Is It Really Syrian Latakia?

[RSteve]

It's a secretive thing. Processes and blending have always had this mystical aura. Pressing, steaming, toasting, topping, scenting, just seems to be no end to what some do to tobacco to achieve a desired final product.

Absolutely! I think any of the major blenders could easily take a representative sample of Penzance and identify each of the component tobaccos and its percentage of the blend. The mystique is how each of the components was cased and flavored and then determining what, if any, top flavoring was added to the final blend.