Guide to Types of Pipe Tobacco

Every pipe smoking experience is an interesting one, largely influenced by the proper selection of tobacco. Pipe tobacco is produced in an overwhelming variety of types, each with its unique flavor profile, aroma, and smoking characteristics. Let’s dive into the world of pipe tobacco and explore some popular types, blends, and their production processes.

Virginia

Virginia tobacco is an absolute classic renowned for its natural sweetness and subtle citrus notes. It often has a "grassy" or "hay-like" aroma that matures and sweetens with age. The color spectrum of Virginia tobacco ranges from yellowish to dark red, with darker shades providing a more pronounced sweetness and complexity. Virginia forms the base of many tobacco blends.

The strength of tobacco based on nicotine content is typically medium to strong.

Production: Virginia tobacco leaves undergo a drying process using flues that bring hot air from an external heat source. This process dries the leaves and gives them their characteristic sweetness.

Popular types of Virginia tobacco are Bright Leaf, Red Virginia, and Old Belt.

Examples of tobaccos based on Virginia:

• Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake
• Orlik Golden Sliced
• Mac Baren Virginia No. 1
• Peter Stokkebo Virginia Flake
• Cornell & Diehl Briar Fox

Burley

Burley tobacco is often air-dried and is characterized by its low sugar content (lower than Virginia) and high nicotine content. It has a nutty, earthy, and slightly bitter taste. Burley is often used as a base for many pipe tobacco blends because it provides a neutral foundation on which other tobaccos can shine.

Burley-based tobaccos include, for example:

• Sir Walter Raleigh Regular
• McClelland's No. 5100 Red Cake
• Kentucky Club Mixture
• Edgeworth Ready Rubbed
• Prince Albert (Original)

Latakia

Classic Latakia comes from Syria or Cyprus and is known for its smoky, spicy flavor. It is often used in English and Balkan blends, adding a distinctive smoky aroma and full taste.
Latakia is dried over a fire of aromatic woods and herbs, which give the tobacco leaves their characteristic smoky aroma reminiscent of leather.

Famous Latakia tobaccos include, for example:

• Peterson Nightcap
• Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader
• Cornell & Diehl Pirate Kake
• McClelland's Frog Morton

Perique

Perique undergoes a specific fermentation process, during which the leaves are tightly wrapped and pressed in barrels. The result is a unique, pronounced flavor and aroma. Therefore, it is usually used in blends with other types of tobacco.

The production of Perique tobacco takes place mainly in St. James Parish in Louisiana. Among pipe tobaccos with a significant proportion of Perique are:

• Escudo Navy De Luxe
• Cornell & Diehl Bayou Morning
• G. L. Pease Haddo's Delight
• C&D Pegasus
• GLP Abingdon
• Solani 633

Oriental

Oriental (Turkish) tobaccos usually come from the Middle East (e.g. Smyrna, Basma, and Yenidje). They are sun-dried and are typically added to English and Balkan blends.

Examples of oriental tobaccos:

• Peterson Balkan Mixture
• Peterson Early Morning Pipe
• Balkan Assembly
• Hearth & Home Margate
• Sutliff 515 RC-1
• G. L. Pease Chelsea Morning

Kentucky

Kentucky tobacco, also known as Dark-Fired Kentucky, is a distinctive dark variety used in pipe tobacco blends. It is closely related to Burley tobacco, but it differs significantly due to the drying process that gives it a unique smoky and earthy flavor.
Thanks to fire curing, Kentucky has a stronger and richer flavor than regular Burley. Therefore, it is added to strong, full tobacco blends and sometimes replaces Latakia in English-style tobaccos.

Famous tobaccos from Kentucky:

• Peterson Irish Flake (Kentucky, Virginia, and Burley)
• Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired (Kentucky and Virginia)
• Cornell & Diehl Big 'n Burley (Burley predominates with Kentucky and Latakia)
• Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake (Kentucky with Virginia)
• Rattray's Stirling Flake (Kentucky, Virginia and Burley)