Do cigar leaves actually taste different?
- Thread starter manfisher
- Start date
They are different.
Bob
Bob
Thanks, is it still that cigar type flavor? Sort of leathery tangy taste?
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
This quote from Bob has me wanting to try a real American cigar as I never developed an appreciation of "Caribbean" tobacco.
"This "Little Dutch" effort has me smoking a bowl of pure Little Dutch as I type this. I sense no stinky "cigar" aroma. It is missing brighter and deeper components to its aroma profile. The pH of the smoke seems to be only slightly toward the alkaline. So, as an intuitive leap, I will be exploring blends of mostly Little Dutch, with tiny proportions of Oriental and Dark Air-cured.
[Historical Sidebar: As I recall, from smoking the genuine Marsh-Wheeling cigars during the 1970s to1990s—made in Wheeling, West Virginia (in a factory visible from the Interstate highway), the aroma did not resemble that of Caribbean-style cigars. That old blend consisted of Pennsylvania Red and Little Dutch. The light-colored ones were wrapped in CT Shade, while the dark ones were, I believe, wrapped in a Pennsylvania broadleaf/seedleaf (e.g. Glessnor, Lancaster Seedleaf, etc.). It was those darker ones that I sought out for decades, because they were mild and smooth, with no intense aromas.
Today you can purchase cigars packaged as "Marsh-Wheeling Deluxe Stogies," but they are currently made from low-grade Dominican leaf, and will be of zero use in envisioning a pipe blend made from Little Dutch. Traditional American cigar manufacture is dead and gone.]"
"This "Little Dutch" effort has me smoking a bowl of pure Little Dutch as I type this. I sense no stinky "cigar" aroma. It is missing brighter and deeper components to its aroma profile. The pH of the smoke seems to be only slightly toward the alkaline. So, as an intuitive leap, I will be exploring blends of mostly Little Dutch, with tiny proportions of Oriental and Dark Air-cured.
[Historical Sidebar: As I recall, from smoking the genuine Marsh-Wheeling cigars during the 1970s to1990s—made in Wheeling, West Virginia (in a factory visible from the Interstate highway), the aroma did not resemble that of Caribbean-style cigars. That old blend consisted of Pennsylvania Red and Little Dutch. The light-colored ones were wrapped in CT Shade, while the dark ones were, I believe, wrapped in a Pennsylvania broadleaf/seedleaf (e.g. Glessnor, Lancaster Seedleaf, etc.). It was those darker ones that I sought out for decades, because they were mild and smooth, with no intense aromas.
Today you can purchase cigars packaged as "Marsh-Wheeling Deluxe Stogies," but they are currently made from low-grade Dominican leaf, and will be of zero use in envisioning a pipe blend made from Little Dutch. Traditional American cigar manufacture is dead and gone.]"
HillDweller
Well-Known Member
In my experience they do taste like cigar, but only mildly so.
Juxtaposer-
Well-Known Member
The potential of finding a leaf that works well in alternate applications is certainly there. This is not very practical for commercial production but it does happen. The use of N. Rustica is a good example. I think “cigar” tobaccos have some untapped potential for use in products other than cigars. I generally treat tobaccos I purchase that are grown for cigars as Burley.
From what I gathered (which very well might be wrong) while searching for great leaves for snus, LOTS of them are Dark Air Cured (technique, I don't know enough to say about Variety)
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Which of the following offerings from WLT would be mild enough for cigarettes/cheroots? Your opinions on N-hit, flavor and smoothness are greatly appreciated.
Hand Tied Nicaragua Orinoco
Nicaragua Esteli
Dominican Olor
Imported PA
PA Broadleaf
Paraguay Flojo Africa
Criollo 98
Piloto
Corojo 99
Ive already tried Bezuki and its not half bad but not quite what Im looking for. My plan was to blend one of these with Virgina.
I do inhale.
Hand Tied Nicaragua Orinoco
Nicaragua Esteli
Dominican Olor
Imported PA
PA Broadleaf
Paraguay Flojo Africa
Criollo 98
Piloto
Corojo 99
Ive already tried Bezuki and its not half bad but not quite what Im looking for. My plan was to blend one of these with Virgina.
I do inhale.
For inhaling, I would say, "none of the above". If you really want to blend cigar leaf with Virginia flue-cured, for making a cigarette, select a seco leaf, and begin with a low percentage.
Bob
Bob
Can't say for inhaling, and I'm only a few months out from my last cig, so I'm not too keen on testing it,
but PA Broadleaf becomes a totally different animal after it's toasted (F260 for 10 minutes).
I imagine it'd be the same for a lot, if not most of these tobaccos.
Also, separately from the above, They used some Dark Air Cured (probably grown in Africa?) in the Galuoise / Gitane smokes...
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
That was my thinking; start with a Seco leaf and maybe blend in a little Viso (too bad Voldado isn't available). I was hoping for some idea as to which varieties are more mild, especially from those who have tried those particular offerings at WLT. Ive had mild cigars which were easy enough to inhale though not for an all day smoke. However, its not a matter of wanting to try an odd combo for the sake of shits and giggles, Im trying to find something agreeable since I have already developed a particular taste.
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Ive heard that the PA is the most likely mild smoke as well as used in some of the WLT blends, so I may start with that and toast if necessary. Meanwhile Ive started growing Dark "European" leaf and others that are sweeter and not as harsh. Im also trying to make contact with an old orchid grower that I used to frequent. He has family in Indonesia and is in the botaanical business. I should at least be able to get some seeds.
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Thank you Bob, Im writing these down for my next seed order.
Juxtaposer-
Well-Known Member
I have some Besuki now for making pipe tobaccos. I feel bad cutting up these good looking leaves but I am impressed with how well they work in pipe mixtures. I like the flavor enough that I hope to create a blend that they can shine in. They also do great in supporting roles, so far getting along with the other types of leaf.
Try it with just a little (%10 - %20) Virginia mixed to cut the alkaline tongue bite
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Besuki works well in a cigarette at 20-30%, even better with random cavendish someone at WLT threw in one of my shipments. (belated THANK YOU! @deluxestogie )
BTW- I may have found my heirloom PA leaf if I can backtrack what variety it is. I pressed it for a month and now it reminds me exactly of old cigars and smokes very smooth even in a cigarette.
I may just grow all four and see what I end up with.
Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Pennsylvania Red
Lancaster Seedleaf
Glessner
BTW- I may have found my heirloom PA leaf if I can backtrack what variety it is. I pressed it for a month and now it reminds me exactly of old cigars and smokes very smooth even in a cigarette.
I may just grow all four and see what I end up with.
Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Pennsylvania Red
Lancaster Seedleaf
Glessner
Staghorn is worth a try if you are growing your own. It's a pretty multipurpose variety with a decent flavor and nice dark red leaf color when air cured. It's not as floral flavored as little Dutch and somewhat similar to Pennsylvania red but a little lighter/different flavored and unique enough to try on its own. It blends well for both cigars and cigs (as well as pipe tobacco) and won't choke you out like a lot of the Caribbean cigar varities if you inhale.
Plus one for staghorn too! Shredded some for Rollie's, made some puro's and mixed it in some cigars too. Oh, and made a bit of Cavendish too!
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Thank you gentlemen! Im writing this one down and will grow it sooner than later.
