Ravenwood Fine Provisions
"Leaves of Athelas" an orphic oriental mixture -100% oriental grades
Please read! For 2025 - This is the second release of this blend. It is VERY labor intensive to make, and it is all done by hand from start to finish. One of the oriental varietals is VERY difficult to source from overseas as well, and I almost lost the shipment I used for this batch. Luckily with a little skullduggery, I got the shipment released and in my hands. I got the cut, and moisture EXACTLY to where I wanted it. This is a huge batch for this blend and Im not likely to make another one anytime soon. Read further to see if it might be for you and enjoy!
I am a really big oriental blend lover. I tinker with them constantly and this is one for the true oriental lovers. I wanted an herbal oriental for when I was really in the mood; Leaves of Athelas is a mix of several different oriental types and nothing more. This is very difficult and time consuming to make, so I dont make a lot of it. Nearly all is shredded and broken up by hand.
Expect tasting notes of mellow herbs, tea, cedar and earth. It smokes very cool; buttery with very slight hints of olive oil and incense. A true melange of oriental leaf. No latakia, burley or virginia in this blend, its 100% orientals. Take note: This is a delicate blend for the more experienced of pipesfolk. It has a medium “N” presence, and needs to be smoked slowly to experience the nuances. Do so and you’ll be rewarded with a very complex and interesting experience.
Orphic meaning: Mysterious, occult, secret, esoteric. confined to, and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle.
Reviews
Unsweetened black tea with lemon in the first half of the bowl, herbal olive oil with a hint of pepper in the second half. It’s a unique experience. I’m really going to enjoy this one.
I jumped on this as soon as I saw it. I am a fan of oriental leaf and the thought of a blend that is 100% Oriental sounded great. Bonus points for the LoTR theme. As I smoke it I can imagine it is leaf from the Elven lands. It is soft, supple, delicate, and delicious. The tasting notes in the description are - to me - spot on. This is truly a unique blend and one I am happy to have picked up, you should get some too!
This is a VERY interesting blend, quite different than anything else I’ve tried….and the tin art goes without saying is fantastic!
Excellent! Lives up to the name.