Guide to Pipe Tobacco
Copyright Tal Liron. All rights reserved.
1. Categories
The main categories are unflavored (sometimes and confusingly called "English") and "aromatic" (or flavored). Note that "aromatic" in this usage refers to flavor, not smell. Everybody agrees that all pipe tobacco and its smoke has a wonderfully intoxicating aroma.
The term "English" also has a more specific usage, referring to unflavored blends that contain Latakia (see below). Indeed, there are many more specific categories, styles, and traditions of blending under these two broad categories. However, because there is no industry authority, any manufacturer can call any blend anything and this has always been the case. Perhaps it's best to have the attitude that these categories evolve and mean different things to different blenders.
Common flavors are vanilla, rum, bourbon, chocolate, caramel, nougat, hazelnut, honey, maple, anise, cherry, and other fruit. Lakeland blends (from the Lake District in England) are known for their characteristic tonquin bean (a.k.a. tonka) flavor, which has a floral scent and is reminiscent of vanilla. The most popular aromatics have a proprietary mix of several flavors. It's fun to try to guess what they are.
Aromatics tend to be the first blends newcomers try, because the flavor descriptions are already familiar and sound welcoming. Compare "hazelnut and chocolate" to "dark-fired Kentucky leaf and ripe red Virginia". Which one would you pick for your first smoke? However, it's worth exploring the taste of unflavored tobacco. Indeed, it's common to "graduate" from aromatics over time, or at least to expand the palate to unflavored blends.
The distinction between the two main categories is not always clear cut. In fact, 100% unflavored blends are rare. Most blends contain at least a a little bit of flavoring (called "casing"), and this is not always disclosed. There are also "crossover" blends that have a foot in both categories, by emphasizing both the natural tobacco flavor and the casing.
A fun category is "codger" blends. They are value-oriented products that have been around for decades, despite changing ownership and sometimes flavor. They are popular with old-timers as well as younger generations. (Example: Velvet) A related category is "OTC", or over-the-counter. These are the blends you'll find at non-specialist vendors, such as drug stores, right next to the cigarettes and cheap cigars. Not very glamorous, but don't dismiss them out of hand. They are best sellers for a reason.
2. Packaging
Many blends are sold in bulk by weight and packaged in sealed plastic bags. Sometimes it's packaged on order, sometimes the vendor pre-packages popular weights. Bulk tobacco is often the most affordable, but don't mistake that to imply that it's of lower quality. There are defnitely value-oriented budget bulks, but also some the very best blends are only available in bulk. Bulk is great. Really, the only disadvantage of bulk is for vendors: it's harder to market something that doesn't come in a pretty package that can be displayed on a shelf. Indeed, bulks tend to appeal to more experienced smokers, who already know what they want.
Most buyers will take the bulk tobacco out of the plastic bags in store them in labelled jars. However, the plastic bags can also do the job in a pinch.
Then there are "cans", "tubs", and "boxes". These packaging methods are a step up from the bulk plastic bag, as the package itself is often good enough to use for ongoing storage. Tubs, especially, make excellent tobacco containers. (Example: Carter Hall)
A more common—and the most expensive—packaging method is "tins". Most are small (1.5 oz) but some are double-sized (3.5 oz or more). They are usually round or rectangular. Tins can be beautifully labelled, and they can be useful for storing things other than tobacco once depleted, so that extra cost might be justified. Unfortunately, many great blends are available only in tins and not in bulk. If you want buy a large quantity it can get quite wasteful to have to deal with all those tins. Note that tins do not seal well once opened, so they are not very good for long-term storage. That's one reason why they are small.
Finally and most commonly, blends are also packaged in small self-sealing "pouches", just like cigarette rolling tobacco. Pouches are a cheap and convenient alternative to tins, and what you'll mostly get over-the-counter in much of the world. Despite their convenience, pouches have a significant downside: because they are intended for a long shelf life, they often have more preservatives and humectants than the other packaging methods, which diminishes the smoking experience.
Sometimes manufacturers use different names and branding for the same blend when sold in different packaging, as a way to appeal to different markets. (Example: Lane's 1-Q is also sold as Captain Black Royal)
3. Cuts
Blends are usually made in one of two shapes at the factory. Most commonly it's as a big compressed block, where the ingredients are layered like a lasgna and pressed together to "marry" the their flavors. This block is then cut in myriad ways and packaged.
The most common cuts are "ribbon", which is just strips, and "shag", which is fully shredded like confetti. While convenient, these cuts tend to dry more quickly than the others.
