Dark tobaccos are plants generally quite developed which initially were the most widely spread in the world. Also used for cigar making, the leaf is subjected to a second treatment-fermentation.

Burleys are high developed plants, the culture of which has recently expanded. This type of tobacco does not ferment like the "Dark", but generally "matures". Burley, though not very aromatic, is very useful in blending.

Fire-cured is a type akin to Dark, it's natural drying is completed by a wood-fired fumigation (oak is used by the traditionalists).

Sun-cured represent almost the totality of Oriental tobaccos. Their cultivation is confined to Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and to a lesser degree to adjoining countries. The essential characteristics of oriental tobaccos are their aromatic qualities and a high sugar content (10 to 15%). The smoke is generally mild and this characteristic brings a binding and homogeneous effect used in most mixtures.

Flue-cured are represented by the majority of warm-air dried Virginia. The cultivation is expanding rapidly. The plant developed is average and six crops are produced. Each crop is taken to a bulk curing barn where it is dried by warm air for seven days. The leaves become yellow as a result of a rapid rise of temperature. Among the Virginia are the aromatics and the fillers, the latter used as a major ingredient to balance the mixture. The blends and the taste-lines: Each industrial blend is the result of the scientific compositions of several grades from the same tobacco and from different types (from 20 to 40 in commercial products).

Dark blends: These consist of dark tobaccos from various origins (France, South America, Africa and Asia) and Oriental. Generally they do not contain additives or "sauce".

Virginia blends: This taste is, with the preceding, the oldest known. It is characterised by the pure Virginia blends, originally without additives.

American blends: These blends have the following components: Virginia, Burley and Oriental in variable proportions to which a "sauce" consisting of humidifying and sugar elements is added. These blends are finally sprayed with aromatic flavours.

British Flake and Ready Rubbed: The tobacco leaves are compacted under great pressure and heat is applied for days at a time. The Cakes of tobacco are then removed from the press and cut on a guillotine into thin slices. The Pipesmoker breaks the flakes up in the palm of the hand to the texture that suits the pipe and ones own style of smoking. This type of tobacco produces a cool slow burning smoke, but does require skill and practice. More Pipesmokers are buying their tobacco in the Ready Rubbed form for convenience and it gives almost the same qualities as the original flake, but does provide more consistent, easy smoking, ideal for the new Piper.

Mixtures: With these, their unique character comes from careful blending of many different exotic tobaccos and not forgetting plain natural Virginia and Shags. Some of the more exotic tobaccos in these mixtures have been previously pressed and darkened and may include rich flavourings to enhance the aroma and taste, they are generally lighter in character and easier to smoke.

Aromatics: Originally mainly from Europe and America, these have been enthusiastically taken up by the younger smoker, with rich flavours like cherry, orange, chocolate, coffee, whisky and many more additives, (I'm personally looking for a tobacco with the flavour of my favourite food, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, that way I can smoke my pipe and feel as though I've had my lunch in one go and loose some weight in the process).

Twist and Spun Cut: These are really tobaccos for the enthusiast, usually stocked by the specialist tobacconist. Full bodied, powerful and rich, they are made in the traditional style developed by sailors, spun to form a rope.

Flake and Plug tobaccos: After the tobacco leaf has been prepared, it is put into moulding presses where it is put under tremendous pressure usually by means of hydraulics, here it is pressed into what is commonly known as Cakes. The Cakes are then placed into retaining presses, depending on the colour required of the tobacco it is cold or heated. The amount of pressure and heat will determine the final tobacco colour. Flake tobaccos can be recognised through the slices that are sold, there are a few exceptions such as ready rubbed flake and partly broken flake. Plug and Bar tobacco is produced by moulding under pressure.