Tobacco Selections: Orientals

Oriental is a unique and interesting varietal of small-leafed, sun-cured tobacco that varies considerably in flavor profile depending on the grade, offering notes ranging from bright citrus to deep, earthy spice. It's also the base-leaf from which Latakia is made (after a prolonged period of fire-curing). On this episode of Tobacco Selections, our head blender Jeremy Reeves takes a closer look at our two main grades of Orientals -- Basma (from Greece) and Izmir (from Turkey) -- explaining their individual flavor profiles, as well as how they work together or with other components in a blend. Enjoy!