Pipe Tobacco: Orientals

Oriental pipe tobaccos represent a fascinating journey through the fragrances and flavors of distant lands. 

Originating mainly from the Balkan, Turkish, and Middle Eastern regions, these tobaccos are distinguished by a rich and complex sensory experience, ideal for enthusiasts looking for something different from classic Virginia and Burley. 

In this article, we will explore the origins, varieties and peculiarities of Oriental pipe tobaccos, revealing their invaluable contribution to the art of pipe smoking.

History of Oriental pipe tobaccos

It was Spanish traders who first brought the seeds of the American Nicotiana Tabacum to Turkey.

This new crop began to expand outside the area of the Ottoman Empire beginning in the 1600s, more specifically in the Mediterranean and Balkan regions.

Because of this, the plant adapted to different terroirs, giving rise to different native variants, which, however, have in common the small leaf size (due to the low nutrient content in those soils), but also the intense and characteristic aromaticity.

It can be said that Orientals began to be sought after in the early 1900s, soon being included in the American Blend formula, along with Virginia and Burley.

Production of this type of tobacco covers 16% of total production and is concentrated in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria, but over time it has also expanded to Southern Italy (where they go by the name of Levantini), Albania, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Asia, most notably Thailand and southern Russia.

Characteristics of Oriental pipe tobaccos

Oriental tobaccos are Sun-Cured (here is our in-depth look at pipe tobacco curing), taking advantage of the sunny growing areas.

The variety of Oriental tobaccos is really wide, in fact there are more than 40. The best known and most widespread are: Basma, Drama, Dubeck, Izmir, Kavalla, Samsun, Xanthi and Yenidje.

To analyze all of them would make this article an encyclopedic treatise, so we simply describe the characteristics of the most popular varieties.

We begin with Basma, a tobacco grown mainly in Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria, which has given rise to other varieties, all of which share small leaves and delicate aromas. The Greek one is considered the most valuable.

The aromatic bouquet is rich and sweet, in which the citrus aroma stands out, and the concentration of nicotine and sugars is remarkable.

Then we have Izmir, the most cultivated and widespread Oriental tobacco; in fact, it constitutes 50% of the total production of Orientals.

It is a very aromatic tobacco, tending toward sour, with a high concentration of sugars and essential oils and low nicotine levels.

Interesting how the apical leaves of Izmir are used in the production of Latakia.

Another variety of Orientals is Samsun, with its heart-shaped leaves.

It is grown in the Black Sea area, on terraces overlooking the sea, and is cured more slowly than the average Oriental, having characteristics more akin to "Air-Cured."

The tobaccos we have described are only a part of Orientals, but the list is much longer.

How do Oriental pipe tobaccos affect smoking

Ultimately Orientals are useful tobaccos to correct any harshness in the blend, perhaps to make it a little more aromatic or sweeten it.

In general they have a natural, very spicy aroma.

It is an essential ingredient in the classic English Mixture and we could almost consider it the "liquor" of the blend, because it enriches the aroma.

What are the best Oriental pipe tobaccos

Let's look together at some of the best pipe tobaccos with Orientals:

• Samuel Gawith Skiff Mixture
• Samuel Gawith Perfection
• Brebbia Flake No. 9
• Brebbia Balkan
• Davidoff Oriental Mixture
• Peterson My Mixture 965
• Peterson Nightcap
• Robert McConnell Scottish Blend
• Timm London Blend 1000