Latakia (tobacco)
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Latakia tobacco (Arabic: تبغ اللاذقية) is a sun-dried and smoke-cured tobacco product. Its origins come from Syria and is named after its major port city of Latakia, though large production has moved to Cyprus due to recent strife within Syrian borders. Latakia was potentially discovered by accident when a bumper crop resulted in surplus tobacco. The farmers stored the excess tobacco in the rafters of their home; which at the time was an effective way of preserving food stuffs until the following spring. This process of low temperature smoke curing over six months or more is one of the defining factors of its complex aroma.
Latakia when burned, has a characteristic wood smoke aroma accompanied by floral sweet undertones. Latakia is traditionally found within pipe tobacco blends, although some avant-garde cigar and cigarette producers use it as well. The majority of pipe blends use Latakia as a condiment, a tobacco that does not represent the majority of the blend but is instead used to add complexity and to control its burn rate.[citation needed]
Production
Tobacco grown within the arid desert climate of the Middle East is known in the tobacco industry as Oriental Tobacco. Compared to the tobacco plant most commonly grown in the western world (Mostly using the Nicotiana tabacum variety) which is 6ft on average and has up to 24 forearm-sized leaves, oriental tobacco plants (which generally consists of the Nicotiana rustica) are roughly 2-3ft in height with up to 100 palm-sized to hand-sized leaves. However, though Oriental Tobaccos are traditionally made using Nicotiana rustica, Latakia traditionally uses the larger leaf size of Nicotiana tabacum; although still producing a smaller leaf size compared to those grown in western countries. though this is tradition, this may vary depending on availability and stability of the region.
When the leaves are ready, they are harvested and are loosely stitched together. This is necessary to prevent heavy wind from blowing them away (a practice not seen in Western tobacco manufacturing). They are then initially sun-cured like other Turkish tobaccos[1] over wooden dowels placed on a A-frame construction facing the sun. They are then further cured in barns over controlled fires of aromatic pine and oak woods along with fragrant herbs. After 6 months of curing, the tobacco becomes dark, almost black in color, obtains a flexible leather-like texture, and an emits an intense aroma. From there, it is packaged and sent to producers of tobacco products.
The Arab Republic of Syria has had several conflicts since its independence in 1920 and this has made the availability of Latakia tobacco very expensive, causing demand and prices to increase.[citation needed] Many tobacco blend producers sought Latakia grown and produced in many other areas of the Middle East before settling on the island of Cyprus. At first, tobacco was grown in Syria and then shipped to Cyprus to be barn-cured. However, the recent Syrian Civil War halted most if not all of the production of exportable tobacco. Because of this, Cyprus remains as the major grower and producer of Latakia tobacco.
Use in tobacco blends
Latakia is primarily used in making pipe tobacco blends. Of the many categories of blends found through out the world, the most prominent use of Latakia are in those of the English Pipe Tobacco variety. This is so much so that to be considered an English mixture, a blend must contain some percentage of Latakia tobacco. English pipe mixtures became famous for the distinct flavor of Latakia, due to its rarity outside of the Middle East.[citation needed] Because the British Empire had interests within Syria and the surrounding areas, the import of Latakia as well as other oriental tobaccos to the British Isles were common place, but not much elsewhere in Western Europe and the Americas. Because of this, many pipe smokers outside of the British empire (and even within, as many blenders kept their recipes secret) historically knew only of Latakia through the unique taste and smell of the blends they purchased from English merchants. Much like many tobacco blends, the basis of English blends is made of a combination of Virginia Tobacco or Burley Tobacco either by themselves or blended together. Latakia and other Oriental tobaccos are added in small amounts to finish the mixture.
Since the resurgence in pipe smoking in the late 90's and the increase in popularity of non-traditional blends and flavors, latakia has taken on many new roles. Many blenders use latakia is conjunction with warm flavors such as chocolate or vanilla in aromatic blends (tobacco blends consisting of any mixture of tobacco with added natural or artificial flavors) to highlight key notes the blender is looking for. Furthermore, Latakia is no longer relegated to being a condiment tobacco. modern blenders have made successful recipes consisting of up to 50% latakia, though generally regarded as robust blends and not for those who are looking for a lighter flavor. Moreover, Latakia has been used by companies such as Drew Estate Cigars in many of their non-traditional naturally flavored cigars.[citation needed]
Perfume
A modern perfume called Fumerie Turque (Turkish Smoke) was created by French company Serge Lutens, reproducing a fragrance in emulation of Latakia tobacco.[2]