoke a tobacco so the wife likes the aroma, then smoke a standard aromatic.

 

chlogeo3

Starting to Get Obsessed
Aug 27, 2010
152
0
Thanks Greg and Cortez.
I just purchased 5#s of Sutliff Black Cavendish . It is the only tobacco that does not burn my tongue or give me a sore throat or ever taste hot. I love it. :puffy:

 
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