PERIQUEPERHAPS THE MOST STRONGLY FL

PERIQUE
PERHAPS THE MOST STRONGLY FLAVORED OF ALL TOBACCOS IS THE PERIQUE, FROM SAINT JAMES PARISH, LOUISIANA. WHEN THE ACADIANS MADE THEIR WAY INTO THIS REGION IN 1755, THE CHOCTAW AND CHICKASAW TRIBES WERE CULTIVATING A VARIETY OF TOBACCO WITH A DISTINCTIVE FLAVOR. A FARMER CALLED PIERRE CHENET IS CREDITED WITH FIRST TURNING THIS LOCAL TOBACCO INTO THE PERIQUE IN 1824 THROUGH THE TECHNIQUE OF PRESSURE-FERMENTATION. CONSIDERED THE TRUFFLE OF PIPE TOBACCOS, THE PERIQUE IS USED AS A COMPONENT OF MANY BLENDED PIPE TOBACCOS, BUT IS TOO STRONG TO BE SMOKED PURE. AT ONE TIME, THE FRESHLY MOIST PERIQUE WAS ALSO CHEWED, BUT NONE IS NOW SOLD FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT IS TRADITIONALLY A PIPE TOBACCO, AND IS STILL VERY POPULAR WITH PIPE-SMOKERS, TYPICALLY BLENDED WITH PURE VIRGINIA TO LEND SPICE, STRENGTH, AND COOLNESS TO THE BLEND.