Where to start with tobacco

[doublebassmusician]

I'm sure there's a thread like this around here, but I couldn't find it. So if anyone wants to point me in that direction instead replying feel free.

Anyway, I have a bunch of tobacco related questions today. I've been smoking this aromatic tobacco called "wall street" I got from my local tobbaco store, and I want to try some other type or blend or whatever.
Can anyone reccommend any?

And now the questions....

What is different between aromatic and non-aromatic tobacco?

What are these different tobacco shapes I've seen around here? I've seen rope-like tobacco, flattened rolls of tobacco and others. What's the difference between them?

What are blends? What is different amongst different blends How many type of blends are there?

[yellowgoat]

Check this out Types of tobacco - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[letsgomountaineers]

after the types, if you decide to stay with aromatics call boswell. great aromatics, very inexpensive.

[doublebassmusician]

thanks for that. I also found pipedia.org which seemed to answer alot of my questions
tobacco suggestions still wanted tho...

[Hermit]

I started with English blends.
Still haven't tried an aromatic.

[JAX]

Originally Posted by Hermit

I started with English blends.

I lean heavily towards English blends awell.

Break, break

Most folks start out with aromatics. There are many taste profiles out there. Some are univerally known as outstanding (Berry Cobler), others not so much. Best course of action IMO is pick up a little of this, and little of that and start experimenting with what you like.

[Mister Moo]

This is like asking for opinions on how to fit a doublebass in a Chevy Impala. You just have to figure it out for yourself. Save yourself some trouble. Start here:

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/wts-b-...ade-pipes.html

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by doublebassmusician

I'm sure there's a thread like this around here, but I couldn't find it. So if anyone wants to point me in that direction instead replying feel free.

Anyway, I have a bunch of tobacco related questions today. I've been smoking this aromatic tobacco called "wall street" I got from my local tobbaco store, and I want to try some other type or blend or whatever.
Can anyone reccommend any?

And now the questions....

What is different between aromatic and non-aromatic tobacco?

What are these different tobacco shapes I've seen around here? I've seen rope-like tobacco, flattened rolls of tobacco and others. What's the difference between them?

What are blends? What is different amongst different blends How many type of blends are there?

I second the suggestion to start with the newbie sampler trade.

If you absolutely felt you had to order some baccy because money was burning a hole in your pocket, I would go with the following strategy:

1) Order something that is not an aromatic, but still on the sweeter side of things. I would go with Hearth and Home Anniversary Kake and Hearth and Home Butternut Burley. Both of these baccys are ridiculously low prices, have very little bite, and are good starter tobaccos imho.

2) Order a little bit of everything. Check out tobaccoreviews 4 star rated baccys. Read the reviews and pick what sounds good. I would go with a little of each kind to see what you like. I would start with GL Pease Westminster or Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader as a good representation of an English. I would go with AC Peterson Escudo or Hearth and Home Anniversary Kake as my VaPer. I would go with Rattray's Hal O The Wynd for my Virginian. I would stay away from flake and rope tobaccos until you get down how you want to pack and light ribbon cut baccy. If you have a hard time figuring out rolling out the flake, ect., it can become frustrating quickly. Anni Kake, Escudo, and Hal O The Wynd are a cut a little coarser than the other baccys I mentioned, but they are pretty forgiving as well. Remember, these are all based on my personal tastes and opinion.

Good luck mate!

-Tyler

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by morefifemusicanyone

Good luck mate! -Tyler

I expect, deep down, all contrabass guys envy the fife, piccolo, flute and ukelele guys when it comes time to pack up and transport.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I expect, deep down, all contrabass guys envy the fife, piccolo, flute and ukelele guys when it comes time to pack up and transport.

Personally, I used to chortle at the drummers. That was until my 13 year old son became one.

But even though drums may require more trips, they come in separate crates and are much easier to load than a double bass!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

...they come in separate crates and are much easier to load than a double bass!

I was going to mention drummers but left them out because they don't seem to care. It could be the easier carry or, possibly, years of constant concussion dissolves the part of the brain that houses envy and melody.

[Quick_nick]

You shouldn't key in on just one blend that you want to try instead focus on classifications of blends as it will be much easier to handle. For instance in one order buy a few different straight virginia's that have good reviews. Then try some vaper's, Latakia, and Oriental. If you want a couple suggestion of groups like that then that is easy.

If you say I want to try and English blend or just anything with latakia, then people might say Westminster, Squadron Leader, and Frog Morton. Or you say I want a VaPer, o.k. how bout Scottish Cake, St. James Flake, and Fillmore.

The key for me when I was just starting out is to understand the types of blends not necessarily the names of tobacco just the ingredients in the blends and how those relate to the classification of the blend. ie an English blend a Balkan blend can have the exact same ingredients but it's the variation at which the ingredients are blended that make the classifications different. You could write a book on tobacco, blending, and classification; this type of stuff you will learn as you go just try to read everything you get your hands on.

[DubintheDam]

This is actually very straight forward....go to tobaccoreviews.com.....check the most reviewed top 10 in the 3 star and 4 star ratings....read the reviews and see what you might like....you can also go to smokingpipes.com and check out their 10 top sellers.

There are only 5 types of baccy to choose from....
1. Virginia (citrus and hay, rasins and figs),
2. Burley (nutty and creamy),
3. Latakia/oriental (peat, turf, smokey, salt and pepper)
4. Aromatics...mainly (Vanilla, sugarey and fruity)
5. Navy Blends (sugary with Rum)

ALL tobacco's will fall roughly into these headings, nearly all will use a base of virginia, some will have a sweet sour spicey Perique blend added, some might have Whiskey Brandy in stead of Rum. Some will be a mix of say..ie...Virgina, burley and aromatic, some latakia and Navy...etc...It actually isn't as complex as you might think.