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About pipe
tobacco and hand rolling tobacco
Pipe smoking
in Europe dates back over fifteen hundred years, pre-Columbus in
fact. However it was five hundred years ago when tobacco was found
growing extensively around the New World and the Caribbean that
it became widespread. Over the past two hundred years the local
tobacconists and importers developed the brands we have today.
Six types of
leaf are in general use for tobacco blending:
- Virginia,
a sweet tasting and light tobacco with widespread usage.
- Burley, a
mild, air-cured tobacco used as a base in blending.
- Maryland,
another mild, air-cured tobacco used as a base in blending.
- Kentucky,
a dark, fire cured tobacco with a smoky aroma. Used as a flavour
in pipe tobacco.
- Perique,
a blue-black, highly aromatic tobacco, used as a seasoner to provide
taste and aroma.
- Latakia,
a sun-cured oriental tobacco, with a spicy, smoky aroma, largely
grown in Turkey and Cyprus.
The secret of
good tobacco is in the blending process, with top brand blends being
jealously guarded. The range and choice is vast and the beginner
should mix expert guidance with trial and error to find the right
blend. Bear in mind that a light, fine-cut tobacco will be easy
to keep alight but burn hotter and faster, while a moist, coarse,
heavy mix will give a cooler smoke and burn more slowly but require
more expertise to keep it alight.
When in doubt,
talk to one of Purdy and Tully’s members of staff, they will
be happy to give you help and advice.
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