Oriental tobacco. any advice?

**KarlMaldensNose** · 08-31-2012, 01:09 PM

Ever since I took a chance on a tin of Samuel Gawith Skiff Mixture, I've been very much enjoying blends with prominent Oriental flavours. Even though I like latakia and it is technically classified as an Oriental, that's not what I'm referring to here. These blends can include latakia, but it takes a back seat to its less smokey counterparts, like Turkish, Drama, and Yenidje leaves. Some find Orientals tend to be sour and sharp, but I get tangy and sometimes even salty from them instead.

In addition to Skiff Mixture, I recently picked up some Rattray Red Rapparee, which features a strong Oriental component. And the Three Oaks Syrian I also got in the same order tends to give some nice tangy notes. Both are fabulous tobaccos and I highly recommend them. I know about McClelland's Grand Oriental series and plan to smoke my way through all eight of them. McC also has their Oriental #'s 1, 6, 8, 12 and 14 that I hope to eventually get to. I was hoping some of you guys might have experience with Oriental tobaccos and can recommend some of your favourites. Thanks.

**haiku44** · 08-31-2012, 01:29 PM

I do like the grand orientals by mcclelland. Ramback Balkan by daughters and ryan is pretty great also imo.

**KarlMaldensNose** · 08-31-2012, 03:11 PM

Thanks, that's one of things I was hoping for, something from out in left field I probably wouldn't have stumbled upon myself. Did a bit of research on that stuff and it seems that it is (or was) also used for RYO. However, the info I got was from some posts on a RYO forum back in 2007. I seem to remember something about that kind of hybrid tobacco being changed from fine ribbon to shag (or at least something less conducive to RYO) in order to get cig smokers to buy appropriately taxed RYO product. Not that that has any bearing on my interest in it as an Oriental pipe tobacco, I'm just rambling, I guess. Anyway, found some at pipesandcigars for a VERY nice price (compared to other tinned 'baccy)... $6.73 for a 40g can and $24.75 for a 14oz bag! Hope I like this stuff so I can grab a bag. That's seven tins worth of tobacco for less than what we pay for one tin here in Canada. And I'm always a little worried that sooner or later internet tobacco sales will become illegal, at least cross border shipping. I eventually want to build up a hedge stash of around 15 pounds and I can certainly live with $25 per pound.

**joshua1970** · 08-31-2012, 03:13 PM

my fav oriental blend is Red Rapparee by Rattrays, so glad you got a taste of that!!!! delish!

if you enjoy it try Midnight Ride by Dan tobacco :)

yummy

**haiku44** · 08-31-2012, 03:27 PM

It was a RYO tobacco company before the 2400% tax increase on the stuff. They made the switch about a year before all that happened. Ramback Balkan is ribbon cut, and while in theory you could roll a cig with it I can't imagine it would smoke right. It's not quite the quality that McClelland Classic Samsun is but I like it just fine, and yeah it's loads cheaper.

Originally Posted by KarlMaldensNose

Thanks, that's one of things I was hoping for, something from out in left field I probably wouldn't have stumbled upon myself. Did a bit of research on that stuff and it seems that it is (or was) also used for RYO. However, the info I got was from some posts on a RYO forum back in 2007. I seem to remember something about that kind of hybrid tobacco being changed from fine ribbon to shag (or at least something less conducive to RYO) in order to get cig smokers to buy appropriately taxed RYO product. Not that that has any bearing on my interest in it as an Oriental pipe tobacco, I'm just rambling, I guess. Anyway, found some at pipesandcigars for a VERY nice price (compared to other tinned 'baccy)... $6.73 for a 40g can and $24.75 for a 14oz bag! Hope I like this stuff so I can grab a bag. That's seven tins worth of tobacco for less than what we pay for one tin here in Canada. And I'm always a little worried that sooner or later internet tobacco sales will become illegal, at least cross border shipping. I eventually want to build up a hedge stash of around 15 pounds and I can certainly live with $25 per pound.