Latakia (tobacco)

It originated in Syria and is named after its major port city of Latakia, though large production has permanently moved to Cyprus due to varying and compounding sociopolitical issues within Syrian borders.

What sets Latakia apart from other fire-cured tobaccos is the use of heavy volumes of smoke from both dried and live material from aromatic woods.

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 preservation as the smoke from the open wood fires used for heat and light would slowly dry and cure food over time.

[3] There are many debates on the specific type of tobacco seed or variety used to produce Syrian Latakia and there is little data as manufacturers at the time either did not keep record or they were purposely destroyed by the company.

Fumigation is carried out in the mountains of Syria inside of simple barns (akin to a smoke house) made of brick or block with earthen floors and no ventilation.

[5] It is also commonly thought by Western tobacco blenders that some processors use a variety of material found growing near the barns and do not make a particular recipe or blend.

[6] The taste and aroma of Syrian Latakia is considered mild, floral, spiced, and with wood smoke and tart flavors similar to wine.

[7] Charles Dickens spoke on Syrian Latakia and the current ruler of Syria at the time, stating, "the best Syrian tobacco, generally allowed to be superior to all others, is the Latakia, produced in the neighborhood of the city of that name, the ancient and renowned port of Laodicea, and which to be the present day, has a not inconsiderable trade.

[9] Moreover, there are accounts from the late 19th century suggesting that Syria was growing both N. rustica and N. tabacum; "On most varieties the color of the flowers is pink excepting Syrian or Latakia which bears yellow flowers while those of Shiraz or Persian and Guatemala are white while those of the Japan tobacco, are purple", "A field of Latakia tobacco presents a novel appearance, the short straight plants with their ovate leaves bearing yellow blossoms form a striking contrast to towering seed leaf rising fully two or three feet higher than the Syrian plant".

During the harvesting season and when the leaves have ripened, the plant is cut from the top first into three pieces called "strings", each about 9 inches (230 mm) long.

The "strings" are then either hung on frames for curing (as is done in Syria) or the method more commonly adopted in Cyprus is to lay them on the ground for sun-curing.

Firing first occurs for a few days with slightly aromatic material like myrtle followed by heavier volumes of hard wood, such as pine or oak, for the purpose of producing a considerable heat in order to dry out the leaf.

Helmut Fischer of the British-American Tobacco Company in July 1964 gave a list of woods used in Cyprus including percentages as follows:[10] Mastic - Pistacia centiscus: 90% Myrtle - Myrtus communis romana: 4% Stone pine - Pinus pinea pinus pinaster: 4% Cypress tree - Cypressus sempervirens: 1% Konison- ?

The final product is dark, almost black in color, obtains a flexible leather-like texture, and emits an intense aroma.

The construction of the Baghdad and Hedjaz railways created a large need for firewood as the locomotives were still powered with wood rather than coal.

This coupled with overharvesting, the ravages of the Second World War, and then later with the tobacco industry led to local government restrictions set in place to promote restoration.

There is not one event that has caused its demise but a mixture of conflict, regulations and politics, and recent sanctions placed on Syria during its civil war.

Of the many categories of blends found throughout the world, the most prominent use of Latakia are in those of the English and Balkan pipe tobacco varieties.

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.

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.