Smoking ChinaVoodoo's Delhi 34 Rajangan
This is my second bowl of CV's Ranangan. I initially smoked some it several weeks ago, and did not like it. I decided to wait a while to smoke the remainder of the sample he sent, in order to approach it with calmer expectations.
Tasting Notes:
- Initial light has a slight sweetness
- Very harsh in the nose
- Smoother on the tongue
- Vague "raw" or unaged aroma
- Aroma profile seems fairly one-dimensional
- Mid-bowl taste is somewhat bitter
- Suggests freshly sun-cured leaf that has no aging
The rajangan process is a sun-cure that is undertaken
after green leaf has first been shredded. My impression from my own sun-curing experience is that the sun-curing is merely the first step in a longer process. The leaf can be subsequently aged (in case, at least some of the time), or it can be kilned. Only after that natural or artificial aging does sun-cured leaf attain a mellow quality.
My conclusion is that ranangan, though "smokable", ought to be kilned prior to smoking. I appreciate CV's sending me this sample for evaluation.
Caveat: I have the same general impression of the two commercial versions of Semois that I've received from generous forum members. There just may be some attributes that others find appealing, but that I do not.
Bob
