I have always thought that the so called "Mature Virginia" used in commercial pipe blends was made from air-cured, aged bright leaf. That may or may not be correct. In the past, my air-cured, aged bright leaf seemed to come close.
Yesterday, I shredded some of the flue-cured-then-kilned bright leaf (Southern Beauty, from leverhead), and smoked a bowl of it straight. It definitely caused less tongue bite than straight flue-cured leaf ("lemon Virginia"), but was still a bit acidic. Its pouch aroma and reddish color suggested what is often sold as "red mature Virginia." There is definitely more sweetness than is found in aged, air-cured bright leaf.
So I would say that flue-curing, followed by kilning, creates yet another interesting ingredient for pipe blending.
Bob
Yesterday, I shredded some of the flue-cured-then-kilned bright leaf (Southern Beauty, from leverhead), and smoked a bowl of it straight. It definitely caused less tongue bite than straight flue-cured leaf ("lemon Virginia"), but was still a bit acidic. Its pouch aroma and reddish color suggested what is often sold as "red mature Virginia." There is definitely more sweetness than is found in aged, air-cured bright leaf.
So I would say that flue-curing, followed by kilning, creates yet another interesting ingredient for pipe blending.
Bob