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Pipe Tobacco: Difference between revisions
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The basis of this article was formed | The basis of this article was formed from the FAQs from Alt.Smokers.Pipes[http://www.aspipes.org/faq/]. Unfortunately it is dated, and some of the information may be inaccurate. If you have expertise in this area, please consider editing this section. Click on the discussion tab above for additional information. Meanwhile we highly recommend the following websites, dedicated to pipe tobacco: [http://tobaccoreviews.com/ TobaccoReviews.com] | Greg Pease has a very interesting and information [http://glpease.com/ website] and [http://www.glpease.com/BriarAndLeaf/ blog] | ||
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New to pipe smoking? See also [[http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Pipe_Packing_and_Smoking_techniques#How_should_I_select_my_first_tobacco.3F Selecting Your First Tobacco]] | |||
== Broad Categories == | == Broad Categories == | ||
=== "Drugstore" Tobaccos === | === "Drugstore" Tobaccos === | ||
Generally, you will be better off purchasing your tobacco from a tobacconist. Many of the commonly available blends found in discount stores or | Generally, you will be better off purchasing your tobacco from a tobacconist. Many of the commonly available blends found in discount stores or supermarkets are made from lower quality tobacco, and the additives with which they are laced for preservation and "taste enhancement" alter the way a tobacco smokes, usually for the worse. | ||
=== Aromatics VS. Non-Aromatics === | === Aromatics VS. Non-Aromatics === | ||
These are the two broadest subdivisions of pipe tobaccos | These are the two broadest subdivisions of pipe tobaccos, although often the distinctions are blurred. | ||
=== Aromatics === | === Aromatics === | ||
A good aromatic tobacco is lightly topped with a natural flavoring. Aromatics tend to be more moist than non-aromatics, which can lead to problems smoking them. These problems can be avoided if care is taken in the preparation of the tobacco and in the pack of the pipe. | A good aromatic tobacco is lightly topped with a natural flavoring. Aromatics tend to be more moist than non-aromatics due to the flavoring added, which can lead to problems smoking them. These problems can be avoided if care is taken in the preparation of the tobacco and in the pack of the pipe. | ||
=== Non-Aromatics === | === Non-Aromatics === | ||
These are tobaccos that contain no flavored additives | These are tobaccos that contain no flavored additives, although sometimes the distinctions are blurred. Many of the better non-aromatic blends contain no additives whatsoever, other than water, and perhaps a trace of vinegar, others are less strict. | ||
== Common Types of Tobacco used in blends. == | == Common Types of Tobacco used in blends. == | ||
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* Oriental No. 12, McClelland | * Oriental No. 12, McClelland | ||
* Oriental No. 14, McClelland | * Oriental No. 14, McClelland | ||
=== Perique === | === Perique === | ||
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The following information comes from the A.S.P FAQ on Perique[http://www.aspipes.org/faq/faq/perique.html], which credits the Nichols and Brown home page, with additional information from the Perique web site by Gerard Faucheux, the New Orleans Times-Picayune (thanks to ASP member Daniel D. Marsalone), and the archived ASP posts of Irwin Friedman, Ray Newton, and Robert Holmes. | The following information comes from the A.S.P FAQ on Perique[http://www.aspipes.org/faq/faq/perique.html], which credits the Nichols and Brown home page, with additional information from the Perique web site by Gerard Faucheux, the New Orleans Times-Picayune (thanks to ASP member Daniel D. Marsalone), and the archived ASP posts of Irwin Friedman, Ray Newton, and Robert Holmes. | ||
What Are the Characteristics of Perique? | |||
'''What Are the Characteristics of Perique?''' | |||
Perique is a spice tobacco, usually used in Virginia blends. It has a dark, oily appearance, and a taste of pepper and figs. Its flavor is very strong, so it isn't usually found in high percentages in a blend. It can be smoked straight, but isn't intended to be. | Perique is a spice tobacco, usually used in Virginia blends. It has a dark, oily appearance, and a taste of pepper and figs. Its flavor is very strong, so it isn't usually found in high percentages in a blend. It can be smoked straight, but isn't intended to be. | ||
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==== The making of Perique ==== | ==== The making of Perique ==== | ||
At harvest time, the wilted leaves of the tobacco are hung up to dry for two weeks, stripped of hard veins, and packed into bundles (called torquettes). These torquettes are put into barrels under extreme pressure, and allowed to cure in their own juices (which collect as run-off at the top of the barrels). Over the course of many months, these bundles are periodically "turned", and then placed again under pressure in the barrels. Without any air to interact with the tobacco, Perique ferments anaerobically, producing the distinctive taste. | At harvest time, the wilted leaves of the tobacco are hung up to dry for two weeks, stripped of hard veins, and packed into bundles (called torquettes). These torquettes are put into barrels under extreme pressure, and allowed to cure in their own juices (which collect as run-off at the top of the barrels). Over the course of many months, these bundles are periodically "turned", and then placed again under pressure in the barrels. Without any air to interact with the tobacco, Perique ferments anaerobically, producing the distinctive taste. | ||
'''Is Perique Endangered?''' | |||
'''Note: This section needs to be updated badly. Please help!''' Is the P&T article on Perique several issues back current on this subject? If so, perhaps someone would care to re-write this section based on the current situation. ''Until recently, there was only one farm left that produced this leaf full-time: Percy Martin Farms in Grande Pointe Ridge, Louisiana. After two bad crop years in the late 1990's, there was a distinct possibility that Percy Martin would stop producing it also. A partnership was formed in 1999 between Martin and New Orleans company Nichols and Brown. Apparently that was short lived? Help me out here folks.....'' | |||
With interest from cigarette manufacturers, as well as from pipe tobacco companies, it's possible that other farmers in Grande Pointe Ridge will begin growing Perique, though for the moment its future is uncertain. As a low-return, labor-intensive product, it doesn't appeal to most farmers. | With interest from cigarette manufacturers, as well as from pipe tobacco companies, it's possible that other farmers in Grande Pointe Ridge will begin growing Perique, though for the moment its future is uncertain. As a low-return, labor-intensive product, it doesn't appeal to most farmers. | ||
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Bulk perique can be purchased anywhere that offers blending tobaccos. Some commonly-known retailers of blending tobaccos are as follows: [http://cornellanddiehl.com/blending_tobaccos.htm Cornell and Diehl] and [http://www.tobaccodirect.com/smarthtml/Blending.html Tobacco Direct] | Bulk perique can be purchased anywhere that offers blending tobaccos. Some commonly-known retailers of blending tobaccos are as follows: [http://cornellanddiehl.com/blending_tobaccos.htm Cornell and Diehl] and [http://www.tobaccodirect.com/smarthtml/Blending.html Tobacco Direct] | ||
==== Popular Perique Blends ==== | ==== Popular Perique Blends ==== | ||
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* Dark Twist, Mac Baren (VA/cavendish) | * Dark Twist, Mac Baren (VA/cavendish) | ||
* Roll Cake, Mac Baren (VA/cavendish/Perique) | * Roll Cake, Mac Baren (VA/cavendish/Perique) | ||
== Off sight links == | == Off sight links == | ||
An excellent resource for exploring pipe tobaccos is [http://tobaccoreviews.com/ tobaccoreviews.com] | An excellent resource for exploring pipe tobaccos is [http://tobaccoreviews.com/ tobaccoreviews.com] | ||
Greg Pease has a very interesting and information [http://glpease.com/ website] and [http://www.glpease.com/BriarAndLeaf/ blog] | |||