Tobaccos Peretti - Oriental No. 40 (English Blends)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2015-03-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a lovely, light, mild and elegant tasting blend with a mellow pepperiness and a sweet finish. This is not the type of mixture that a blending house just throws together. Something like this takes time to perfect. Oriental No. 40 is like a fine Pilsner style beer. The flavors are balanced, simple and understated. It produces a beautiful musky aroma, that quintessential Oriental scent if you will.

I taste many flavor references here, a bit of Tashkent, slight hints of Royal Blend, even slivers of Presbyterian & Dunhill London Mixture. The smoke is delicate and airy, yet remarkably flavorful. It burns clean and leaves my palate feeling somewhat dry but oddly refreshed. I can see where smoking this might have some pipers wanting for strength, but for a mild, flavorful, expertly balanced Oriental smoke with a dashing aroma, this is really tough to beat.

One thing I found is that Oriental No. 40 behaves much like a bright sugary straight Virginian. It is at its best when smoked at a slow sip. Lets just say that this blend is less forgiving of heavy puffing and it can turn bitter and even bite if overheated. Aside from that, I have found much enjoyment smoking this one.

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2018-02-27		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The floral, fairly spicy, woody, earthy, leathery, herbal, lightly salty and creamy buttery sweet, dry, sour and slightly bitter Orientals also have a few “unflavored soda” notes as the lead component. The smoky, musty, woody, earthy, incense-like sweet Cyprian Latakia plays a back up role. The strength is a couple steps shy of the medium threshold while the taste is just past medium. The nic-hit is a little closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it has a couple rough edges. Burns fairly cool and very clean at a moderate pace with a deeply rich, consistent mildly sweet and more spicy, savory flavor from top to bottom that translates to the lightly lingering after taste. Gets a little more bitter in the last third of the pipe. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. It tends to leave one with some dryness and tongue tingle from the spice in the mouth, so have a drink handy. Not an all day smoke.

-JimInks

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mongo (10)	2007-12-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tin aroma is chock-full of pungent orientals and a bit of smokiness from the Latakia. The cut is short-to-medium, a mixture of tan to medium brown ribbons, and the tobacco is at the perfect moisture level. (They're definately not selling water.) Oriental #40 packs easily into a bowl of any size and lights without fuss. The initial flavor is a full-on blast of Orientals...a very strong, musty flavor. Things settle down quickly, and the smoke is both spicy and salty on the tongue. Along with the expected mustiness from the Orientals and smokiness from the Latakia, there are minor notes of sour fruit and leather here, along with something like nutmeg. (These are just impressions, not actual flavorings.) The smoke feels dry, and the tobacco smokes dry in the pipe. Oriental #40 requires less attention than any other tobacco I know, rarely needing a re-light and never causing a gurgle in the pipe. This tobacco cannot bite, and tastes good throughout the bowl. When it's gone, I always want more.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	derlict311 (71)	2011-06-22		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

For a pure oriental mixture, I can't imagine having a more well rounded, tangy and supple smoke. The quality is exceptional and the taste is supurb. Don't expect a knocked down experience, though, as it is quite mild, but makes a fantastic morning smoke or first bowl of the day (translation: low nicotine). Or, if you're so inclined, a nice before bed, low impact tantalizer. Besides 333, which burns too hot for my puffing cadence, every Peretti blend that I've tried has been very good or elite.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	htduck (28)	2009-12-05		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

First off, Lustra hit the nail on the head; if you like Orientals then this is for you. My taste buds like bitter, cloves and black pepper. Ding, ding ding, this is it. If you have read any of my other reviews then you will see I enjoy a lot of varied tobaccos but for me Orientals are king. Sadly a lot of Oriental blends tend to be lame but the folks at Peretti have found the mark with #40. They took the time to assist me in my quest and for that I am in their debt. I smoke this several times per week in a Peterson system full bent to get the total treatment. If you desire a nicotine buzz move on, that ain't what 100% Oriental blends are about, but what a strange and interesting aftertaste they do impart. No bite, but don't rush it, it just becomes too bitter. For me a 4 star. Thanks, Peretti.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2005-05-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Appearance: A ribbon cut of mostly medium shades, with some darker leaf showing.

Aroma: Rich Oriental aroma with some Cyprian Latakia nose. No Va. sweetness detected.

Packing: Packs easily into any size pipe.

Lighting: Lights with relative ease, occasionally one match, but usually needs two.

Initial flavor: Hello, this is different. All I get at the beginning is a rich spicy flavor and some smokiness. Truly a beguiling flavor here.

Mid-bowl: This is a blend totally devoid of Virginias. Since the base is Oriental, this is a true Balkan. It isn?t Balkan Sobranie, which had more Latakia and used Yenidje, but something much more subtle. The flavors interplay nicely, and always have a little surprise for you. Definitely a blend to savor slowly.

