The Magic of Whole Leaf Tobacco

[ShiniKoroshi]

"The highest virtue is not virtuous, therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds onto virtue, therefore has no virtue." ~Laozi

 

[burge]

Bagged cigs aren't bad. So that's the new route I guess.

I inherited stunning good looks and charming personality.

Don't suffer current events too much as they will prove to be more transient than permanent. I am expecting to see deregulation of the tobacco industry eventually. Fair trade in tobacco would be a boon for everyone except big tobacco.

Bagged cigs aren't bad. So that's the new route I guess. 15 dollars.

 

[SpyridonSmyrna]

I just sat down and read this entire thread, and I must say, I got excited about the idea of buying whole-leaf tobaccos and experimenting. I gave up "gas station cigarettes" years ago and got into pipe smoking when I lived in Seoul, South Korea. There was one tobacconist shop in the entire city, and I would go there, buy a tin of Early Morning Pipe, and sit and smoke while watching all the club goers stumble down the street.
Anyway, I’ve loved the pipe ever since. And sometimes, being a sober alcoholic, my addictive side kicks in and I’ll smoke 3–4 bowls a day for a few days straight… until my mouth feels like a morning in the Mekong Delta, circa 1969.

I’m about to drop some coin on a pound of whole leaf—any suggestions for a first-timer? Also growing some Smyrna this year, and if it turns out decent, I’d love to try blending it in and see what happens.

Gracias ~

 

[burge]

I just sat down and read this entire thread, and I must say, I got excited about the idea of buying whole-leaf tobaccos and experimenting. I gave up "gas station cigarettes" years ago and got into pipe smoking when I lived in Seoul, South Korea. There was one tobacconist shop in the entire city, and I would go there, buy a tin of Early Morning Pipe, and sit and smoke while watching all the club goers stumble down the street.
Anyway, I’ve loved the pipe ever since. And sometimes, being a sober alcoholic, my addictive side kicks in and I’ll smoke 3–4 bowls a day for a few days straight… until my mouth feels like a morning in the Mekong Delta, circa 1969.

I’m about to drop some coin on a pound of whole leaf—any suggestions for a first-timer? Also growing some Smyrna this year, and if it turns out decent, I’d love to try blending it in and see what happens.

Gracias ~

You would need about 4lbs. You would need Latakia Virginia reg and orange and oriental tobacco. Blend as you get the taste.

 

[SpyridonSmyrna]

Once you try some of WLT Bright and Lemon you will forget all about crappy commercial tobacco. Ive tried every whole leaf available and Don has the good stuff.....and that's without casing.
Im about to order my second pound of Balkan Tradition, its that good.

I want to order a pound of either the Balkan or one of their other Turkish Blends. I'm a rookie, so I'm wondering - does this come already pre-blended? Or does it come whole leaf, and I blend it myself? Also thinking of getting a 1/2 pound of Latakia and/or Perique just to spice things up.

 

[deluxestogie]

The WLT blend kits come as whole leaf. Take your pick of any of them, then work from there for more full or more mellow.

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

I just sat down and read this entire thread, and I must say, I got excited about the idea of buying whole-leaf tobaccos and experimenting. I gave up "gas station cigarettes" years ago and got into pipe smoking when I lived in Seoul, South Korea. There was one tobacconist shop in the entire city, and I would go there, buy a tin of Early Morning Pipe, and sit and smoke while watching all the club goers stumble down the street.
Anyway, I’ve loved the pipe ever since. And sometimes, being a sober alcoholic, my addictive side kicks in and I’ll smoke 3–4 bowls a day for a few days straight… until my mouth feels like a morning in the Mekong Delta, circa 1969.

I’m about to drop some coin on a pound of whole leaf—any suggestions for a first-timer? Also growing some Smyrna this year, and if it turns out decent, I’d love to try blending it in and see what happens.

Gracias ~

If you enjoy early morning pipe I highly recommend doing the sampler and some Latakia. Using and tweaking @deluxestogie's blend Smyrna Bright I've developed an EMP replacement that is better than what you can buy today.

 

[burge]

I want to order a pound of either the Balkan or one of their other Turkish Blends. I'm a rookie, so I'm wondering - does this come already pre-blended? Or does it come whole leaf, and I blend it myself? Also thinking of getting a 1/2 pound of Latakia and/or Perique just to spice things up.

It's all whole leaf. If you like a kit then order the whole leaves by the pound it will be a little cheaper that way when there's a sale on. I don't use casing. It's all great leaf. Basma was really good. I don't care for oriental and I could smoke it.

 

[SpyridonSmyrna]

The WLT blend kits come as whole leaf. Take your pick of any of them, then work from there for more full or more mellow.

Bob

Thank you for the advice. What all comes in the Premium Turkish Blend, the one with the Hagia Sophia on it?

 

[SpyridonSmyrna]

If you enjoy early morning pipe I highly recommend doing the sampler and some Latakia. Using and tweaking @deluxestogie's blend Smyrna Bright I've developed an EMP replacement that is better than what you can buy today.

Can't wait to try ~ ;

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

I want to order a pound of either the Balkan or one of their other Turkish Blends. I'm a rookie, so I'm wondering - does this come already pre-blended? Or does it come whole leaf, and I blend it myself? Also thinking of getting a 1/2 pound of Latakia and/or Perique just to spice things up.

Its whole leaf in the proportions of a blend. It comes with basic instructions of what to do with each type leaf (flue-cured vs air-cured). You will need to de-stem the leaf and shred it. Regarding additional tobacco though, there is nothing wrong with "one of everything".

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Bagged cigs aren't bad. So that's the new route I guess.

Bagged cigs aren't bad. So that's the new route I guess. 15 dollars.

Fags in a Bag? If only Queen Mum could see us now.

 

[FosmicCilth]

Whole leaf is the way to go. Get the American and Turkish sampler, a noodle press, some parchment paper, a box of small mason jars, and a sharp knife. You will not regret it if you read this whole forum relevant to what you want to do with all of it.

Commercial tobacco is dead as far as actual blending, download Bob's books (thank you, Bob!!) and figure it out for you. You will see the way. Truly amazing stuff.

Virginia : Perique, 75:25 pressed in a noodle press and left out in the sun to cook for a day (in the press) is the key.
Virginia : Perique : Oriental, 65:25:10 is perfection.

Bob's Saz blend, cut coarse and cased, with added latakia after it's cased, pressed for a day and rubbed out again is extremely similar to the Dunhill Nightcap to my palate but better.

Add stoving and cavendish to the whole process and you can make the best pipe tobacco that you will ever have the honor to enjoy.

This is the way to smoke in a pipe and it is truly something great.

Thanks for all the amazing knowledge everyone!

 

[Hayden]

With home grown tobacco (whole leaf i did not order yet but have to if the package is not snatched by german tariff police) it was the first time i tasted a big difference in how tobacco can taste.
There were some okay blends but i always thought that cigars had a directer mouthtaste while commercial pipe blends had some hot air taste. Yeah all that changed once you try your owm stuff. I also had leaf that was much harsher but that comes down to leaf ripness, curing and processing.