Mac Baren Latakia Blend
(2.43)
A "roll cake" tobacco, spun from well matured Virginia and cavendish with a special touch of latakia, bringing out a fresh and wonderful aroma. The tin description reports: whole Virginia leaves that are specially selected are used as wrapper for all our spun tobaccos. The inlay for this very special blend is a mix of Virginia, original Mac Baren cavendish and just a touch of Syrian Latakia leaves. In combination these tobaccos give Latakia Blend its fresh and satisfying smoke. Like all our spun tobaccos only a little top flavour has been added. These tobaccos are the closest you get to the natural tobacco taste.
Notes: Introduced in 1964.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Extremely Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.43 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 16 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2021 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Unnoticeable |
A well known and famous pipe club member was at the meeting about a week ago and brought this tin in dated October, 1997. 24 years. This tobacco comes in some nice dark brown coins about the size of a quarter. Note from this website: “Introduced in 1964. NOTE: This long-time blend is no longer in production because of the relatively low amount of latakia in it. However, the company has plans to re-name it and release the excellent blend again.” This is an excellent smoke if you like no Latakia, in a blend that says ‘LATAKIA BLEND’ and underneath “STRAIGHT”. Also, on the website description is “…. just a touch of Syrian latakia leaves”. Seeing how this antique was made in ’97 there very well could be Syrian in this batch but unfortunately probably only a few strands as I, like several other reviewers find this completely lacking in Latakia. I find it amusing that it was discontinued due to the relatively low amount of Latakia. What happened, they get sued for false advertising? Most everyone at the club liked it sans the “L” word and I later at home smoked two large bowls and found it smooth, mild and pleasant somewhat along the P.S. Bullseye tobacco that I have had in the past. If this had been called any other name probably a 3 star but judging this as a “L” blend I am forced to give it a 1 star. I have not had the new version and it is probably very good. Too bad they could not have started a new review category for the re-release as to get a better review status. I am glad to have been able to try something so old and rare.
Pipe Used:
Briar
Age When Smoked:
24 Years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2013 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
To dispel notions that I'm a MacBaren hater I have given 4 stars to Old Dark Fired and Mature Virginia and 3(1/2) stars to Mixture Flake and Vintage Syrian. But I'm sorry, I've gone through the one tin of LatBlend that I had ordered by mistake while ordering the forementioned and I have questions -- why is the word "Latakia" even in the name (taste no trace of it)?, how can so obviously cared for and beautifully presented spun cut tobacco be so seemingly lacking when it comes to quality/curing of the leaf and overall blending?, where's the cavendish as I taste only harsh virginia?, and how can presumably good quality tobacco be so acrid and rough when there is no casing or flavoring to blame? Oh well, if you enjoy it continue to do so but as an impartial review I think what I've said is fair. Doesn't do it no matter what taste profile excites you.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 26, 2011 | Overwhelming | Strong | Overwhelming | Strong |
I have been a pipe smoker for about 30 years, and this is undoubtedly the worst tobacco I have ever put in my pipe. Whoever named this "Latakia Blend," must be a moron. I don't detect any latakia. It's just strong, bad tasting tobacco. The first bowl, it was so bad, I couldn't smoke half the bowl. I waited a few days to give it another chance, and this time, about half a dozen puffs, and that was enough for me. I haven't smoked many of Mac Baren's blends, actually two--HH Vintage Syrian and Plumcake. Vintage Syrian is pretty good, although there are many other blends out there that I like better and are less expensive. It's been years since I smoked Plumcake, but used to like it. Bottom line, unless recommended by a fellow smoker with similar tastes, I don't plan on ever buying a Mac Baren blend again. Even then, I might not, because really calling this Latakia Blend is misrepresentation, in my opinion. This is just, plain, foul tobacco and shouldn't be for human consumption! It's a shame, you can't give it negative stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 19, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I don?t like it all. It usually seems to smoke hot and wet, and it has nothing to offer in compensation for that terrible fault. I?ve tried drying it and storing it ? but there?s nothing worth having in this tin, pretty as it is. On a good day it?s flat and quite undistinguished with nothing going on. On a bad day it?s like drinking boiling, sugar-flavoured, nicotine oil. Look elsewhere.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 31, 2008 | Very Mild | Very Mild | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant |
Let me first say that I like a lot of MB's offering, especially Plumcake, which is one of my all-time favorite aromatics.
I went in to Latakia Blend having read the reviews below. I was fully prepared to not actually taste one iota of latakia. However, I was hoping to actually taste something....but all I got was hot air. Even if you really like mild tobaccos (an I do) DO NOT purchase this. You will be left disappointed.
If you stuck in the unlikely scenario of having this be the ONLY pipe tobacco available to you....go buy decent cigarettes and smoke them like small cigars - at least they will have SOME kind of flavor.
The only nice thing I can say about Latakia Blend is that it has a nice, mild room note. But seriously...if all I wanted was a nice room smell with out a taste in my mouth or nicotine I would burn incense.
I went in to Latakia Blend having read the reviews below. I was fully prepared to not actually taste one iota of latakia. However, I was hoping to actually taste something....but all I got was hot air. Even if you really like mild tobaccos (an I do) DO NOT purchase this. You will be left disappointed.
If you stuck in the unlikely scenario of having this be the ONLY pipe tobacco available to you....go buy decent cigarettes and smoke them like small cigars - at least they will have SOME kind of flavor.
The only nice thing I can say about Latakia Blend is that it has a nice, mild room note. But seriously...if all I wanted was a nice room smell with out a taste in my mouth or nicotine I would burn incense.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 10, 2008 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The very worse excuse for a blend with "Latakia" on the label that I have ever encoutered. For all practical purposes, this is Navy Flake, Mixture or any one of the Mac Baren offerings that taste exactly the same.
There is certainly no sigificant amount of Latakia in this blend, if any.
Don't say you weren't warned.
There is certainly no sigificant amount of Latakia in this blend, if any.
Don't say you weren't warned.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 30, 2007 | Mild | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I'd rather smoke a cigarette than smoke Latakia Blend.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 13, 2006 | Extremely Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Unnoticeable |
This stuff tasted like hot air. I pinched the dark center out of a dozzen or so coins and smoked the dark stuff straight: More hot air. I gave it to a friend who smokes cigarettes and she says it tastes like a Camel.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 15, 2004 | Extremely Mild | Mild | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant |
What a cruel joke! A touch of latakia? This tobacco was touched with a piece of latakia, then the latakia was put aside.
Well, this is one of those Danish type blends where most of the tobacco has syrup all over it,and the tobacco used is Burley and some Virginia. Like most of Mac Baren's pipe tobaccos blends,(except for Burley ,and Golden extra),they bite like a snapping turtle.
This tobacco however is mild,very mild,with yes, a tiny tiny amount of Latikia spun into the disks. It has a nautral tobacco-y room note. However,you may like this blend and that's fine,I think this tobacco sucks.
Well, this is one of those Danish type blends where most of the tobacco has syrup all over it,and the tobacco used is Burley and some Virginia. Like most of Mac Baren's pipe tobaccos blends,(except for Burley ,and Golden extra),they bite like a snapping turtle.
This tobacco however is mild,very mild,with yes, a tiny tiny amount of Latikia spun into the disks. It has a nautral tobacco-y room note. However,you may like this blend and that's fine,I think this tobacco sucks.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 04, 2004 | Extremely Mild | None Detected | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I couldn't really taste the Latakia, nor anything else for that matter. I'll go elsewhere to satisfy my Latakia cravings.
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