Finish: Burns down calmly to the bottom, without a gurgle. Leaves a nice dry white ash. It does not fatigue the palate at all, making it, IMHO, a light/medium Balkan in the range of GLP Kensington

Summary: A blend smooth enough to smoke all day, yet rewarding enough to relax with.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gtclark (12)	2016-02-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Like most tobaccos I receive from Peretti's, this blend comes a little on the dry side, which is perfect for smoking directly from the pouch. From the description, I believe this blend contains no Virginia or Cavendish, and this is confirmed by both the pouch note and the smoke.

What a delightful blend! Light, peppery and dry on the palate, it reminds me of why I love Balkan blends and other oriental mixtures. The incense-like note is strong, and present throughout the bowl. Many of my favorite Balkan blends deliver that note on occasion, but Oriental #40 supplies it throughout. There are no Virginias in the blend, and as a consequence, there is no sweetness here, and also very little heat or bite. The blend remains cool to the bottom, and leaves my palate feeling refreshed.

On a side note, I smoked a bowl this morning, and then brewed a pot of strong dark-roasted coffee. My first few sips tasted just like Turkish Coffee! Perhaps it was a psychosomatic effect, with thoughts of the near-east swirling about. However, I was so taken aback, and the flavor was so distinct, I don't think it was merely "in my head". If you have the blend on hand, give this a try.

Pipe Used: Radice lovat

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: L.J. Peretti

Similar Blends: P&C B.S.O.M. Match.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2017-01-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Oriental No.40 presents as a range of light to dark brown, hand-cut ribbons. Exquisite Oriental tin note of pepper and exotic spice, herbal, with a bit of smokiness. The tobacco arrives quite dry and is ready to smoke right out of the bag or can. The charring light brings a whisp of sweetness followed by flavors of the true light delivering what the nose promised: herb, spice, black & white pepper, a hint of salt, some wood & even a bit of parchment, some smoke. By mid-bowl, the herb retreats and peppery, spicy flavors and wood are dominant. Some salted nuttiness appears in the final third.

No.40 is very similar to Tashkent in flavor complexity, but thinner and lighter. Oriental No.40 highlights the higher and sharper notes of the Oriental leaf and has a less creamy mouthfeel than its cousin. But this is a feature, not a bug: No.40 is crisp and cool, mild in body for this style of tobacco, yet without sacrificing any flavor complexity.

As with any quality Oriental, and those of this blending house in particular, No.40 smokes very cool and dry, requiring few relights, has zero bite and leaves no mess in the pipe. Smokes down to literally nothing. A first class blend. This is one of those smokes where I'm disappointed when it finally ends - wish it would last the entire evening.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tommyboy1749 (27)	2015-08-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

L.J. Peretti's Oriental No. 40 is a pure Balkan blend, insofar as it is comprised of "only tobaccos from the Near East." No Virginias, Burleys, Perique--no domestic tobaccos of any kind. From what I understand, it's a blend of two types of Turkish and Latakia. Visually, there are two shades of brown and the black of Latakia in pretty equal proportions, so the description would appear to be accurate.

As with all Peretti tobaccos, it arrives at the perfect moisture level, packs easily, and burns down to a fine, white ash. The florals and spice of the Orientals dominate, accompanied by the smoky undertones of the Latakia. Oriental No. 40 is heady, with subtle layers revealed throughout the smoke. The aroma evokes what I imagine a British men's club from the late-Nineteenth or early 20th Century would be--all woolens, wood, leather, and prodigious clouds of pipe tobacco smoke. Due to the lack of Virginas, there is no overt sweetness; and while as others have mentioned there is a suggestion of bitters, it is only a hint--and it is not a detriment. The bitter quality is pleasant and balanced by creaminess like a well-pulled shot of espresso or the leading edge of a Sicilian amaro.

A candidate for an all-day companion, as well as the perfect nightcap. Nor is Oriental No. 40 only a cool-weather tobacco: it smokes equally well even in the mercurial height of summer. Like all of Peretti's English blends, it has the credentials of storied blends of yore. At Peretti, yesterday is still here.

Purchased From: L.J. Peretti

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2015-04-18		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Brown to black ribbon with some messy long cuts and a sweet and tangy oriental with a bit of latakia in the background. Smelled heavenly.

