Xanthi Yaka

[DonH]

I tested some recently dried Xanthi Yaka tonight. Wow! The flavor is out of this world. It was harsh, though, so it needs aging. Can't wait to taste it after kilning. If you like the perfumey aspects of Turkish varieties you will love this one. If you don't it might be too much. I like the aromatic perfumes in Turkish so this one is a keeper for me. It has small leaves so it will be good for close spacing. I spaced at 18 inches but I could have gone much closer.

Because of the small leaves it's not a big producer, but because of the flavor a little will go a long way in a blend.

 

[Knucklehead]

That one is on my list for next year.

 

[deluxestogie]

I discuss Xanthi Yaka in my 2013 grow log. It was an excellent producer, since I planted 22 plants in a 3' x 5' bed. No access problems.

I have air-cured, sun-cured and flue-cured various samples of the leaf.

Xanthi Yaka air-cures to a darker color than sun-cured. Kilning darkens both a bit more. It still benefits from extended aging. Because of its small size, you can tuck some away for a year or two.

Flue-curing Xanthi Yaka left it a gray-brown, with little sweetness. While not bad, it's on my "don't flue-cure" list.

I find that at ~10%, it works well in any English style pipe blend.

Bob

 

[istanbulin]

Since you mentioned about the size of the Xanthi leaves. Here's my Xanthi leaves this year. These are from stalk harvested and air cured ones. Curing totally completed in two weeks but it needs some kilning to smoke. Leaf sizes suit the standarts of Oriental tobaccos. Big leaves are "3.Ana", medium leaves are "uçaltı" and smallest ones are the "uç" leaves.

 

[deluxestogie]

Very pretty leaf.

I would imagine that my close spacing would yield smaller leaf than this year, were it not for the nearly daily rain during the bulk of the growing season. Perhaps next summer will be more Anatolian in weather. Note that I have corrected the planting area in my previous post. The Xanthi occupied 1/4 of a 12' x 5' bed, so 3' x 5' accommodated 22 plants.

Bob

 

[Jpcouling]

Bumping the thread here, but I had to add in that I got a sample of Don's Xanthi and it is amazing! This is the Turkish smell that I love! Thanks Don!