Sun, fire, earth and air are the four key components in the creation of Quartet, a tobacco blend brought to life using the rare Syrian Latakia process. The flavorfully spicy blend produces a symphony of perceptions, with a tango of smoky-peppery taste and aroma.

The process of creating authentic Syrian Latakia tobacco is rare within itself, and we did one better by acquiring a one-of-a-kind lot of Syrian Latakia tobacco that had been patiently and perfectly aged for a full eight years.

We are proud to offer our tobacco aficionados a numbered limited edition of Quartet, featuring this scarce and sensational tobacco, for the collection and enjoyment of true connoisseurs.

Bull’s-Eye

Hitting our Syrian Latakia target

In our perpetual search for perfection, we began visiting tobacco specialists around the world to explore their private and intimate collections of rare tobacco. One Italian specialist had an astonishing collection, giving us a chance to taste a diversity of tobacco types from a variety of origins.

Each tobacco blend enchanted us in its own way – until we met the Syrian Latakia. Once the specialist bid us to take a taste of the eight-years-aged Syrian Latakia, we were finally enlightened as to what true enchantment tasted like.

Fully captivated by the experience, we were able to appraise and decided to purchase at any cost this small, unique and precious lot. And it’s now available to you, for only as long as quantities last.

Finding a Syrian Latakia blend that has been patiently aged for nearly a decade is one of our most notable moments in the history of Black Note. And anyone aware of the painstaking effort involved in each step of the Syrian Latakia process will understand why.

Here Comes the Sun

First step in Latakia process

The first step in the Syrian Latakia production process is the sun-curing of the tobacco in tightly- sealed barns. Here the sun’s vibrant rays reduce the tobacco leaves’ moisture content while enhancing the tobacco’s natural flavor.

Fueling the Fire

Second step in Latakia process

The next step is to smoke-cure the tobacco over controlled fires of Valonia oak, Aleppo pine, Lebanon cedar, Greek juniper and indigenous aromatic herbs. The Mediterranean woody plants and native herbs produce a dark, smoky leaf with an intense yet delicate taste and aroma.

Down to Earth

Foundation of growth

Earth plays a role in the Syrian Latakia process by providing the foundation and nutrients required for the tobacco and native foliage to grow. Soft rains and humid soil in the milder Mediterranean seasons produce the ideal environment for indigenous plant life to flourish.

Air Apparent

Delivering the notes

Air’s part in the process is to deliver the aromatic notes during the smoke-curing process. Oxygen fuels the crackling flames that produce the powerful smoke that caresses and infuses the tobacco leaves with their unmistakable Syrian Latakia aroma and taste.

Accidental Discovery

Stored in smoky homes

The Syrian Latakia process was most likely discovered by accident when small farmers were forced to store unsold tobacco in their fire-heated homes. The stored tobacco ended up taking on the flavor and aroma of the smoke, yet the product was initially shunned.

Savvy manufacturers knew pipe tobacco was already being produced using fire-curing methods, tobacco that was quite costly. They decided to try the smoke-cured tobacco coming out of Syria’s Port of Latakia. The Syrian Latakia name was born, as was a market for the sun-cured and smoke-cured tobacco.

Make Mine Rare

Scarcity of Syrian Latakia

The rarity of Syrian Latakia tobacco comes from the Syrian government’s ban on using wood to dry or smoke crops issued after World War II. A scarcity of wood throughout the region led many farmers to move to Cyprus, where they found a more abundant supply of evergreen bushes to cure their tobacco. It is important to note that our Quartet blend is composed of 100% pre-conflict Syrian Latakia.

Although Syrian Latakia is cured with heavier smoke, the tobacco is smoother, cooler and has a more delicate tobacco aroma. Latakia from Cyprus is cured with lighter smoke, yet produces a hotter and stronger taste and aroma.

Work of Genius

Retaining a treasured method

Just as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is considered a work of genius, we believe our ninth blend of Quartet using the Syrian Latakia method has a similar status. The savory, smoked note combined with the natural etheric oils from the tobacco produce a refined cool, smooth taste with a melodic peppery burst that can make your senses sing.

Extended Process, Limited Edition

One-of-a-kind opportunity

Just as it would be impossible to recreate the glory of any of Beethoven’s unique symphonies, it would be a real challenge to find another lot of Syrian Latakia that is as precious as the one we currently have available. Some say perfection is impossible to find, but we disagree. We believe we found it with the rare lot of Syrian Latakia that serves as the basis of our limited edition of Quartet eJuice in Vaughan, ON.