Loads and lights easily and immediately shows off its bitter side. Bitter isn't necessarily bad but I found myself wishing for more sweetness of flavor - more of a Virginia presence. If you think of oriental tobaccos as incense-y and sort of herbal, this is the darker side of oriental a la Tashkent. And I had the same issue with this as with Tashkent... interesting but lacking the sweetness and tang I prefer. As predominantly a Virginia smoker, that natural sweetness is my thing. This has almost none. The flavor was musty and dry on the finish with tons of character, but alone it's not something I care to smoke much of. As with Tashkent, I added a bit of red Virginia and got the tangy sweetness I crave. But I also wished that it had no latakia, as that pushed this blend further away from where I wanted it to be. But the point is where Peretti's wants it to be! So if you're into exotic middle eastern flavors that continuously evolve and you won't mind the lack of sweetness, give this one a shot.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-05-11		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

This gets the highest possible star rating ! This is my second favorite blend. The first 1 being "Count Pulaski" by Altadis.This is a Turkish Dream! I can say this is the finest Turkish mixture on the planet! There is nothing that even approaches this in flavor. A totally Turkish base with moderate Latakia added. It is the most satisfying blend I have ever smoked. It has a characteristically sour flavor and smokes rather dry. The Latakia provides that little extra OOOMPH! that puts the blend in a class all its own. A very full taste that does not fatigue the palate. There are multiple types of Turkish creating a truly unusual smoke.This is not for the novice and should really be appreciated for what it is.This has no Virginia,Perique, Burley, or Cavendish. Please prepare yourself for a full frontal assault of a very acquired taste! 5 of 4stars!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	O. D. Jones (25)	2021-06-03		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

First off, I would like to note this may be the best burning tobacco I've ever put in a pipe. One light, a handful of tamps, and you can smoke this down to fine white ash. All the Peretti blends burn just beautifully, and they burn perfectly right out of the paint can...

This is an Oriental for the piper that enjoys mild VaPers and is looking for a change of pace, or an aromatic devotee looking to branch out. Peretti's Tashkent is pretty much the gold standard for full Orientals, but like Lapsang Souchong, Tashkent may not be everybody's cup of tea. The only reason I haven't given this one the full four stars is I find it's a bit too mild for my tastes. I am not an all day smoker, so when I sit down with a pipe I want a fairly complex experience. Oriental No. 40 might fit the bill though if you're the kind of person that's a "set it and forget it" kind of all day puffer. Not much in terms of nicotine, and the room note is basically inoffensive. I have to assume that straight Oriental tobaccos are a fairly niche market (with pipe smoking itself being a fairly niche market) as there are just so few out there that I think really fit the Oriental profile. I also realized that these terms like Oriental and Balkan and English are all fairly vague and fluid, I think of the English tobacco is being a very full experience, with a Balkan following behind, making up in complexity for the fullness of an English, and Orientals being rather distinctive in their sweet and sour and piquant qualities. Oriental No. 40 is such a quality tobacco that I'm torn between having a can around all the time or just picking up another can of Tashkent... it really is like Tashkent dialed way back on the richness scale. I smoke a bowl, I enjoy it, and with my own personal taste I think "it's just a little too mild for me". That's the same way I feel about some very high quality VaPers too, I appreciate the quality, but I'm less than satisfied with the smoke. Obviously everybody's got different tastes, and if you lean towards the more mild varieties of pipe tobacco, by all means give this one a try, dip a toe into the world of straight Oriental tobacco.

UPDATE 10/19/2021.... just finished off the last bowl, burned straight down to the bottom with a few tamps and no relights. This is possibly the best behaved tobacco I've ever had in terms of burn quality. The verdict is still the same though, I find this a little too mild for my personal tastes. Very obviously a quality tobacco, but like a number of quality Va/Pers I have had, this Oriental just does not fulfill me. If you prefer a mellow, mild smoke and want to branch out into Oriental varietals, certainly give this one a try. if you're looking for something strong and full-bodied, try Peretti's Tashkent.

Pipe Used: petes

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: LJ Peretti

Similar Blends: in terms of strength, similar to things like Marlin Flake, or other lighter VaPers. Robert Lewis Orcilla is also similar, or used to be, I'm not even sure it's still available..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gew1898 (8)	2021-03-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Based on reviews from this page I decided to order Peretti’s Oriental Nr.40 and Peretti’s Tashkent. I love the tobaccos grown in the area of the former Ottoman Empire. The problem is that I don’t very much like the Virginias with which they are most often paired. I began searching this site for recommendations for blends that feature the “oriental” tobaccos sans the Virginias and I stumbled onto the reviews for two all “oriental” blends by L.J. Peretti. They are just the blends for which I’ve been searching. The quality of the tobaccos used is exceptional. And both blends have unique flavor and aroma characteristics. Of the two, Oriental Nr.40 is the lighter in flavor and is more complex in its fragrance and taste. Though it’s lighter in flavor it’s still jam packed with complex, though more delicate, flavors. As I was smoking my first bowl my wife remarked, “It smells like we're in church”. There is indeed a fragrance similar to frankincense when you fire this blend up. The light use of latakia never overwhelms the delicate taste and fragrances of the more mild leaves used in the blend. I’ve never tasted anything quite like this, I love this blend. The Tashkent is more bold and less delicate due to its being heavier handed in its use of latakia. It also has a much more spicy taste and the frankincense aroma is much less pronounced as the latakia tends to dominate quite a bit more. I am totally enamored of both blends and thank those that have posted here for steering me in the right direction.