The simplest cut is a "plug", a palm-sized rectangular cube sliced from the big mother block. To smoke it, you have to cut it yourself, usually with a sharp knife, though in a pinch you can also just tear pieces off. Inconvenient? Maybe, but it can also be a fun part of the preparation ritual. A variation is "crumble cake", which is pressed more loosely than a plug, such that it can be crumbled by hand. Of all cuts, plugs and cakes mainain their moisture best, and continue to mature ("age") well after being packaged. They tend to be preferred by purists. (Example: STG Erinmore Plug)
Almost as pure as plug but much more convenient is "flake", which is simply rectangular slices of a plug. Flakes can be "rubbed" out to ribbons, or folded and stuffed right into a pipe. (Example: Newminster #400) A variation is "broken flake", for which the flakes are slightly thicker and are pre-broken. The chunks can rubbed out or just used as is.
A less common cut is "cubed", which refers to small, thick cubes, similar to broken flake. (Example: C&D Cube Cut Burley)
Other than block pressing, the other main preparation method is spinning into a "rope" or "twist", like a big sausage. The layering is concentric, allowing for interestingly non-uniform blends. Often the core layer is where you'll find the condiments.
Ropes/twists are sometimes sold in big chunks, principally similar to plugs, so you have to cut them yourself. Their shape and color has earned them the affectionate moniker "elephant poop". (Example: G&H Black Irish XXX)
More commonly, ropes/twist are pre-sliced into "coins" or "medallions". (Example: PS Luxury Bullseye Flake)
Some popular blends are available in more than one cut, e.g. "plug" for the purists and "ribbon" for convenience. (Example: GLP JackKnife Plug and GLP JackKnife Ready Rubbed)
4. Main Ingredients
All of these (except the last one, Cavendish) are varietals of one species of tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum.
Virginia
The most common ingredient for pipe blends, and arguably what sets pipe smoking apart from other methods of smoking tobacco. On its own its flavor varies from sweet grassy to a more bready flavor.
Virginias also vary considerably in flavor in response to preparation techniques and as they mature. When young ("bright") they have a sharp, hay-like flavor. When stoved, they taste like dried fruit.
The flavor can be so complex that it is great when smoked on its own, or "straight". Note that we call it a "blend" even though it technically might not be (remember, it probably has some casing blended in, too). Straight Virginia is often sold in "flake" cut. With a bit of rum casing it's often called "Navy Flake", though that category is not well defined and sum Navy Flakes don't advertise rum. (Example: PS Luxury Navy Flake)
Burley
This is what usually fills cigarettes, but it's treated differently for pipe blends, and thus tastes quite different. On its own has a mild nutty and bready flavor. Often used to give "body" to a blend.
High-quality Burleys can be quite sophisticated and take center stage for a blend. (Example: C&D Haunted Bookshop) Straight Burley blends are not as common as straight Virginias, but there are a few.
Orientals
A gloss over many varietals mostly from Turkey, the Balkans, and Russia. Their actual names include Izmir, Samsun, Yedidje, Cavella, and Bursa. Many blenders simply note "Orientals", but afficionados appreciate when the exact leaf is denoted.
Orientals are often characterized as "spicy" or "floral". They definitely add a fancy flair to any blend.
They are a necessary ingredient in "Balkan" blends, in addition to Latakia. (Example: STG Balkan Sasieni)
Cavendish
This is the one ingredient on this list that is not a varietal, but rather one of other varietals (usually Virginia or Burley) prepared under heat and pressure. This preparation process significantly changes the flavor and texture. In fact, some Cavendish doesn't really taste like tobacco at all. It tends to birn with thick smoke, and as such is a great delivery mechanism for the other flavors.
Indeed, Cavendish is good at delivering casing flavors, so it's a common ingredient in aromatics. In fact, there are many aromatic blends that are just 100% Cavendish plus casing. (Example: Lane BCA)
5. Condiments
These ingredients all have quite powerful flavors. Indeed, a little bit can go a long way, so they are usually a minority ingredient. In other words: a condiment.
Latakia
A fire-cured and smoked Oriental. Has a strong smoky, somewhat soapy flavor and a creamy, full-bodied texture. It was originally made in the port city of Latakia, Syria, but is currently made in Cyprus.
Latakia is a necessary ingredient for English and Balkan blends, which are sometimes just called "Latakia blends". (Example: GLP Westminster)
Perique
A fermented red Burley. Has a strong peppery, slightly sour flavor. Only made in St. James, Louisiana.
Perique is a popular complement to Virginia, balancing out the sweetness with some spice. Indeed Virginia/Perique (VaPer) represents a whole category of blends in its own. (Example: STG Escudo Navy De Luxe)
Kentucky
A dark-fired Burley. Has a peppery, sweet, and smoky barbecue flavor.
Fits a similar niche to Perique, and indeed there are many Virginia/Kentucky (VaKey) blends, and even VaPerKey blends.
Rustica
The only tobacco in this list that is of a different species, Nicotiana rustica. While it can be smoked straight, it has such a strong, rich, and distinct flavor that is more often used as a condiment. It can even be made into Cavendish.
Deertongue
Not a tobacco, but a common and familiar North American grass.
Provides a curious mint-like scent and tarragon-like flavor.
(Example: C&D Gentleman Caller)