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Choosing a RYO Brand Made Easy

In niche markets, tobacco sales have flourished in recent years. While factory rolled cigarette sales have slowed, Pipe smokers, cigar enthusiasts, and RYO (roll your own) cigarette smokers are still going strong. For the most part, retailers and tobacco enthusiasts purchase tobacco blends online to save on cost and improve selection and variety.

Whether you're trying to stock up on premium tobacco blends as a retailer or simply are looking into RYO blends for yourself, knowing your tobacco brands and blends is smart. No worries! We've taken the time to go over everything in-depth in this comprehensive guide.

Understanding Blends and Brands

When you know your tobacco blends and which RYO tobacco brands are best, you'll be able to move forward more confidently and make better purchasing decisions. You'll be able to decide for yourself which blends and brands are best for your specific purposes.

Below, we will take a look at the top tobacco blends and how they differ. That way, you can easily see how tobacco is rated and blended. Then, we'll go over the top 10 best pipe tobacco blends commercially available by brand. All of these brands come commercially packaged and can be purchased online by RYO tobacco enthusiasts and retailers alike. Let's jump in!

The Three Strains of Commercial Tobacco

There are three mainstream types of tobacco sold commercially today. These are Virginia tobacco, Burley tobacco, and Oriental tobacco. They all have their own unique characteristics and features. Here's an overview of each strain so you can learn how to tell them apart for yourself!

Burley Tobacco Burley tobacco was likely first grown by a man known only as Mr. Webb around the year 1864. He began growing this fine strain of tobacco near his home in Higginsport, Ohio from seeds he's brought in from Kentucky. Mr. Webb immediately noticed that this kind of tobacco yielded a light-colored leaf with shading that went from white to yellow.

Burley is a type of light air-cured tobacco. It's often smoked in cigarettes. Around 70% of Burley tobacco now comes straight from Kentucky. The rest comes from Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, or West Virginia.

Burley tobacco tastes almost cigar-like. It's sweet, rich, bold, and flavor-packed. However, straight Burley tobacco can be somewhat harsh and irritating to the throat. Maybe that's why molasses or licorice flavors are occasionally added to improve the taste and smoothness of this tobacco. Burley is usually blended with Virginia or Oriental tobacco. This is especially true when it's being used for RYO cigarettes or pipe smoking.

Virginia Tobacco Virginia Tobacco (Also known as Bright Leaf or as Flue-Cured tobacco) had been around a while before it became popular. It was able to grow in lighter sandy soil, making it the natural go-to when the Civil War broke out.

As soldiers who'd been fighting in the Civil war headed home, they wanted the same bright flavor that they'd become accustomed to. Naturally, Virginia tobacco flourished and soon ruled the market.

Virginia tobacco naturally has high nicotine levels. This means that its tobacco doesn't need any additives or additional flavoring. Virginia tobacco is smooth, tangy, sharp, and bright.

Oriental / Turkish Tobacco

Oriental tobacco is the most durable kind of tobacco. It grows in arid regions like Turkey and the Middle East. This is the tobacco they're referring to when they say "Turkish Tobacco."

Oriental tobacco has a deep, rich, and aromatic flavor. Often, this tobacco is sun-cured. The sun-curing process enhances its unique and somewhat sweet-spiced flavors.

A Bit About Tobacco Blending and Rating

So, now that you know what the three main commercial variants of tobacco are, let's quickly go over how blending and rating works.

Virginia, Burley, and Oriental tobaccos can be divided into a multitude of sub-categories. These subcategories will diverge based on the region tobacco has been grown in, the part of the tobacco plant used, and the overall quality of the tobacco.

From there, different strains will be rated and blended for more unique flavors, qualities, and characteristics. Ratings revolve around the quality of the plant, cut, and blend. Higher rated blends of tobacco usually contain premium strains that have been carefully packaged and treated.

When you choose a brand of tobacco, you're likely choosing a specific blend of one or more of the most popular smokable tobacco strains. Then, you can look at quality, tobacco plant composition, and key strain characteristics. With that in mind, let's get into the top 10 best-blended tobacco options for sale commercially!

The Top 10 Most Highly-Rated Tobacco Blends

These 10 tobacco options all come highly recommended and rated. They stand out among their competitors and have received glowing reviews from tobacco aficionados all over the country. Since they're all blended for flavor and quality, any one of these blends is worth sampling.

1. Good Stuff

This additive-free blend is a great option for anyone wanting to smoke all-natural tobacco. It comes at a great price, and in many smooth flavors. Since it's moist and comes in a resealable bag, it's the perfect RYO tobacco option. The Good Stuff pipe tobacco is slow-burning, smooth, flavorful, and gentle on the throat. You can choose from various flavors like menthol, gold, red, menthol gold, and more.

2. 1839 Pipe Tobacco

Another great option for RYO tobacco or for pipes is 1839 Pipe Tobacco. This famous flue-cured Virginia US-grown tobacco comes in various styles and blends. It's natural, flavorful, and comes in smooth, regular, and menthol flavors.

3. 752°

From the makers of OHM tobacco, 752° Tobacco is great for casual smokers. It has a ton of flavor and comes in many different styles to suit different tastes.

4. American Club

American Club Pipe Tobacco is light and refreshing while still staying flavorful and fresh. American Club Pipe Tobacco uses a quality base of Kentucky and Virginia blends. Warm and rich, this tasty and smooth is perfect for next-level smokers looking to get a smooth and satisfying aftertaste.

5. Nectar Pipe Tobacco

Manufactured Salamanca, NY, this tobacco blend is one of the best options out there. It comes at a budget-friendly price and is made with quality tobacco blends. Ribbon cut and air-cured, this tobacco is infused with only authentic and natural flavors. Perfect for the novice or mature smokers, it's a mellow and delightful aromatic tobacco option that's definitely worth checking out.

6. OHM Pipe Tobacco

OHM is another impressive premium American tobacco option. This tobacco has an impressive flavor profile. It's almost grassy with natural and sweet notes. You'll get a very mild and pleasant aftertaste as well. OHM Pipe Tobacco is well suited for all kinds of smokers, new and old alike.

7. Kentucky

This pure dark fired blend of tobacco is Kentucky grown and makes a great option for those who want a flavor that kicks. This blend has an above-average nicotine rating naturally. It burns beautifully with a steady smoke flow. It's also cut very well, so it's easy to pinch and pack. 

8. 4 Aces

A winning hand,  4 Aces tobacco is refined and comes at a great price point. It's good quality tobacco that has high ratings across the board.

9. Criss Cross

This is an American blend with a mellow and smooth flavor profile. It comes in many flavors, including menthol. One of the most popular tobacco options out there, Criss Cross is great for packing or rolling.

10. Golden Harvest

Since Golden Harvest tobacco is both additive and preservative-free, it's a good overall option for those who prefer to go all-natural. In flavor, it's mild but with a slight kick. You can also choose from blue, red, yellow, green, and silver blends.

More Choices Than 10

Overall, there are hundreds of different RYO brands on the market today! Indeed, our Top 10 list barely even scratches the surface. 

However, with over five decades in the business, we know what’s selling and what’s not. Not to mention, the people have spoken! According to sales, these hot 10 products mentioned above are all top-sellers in the United States, and for a good reason too!