Pipe Used: Design Berlin (Junior) and Chacom (Sahara)

Age When Smoked: Newly delivered.

Purchased From: L.J. Peretti Co.

Similar Blends: L.J. Peretti Tashkent..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2018-09-16		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant

It's difficult for me to decide which tobacco I liked better, Tashkent, or this one. O40 is slightly sweeter, and smoother. It has a deeper, perfume-like scent than does Tashkent. Peretti's English Blends remind me of the older Balkan Sobranie blends, the one that was around in the 1970's. This tobacco lit well, one char, one full light, and no dottle. Highly enjoyable blend!

Keep on Pipin'

Pipe Used: Butz Choquin Canadian

Purchased From: Peretti's

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BostonPipe (84)	2003-07-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This use to be my everyday blend but after trying other Peretti English blends, especially their "Pride of Loch Lomond," this is no longer the case.

Instead, this has turned into a once-in-a-while smoke.

The blend features two exceptionally smooth and spicey Turkish, (L.J. would not elaborate further when I queried him, lol), and a good dose of Cyprian Latakia.

This blend is a ribbon cut and easily packed into the bowl. I usually will rub-out a small amount in my palms to assist in the lighting. Seldom do I need to re-light this blend.

In the first part of the bowl, spice seems to dominate, then during the second-half a slight sweetness rises to meet the spice.

It burns to a beautiful grey/white ash and never seems to get the least bit wet in the heel.

I find at this stage of my pipe smoking career, I am leaning more towards blends where virginia takes the lead rather than orientals.

**12/07/2011 I feel the need to update my ranking on this one to 4 Stars upon smoking several aged tins recently.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2002-11-02		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

Boy...is this ever one acrid blend! I totally agree with lustra's contention that Oriental #40 is bitter from top to bottom. Of course, it is an extremely mild smoke, and those smokers who are just getting acquainted with Oriental tobaccos may enjoy this blend if they do not particularly care for a sweeter, more refined flavor.

On the plus side, this is a finely chopped blend, thus packs easily. It is extremely mild and probably does not pack enough punch for the veteran smoker who likes more flavor. I can certainly see where this blend could be touted as an all day smoke. All in all though, it is not on my top-10 list of Peretti blends!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-05-15		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Strong

Oriental #40 is a finely chopped ribbon with an exceptionally pungent Oriental aroma. The smoke is soft, light, bitter, and seems quite inhaleable if that is your thing. As the smoke progresses, a bit of sweetness and a hint of nutty flavor break through, but the tongue-curling bitterness never subsides. This blend doesn't bite and seems to have a very light nicotine content. It is very well made, but perhaps is of most interest to the die-hard fancier of Oriental tobaccos.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2018-07-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nice subtle blend. Tin note is slightly sour and earthy with latakia barely detectable.

The flavors are woody, creamy slightly sweet and floral. I really enjoyed this blend. Every time I smoke it I am trying to puzzle out flavors. The Orientals are clearly center stage and fluctuate from woody to spicy and the Virginia’s and Latakia’s are just there to enhance the great blend of Turkish/Orientals. Buttery comes in and out...I am not sure I have ever used that descriptor for a pipe tobacco. Just really good stuff and great for warm weather might I add.

Pipe Used: Briars and cobs

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-09-18		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Strong

I got this along with their Royal Blend, which is fantastic. This is indeed an oriental powerhouse, yet not overbearing. It doesn't get hot and if smoked slowly, is a really pleasant smoke and burns to a complete ash. This is one of those blends to have once in a while, like in the morning during a camping trip.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-06-25		Medium	Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I received a half lb. of Oriental #40. I smoked 10 bowls over the course of one day and I would say this is a very pleasing blend, extremely smooth with no bite if smoked slowly but steadily. Although this blend does is too smooth and has no richness to it, I like a little more kick. But Im sure others would enjoy this.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-05-16		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Excellent for an oriental kick in the mouth. The aroma is that of damp cloth and armpit. You really have to enjoy orientals to get off on this one. It's an after dinner smoke, especially after a grilled steak. Don't take this on an empty stomach or attempt it for all day. It's not as strong as C & D's DaVinci, but it's up there with the strongest of the strong. I enjoy the aroma, though non smokers will find it rank. I prefer this in smaller doses. Actually, it's so good and so deeply exotic it can be a bit much. Enjoy it for an occasional over the top indulgence.

Three of five stars

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