latkia/english blends aren't that great.

[iergeni]

A lot of new pipesmokers, especially cigar smokers, seem to gravitate toward Latakia blends when they first get into smoking a pipe. Latakia Blends smoke cooler than VA blends; those take cadence to not get tongue burn and optimal flavor. Many pipesmokers transition from English to VA and VA/Pers only to put English blends back into rotation in the cooler months.

well, one thing I noticed as a novice pipe smoker is that with english blends, it's not very hard to get the flavor from the smoke.

The latakia has a very prominent taste that comes through even without proper smoking techniques, so it's a very easy blend to enjoy.

Unlike VAs and aromatics where one needs to struggle at first to get all of the sweetness and nuances, latakia starts to deliver right off the bat, and as one develops one's smoking techinuqe, the already pleasant taste gets more and more pleasanter.

 

[santom2]

Loved the Latakia at first, but quickly grew out of it....