Blending

[BarG]

It would be Samsun Maden.

I realize Don doesn't sell this, that's why you have to grow it yourself.
I have not noticed much of a difference between Prilep and Izmir

I grew some samsun last year[ seeds from leverhead black sea samsun]
Anyway my mix this month is my homegrown virginias this year , wlt's red flue cured , marlyand ,samsun, red burley[BigBonner ] a little lemon wlt flue cured, and bursa.. The samsun adds an aromatic touch that I like. All tobaccos have been kilned except the virginias. I realy like the maryland 609 so there is a lot of that and not that much samsun to add the flavor.

 

[DonH]

It would be Samsun Maden.

I realize Don doesn't sell this, that's why you have to grow it yourself.
I have not noticed much of a difference between Prilep and Izmir

Interesting. To me there is a huge difference between WLT's Izmir and Prilep. Prilep is much lighter and more aromatic. For the Turkish component I like 2/3 Izmir and 1/3 Prilep. Or half and half.

 

[leverhead]

Interesting. To me there is a huge difference between WLT's Izmir and Prilep. Prilep is much lighter and more aromatic. For the Turkish component I like 2/3 Izmir and 1/3 Prilep. Or half and half.

Alright, now I've got to try it.

 

[jwit76]

I've noticed a number of your state that you kiln your tobacco. I understand the purpose of a kiln when it relates to lumber, I also understand the concept of toasting burley or maryland in the oven, but what are the primary benefits of kilning a leaf that has already been cured? Does it have something to do with aging the leaf?

 

[BarG]

All I can tell you is that it vastly improves raw unaged leaf. Particularly cigar leaf but I use on my cig. leaf as well. There is a chemical process that occurs within the leaf similar to pile fermenting by maintaining a certain temp and humidity usualy in the 110-125 degree range and a humidity enough to keep the leaf in case but not to dry or damp. and don't get me to lying saying I know what the process that occurs in the leaf is.

I am into lumber also and have used solar kilns to cut years to months in drying lumber.Just like that but different for kilning tobacco.

 

[deluxestogie]

Kilning (~125ºF and 70-85% RH) for 30 days changes tobacco leaf in a way similar to 1 to 2 years of natural aging. This is done after color-curing.

Bob

 

[jwit76]

Does anyone else get a extreme nic hit when handling WLT for processing? Maybe it's just me. I watch these cigar rollers in central America not only handling baccy all day with bare hands, but smoking at the same time. Hardcore.

 

[DGBAMA]

Does anyone else get a extreme nic hit when handling WLT for processing? Maybe it's just me. I watch these cigar rollers in central America not only handling baccy all day with bare hands, but smoking at the same time. Hardcore.

In processing/harvesting fresh leaf, yes; it is called "green tobacco sickness". Handling cured tobacco, I don't know of problems, but nicotine is very transdermal, so damp skin and high case tobacco could result in nicotine overdose symptoms.

Nicotine patches work based on this principle.

 

[DGBAMA]

I do smoke less while processing leaf, but could not tell you if that is because I am busy or because nicotine is being absorbed through my skin.

 

[leverhead]

Does anyone else get a extreme nic hit when handling WLT for processing? Maybe it's just me. I watch these cigar rollers in central America not only handling baccy all day with bare hands, but smoking at the same time. Hardcore.

I noticed it when I first started handling whole leaf, I don't notice it too much any more. Washing my hands before or during handling makes it worse. The worst bite I've had was wringing out wet Tombac bare handed, I had soaked it before use it the Hookah.

 

[jwit76]

Yea, I'm sitting there processing my WLT via poor man's method with a kitchen knife, so I'm really handling it for about an hour. Then I roll the wife and I a sample to try and as we're sitting on the deck puffing away, the world starts spinning. Oh boy, hold it in man! It was dark so the wife didn't notice me sweating my ass off, but I held it down. It gave me the smack down for sure.

 

[istanbulin]

Interesting. To me there is a huge difference between WLT's Izmir and Prilep. Prilep is much lighter and more aromatic. ...

Actually, I avoided leaving comments about the difference between Prilep and İzmir up to now because I thought it might be seen biased. Honestly, there's a huge difference between them. Prilep has more nicotine, stronger, and is less aromatic than İzmir. İzmir has a great smell and aroma and less nicotine in it. To me, Prilep can't compete with İzmir. Of course their aromatic characteristics are different so this is why people have different wievs about them. On the other hand, my general choice through Orientals is Samsun Maden so I agree with Jitterbugdude.

