The following article was written by the Ottawa Pipe Club’s late mentor, Doug (aka Rusty). We are compiling articles and forum topics of interest to us today that he took the time to write out for his audience and friends. We hope you will enjoy learning more about pipe smoking, legislation, issues, trends, and history through his writing. ~ EKS

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This is from a 1960 UK Competition Commission Report and it’s quite good precisely because it considers tobacco cuts for RYO, pipe, and cigarettes. The explanations came from the UK manufacturers of the day.

Tobacco Cut/Form – Characteristics & Use

Shag (Light and Dark) – A finely cut tobacco (about 80-90 cuts per inch) suitable either for hand-rolling into cigarettes or for pipe smoking. Generally without additional flavouring.

Honeydew and Fancy Scented – Less finely cut than a shag (40-50 cuts per inch). Generally flavoured. Suitable for hand-rolling or for pipe smoking.

Mixture – A mixture of dark and light tobaccos with a broad cut (about 25 cuts to the inch). Suitable for pipe smoking.

Flake and Cut Plug – A sliced tobacco, cut from pressed cakes or bars. Some brands are flavoured. Sold either in flake form or ready rubbed. Suitable for pipe smoking.

Navy Cut – Similar to flakes and cut plugs, but less heavily pressed and lighter in colour. Suitable for pipe smoking.

Plug and Bar – Heavily pressed tobacco for pipe smoking or chewing. Sold in oblong blocks.

Roll and Pigtail (also known as Twist) – Pressed spun tobacco, for pipe smoking or chewing. This type varies in thickness from about one-sixth of an inch (pigtail) to 1 1/4 inches (thick roll).

Fancy Tobacco – These tobaccos undergo some distinctive process and do not fit in readily with any of the other types. They may, for example, be spun and then sliced; they may be sweetened tobaccos. Suitable for pipe smoking.

The report further comments: “Plug, bar, roll and pigtail are also referred to as hard tobaccos; they are old fashioned and cheaper than most other types. The market for them, and indeed for all pipe tobaccos, is a dwindling one.” Even so the UK market for pipe tobacco/RYO is enormous in 1960 comprising just over 10% of the market with ready-made cigarettes at 89%. The report also stated that in the 50’s imports (all kinds: cigs, RYO, PT) accounted for not more than 0.2% of tobacco purchases in the UK. That’s an extraordinarily low amount. American & Euro OTC & specialist pipe tobaccos were distributed in the UK at the time.

Tobacco Type – Method of Curing & Use

Flue-cured – The leaves are hung in wholly enclosed barns. The curing process is carried out by conveying heat through sheet-iron flues running across the floor. No smoke comes into contact with the leaves. The process takes about four days and turns the leaves to colours varying from bright lemon to orange. The doors of the barn are then opened and the cured leaf is allowed to soften by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Produced in USA, Canada, Rhodesia, Malawi, & India. Used in Cigarettes, Tobacco (cigarette and pipe). [R: These are the countries of origin for the UK in the 1950’s rather than a generic description of all producing countries. Malawi was referred to as Nyasaland at the time.]

Fire-cured – The leaves are hung in open barns over trenches in which wood fires are kept burning for from one to six weeks, according to the degree of firing required. The smoke turns the leaves dark brown. Produced in USA, Malawi. Used in tobacco (pipe).

Air-cured – The leaves are hung in open barns for about two months. They gradually turn a light reddish-brown. Produced in USA, India. Used in Tobacco (cigarette and pipe). [R: note when they say ‘Tobacco’ they mean RYO and/or pipe tobacco, and they’re specific within brackets. When they mean ready-made cigarettes they specify that. These are always the principal uses.]

Sun-cured – The leaves are exposed to the sun on the ground or on racks before being transferred to open barns. They turn a dark reddish-brown. Produced in Malawi and India. Used in Tobacco (cigarette and pipe).

Burley – A type of air-cured tobacco grown originally in the U.S.A. After the complete plant has been cut and split down the stalk, it is suspended in open barns having free circulation of air. Produced in U.S.A., Canada, Rhodesia, India, & Malawi. Used in Tobacco (cigarette and pipe).

Oriental – These aromatic leaves are cured in the sun and subsequently bulked in sheds awaiting handling and baling. Produced in Greece and Turkey. Used in Cigarettes. [R: Not in pipe tobacco! This is a little unsettling for us because Orientals certainly are in pipe tobaccos but it’s not the principal use according to the manufacturers.]

Perique – The plants are cut whole and hung in barns to cure. The leaves are then stripped from the main stem, made into twists and packed into boxes to which very heavy pressure is applied. This process is repeated over several months, during which time the leaf acquires its characteristic aroma. Produced in Louisiana U.S.A. Used in Tobacco (pipe).

Latakia – The leaves are small and are usually cured on the stalk in smoke houses, the plants being hung over fire pits and fumigated by the smoke from burning pine or oak brushwood. The process normally takes about three months. Produced in Syria and Cyprus. Used in Tobacco (pipe).