Latakia

Over 100 years ago in Northern Syria, after an unusually large crop, the unsold tobacco plants were hung from the roofs of the peasant houses and accidentally cured in the smoke from the fires used for heating. The result was a tobacco with a strong taste never before experienced which made an excellent flavouring agent in a blend. Today the entire plant, including flowers, is cured over smoke of a fire (traditionally of cyprus wood) including various aromatic herbs. It normally constitutes up to 15% of a blend. The tobaccos are often marked "Oriental".

The Taste of Latakia:
A distinctive smoky flavour

Blending with Latakia:
Pure Latakia is available - Houseblend No.19 - about 10-15% of a blend. Rub it out well, mix thoroughly and allow the blend to stand for a few days for the flavour to permeate.
Ideal to remove an excessively sweet taste without affecting the aroma too much.

The Mystique of Perique

During the 18th Century, a small group of Acadians of French descent was forced out of Nova Scotia through religious persecution. They settled in the Bayou Teche region of Louisiana. An unusual form of tobacco was being cultivated by the Indian inhabitants, and one of the settlers, Pierre "Perique" Chenet, undertook to learn all about this tobacco.

The method the Indians used was to dry the leaves for a few days, form them into twists, pack the twists tightly into a hollow tree stump standing on end, and then apply pressure by means of a lever and a heavy stone. The leaves were removed, redried and repressed several times until sufficiently mellow.
Today's process is essentially the same as it was then, using slightly more up-to-date machinery. Up to 30 tons of pressure is applied gradually over several days causing the tobacco to ferment in its juices. The high pressure acts as a preservative in this fermentation process. After about a month the tobacco is removed from its barrel, softened and repacked. This is repeated, until in about 12 to 18 months the highly aromatic, black tobacco is ready for sale.
About 20 farms situated in the St. James Parish of Louisiana form the only area in the world where Perique is grown and processed.
It is used as a condimental or flavouring tobacco, and a very small percentage will impart the rich flavour and aristocratic aroma acclaimed by its devotees. Tobaccos containing Perique are very suitable for "after dinner" smoking.

The Taste of Perique:
Our classic blend is Perique Navy Cut (No.58).

Blending with Perique:
Try mixing a little of No.58 (well-rubbed) with your favourite blend, maybe 10% - 15%.
Or try an old favourite - 15/58 (Nos.15 and 58 mixed 50:50)

Don't forget, when you're testing a new blend, to concentrate on the flavour.
If the flavour is right, but the tobacco burns hot, keeps going out,
or some such problem, then it can usually be adjusted.
Read "The Perfect Blend".