Here are some links to a couple of posts I wrote in 2011 about Syrian Latakia blends:
The problem with Syrian Latweed is that it has been forced out of production by the Syrian state. In a joint venture with Jordan, Syria built the largest cigarette manufacturing plant in the world over a decade ago. Since then, the state has required that all Syrian tobacco production be surrendered to cigarette manufacturing.
Apparently there was also some pressure from environmentalists. The native oak and other fuel woods used to fire-cure the tobacco (which gives it its characteristic oaky, smokey flavor) were said to be "endangered", or some such thing. That might have been a factor, but I doubt it was the major reason for SyriLat's extinction, production-wise.
Whatever the reasons, Syrian Latakia has been out of production since about 2004 (as I recall), which means that the world's supply is finite...and shrinking. By all reports, MacBaren and McClelland own most of it.
It’s unlikely that you’ll find any bulk quantity of SyriLat unless you happen to find a private stash owned by some piper. Greg Pease has tried in vain to buy SyriLat from every source he knows, but no dice. It’s just not available.
- https://www.brothersofbriar.com/t10935-mac-baren-hh-vintage-syrian#171649
- https://www.brothersofbriar.com/t10935-mac-baren-hh-vintage-syrian#171823
- MacBaren HH Vintage Syrian
- Brebbia Latakia Flake No. 9
- McClelland Rose of Latakia
The problem with Syrian Latweed is that it has been forced out of production by the Syrian state. In a joint venture with Jordan, Syria built the largest cigarette manufacturing plant in the world over a decade ago. Since then, the state has required that all Syrian tobacco production be surrendered to cigarette manufacturing.
Apparently there was also some pressure from environmentalists. The native oak and other fuel woods used to fire-cure the tobacco (which gives it its characteristic oaky, smokey flavor) were said to be "endangered", or some such thing. That might have been a factor, but I doubt it was the major reason for SyriLat's extinction, production-wise.
Whatever the reasons, Syrian Latakia has been out of production since about 2004 (as I recall), which means that the world's supply is finite...and shrinking. By all reports, MacBaren and McClelland own most of it.
It’s unlikely that you’ll find any bulk quantity of SyriLat unless you happen to find a private stash owned by some piper. Greg Pease has tried in vain to buy SyriLat from every source he knows, but no dice. It’s just not available.