 

[deluxestogie]

istanbulin,
In my growing and handling, I've found the opposite to be true: the Prilep is milder in nicotine, and much richer in aroma. I don't know if this is attributable to my specific growing and curing methods, or my soil conditions. Additionally, the productivity of my Prilep 66-9/7 is nearly double that (by weight per plant and weight per sq. ft. of growing area) of my Izmir Ozbas, mostly as a result of the much higher leaf count for the same stalk height in the Prilep.

Bob

EDIT: I began to laugh as I re-read this post. Here I am, in Virginia, arguing with a skilled scientist in Turkey about Turkish tobacco. I'm untrainable.

 

[istanbulin]

I should have written that my observations were for WLT İzmir and WLT Prilep. Different grown and cured leaves taste different, my own grow of İzmir last year was just a waste of time, it cured and tasted poorly. You're right about the productivity of Prilep, it's the best characteristic of the variety.

 

[ArizonaDave]

istanbulin,
In my growing and handling, I've found the opposite to be true: the Prilep is milder in nicotine, and much richer in aroma. I don't know if this is attributable to my specific growing and curing methods, or my soil conditions. Additionally, the productivity of my Prilep 66-9/7 is nearly double that (by weight per plant and weight per sq. ft. of growing area) of my Izmir Ozbas, mostly as a result of the much higher leaf count for the same stalk height in the Prilep.

Bob

EDIT: I began to laugh as I re-read this post. Here I am, in Virginia, arguing with a skilled scientist in Turkey about Turkish tobacco. I'm untrainable.

Experience with such tobacco as you have done counts too!

 

[smoker]

I find the Prillep more aromatic. Nicoteen is not a concern since it's only a small part of my blends. You need to use less of the Prilep so i use it to compliment the Izmir more or less.

A blend I've been mixing in the morning is 80% Virginia Redleaf flue-cured 15% double toasted burley and 5% Izmir/Prilep. The flavor of the redleaf comes out and it's sweet, spicy, and toasty. Reminds me of cinimmon toast actually. Good at breakfast time.

I use scissors not a knife. I de-vein strips and roll it up like a cigar and cut crossways then pull it apart gently. Works for me.

 

[jwit76]

I was reading through an older post relating to steaming the leaves first prior to shredding. I wonder if this would take the place of toasting, or be in conjunction with?

 

[CT Tobaccoman]

I was reading through an older post relating to steaming the leaves first prior to shredding. I wonder if this would take the place of toasting, or be in conjunction with?

I would think that the steaming was to get the leaves in case, "damp" enough to be handled and not to break and crumble during the stemming. I don't know if "toasting" does anything much-- I consider it a "marketing word" of American Tobacco Co. or Ligget & Myers for Camels or Luckys, in the old days. I only "toast" shredded cigarette tobacco if it has become overdamp.

Some people apparently do "toast" tobacco. I don't know why.

CT

 

[DonH]

Toasting Burley cuts the harshness and makes it smoother in cigarettes. Toasting flue cured types reduces the tongue bite in pipe blends.

 

[BKtx]

My every day smoke is very simple: 35% Flue Cured Virginia Bright Leaf (unprocessed but mid-stem removed) and 65% TN90 Burley (toasted). I experiment a lot but I always return to this simple blend. It has more Burley than your average cigarette, but I like a stout smoke.

I've been trying to achieve the perfect blend for several months now. Most of the post in this thread I can certainly relate to. Dons red leaf is absolutely my favorite base and for awhile I was using combos of red, lemon,cutter,Maryland, burley and both of WLT Turkish. Toasting and casing in all types of different ways.
WLT ran out of burley so I got in touch with BigBonner for some red tip and regular burley, good stuff also btw. Anyway, just fiddling around one day .I went about 40% on the burley(cased and toasted at 250 for 20 min.), 50% on the Red and 10% on Prilep . I liked the taste right off, so I sat it aside to meld for about 10 days. Well,I'm one happy son of a gun and have been tweaking on similar blends+/- 10 % on the burley! adding a little Maryland. But that blend I just listed is just the way I like it.
The funny thing to me was I didn't expect the smoothness and a far less harsh smoke from a blend that heavy on the burley. But for me, it's perfect. I really have enjoyed this thread, keep it going, and thanks for all the info.