Landtabak Spezial

Landtabak Spezial is a traditional rod-cut blend sold under the name of Austria Tabak, Austria's longstanding tobacco monopoly maker; the brand is today under the Japan Tobacco umbrella. The blend is built from Virginia, Burley, Kentucky, and Oriental leaf; Kentucky and Burley fill out the body, while the Oriental leaf leaves a spicy edge. Since it carries a light flavoring, it's counted in the aromatic class, but the topping stays measured enough not to override the tobacco; on opening the tin, a thin scent reminiscent of herbs and mint is noticed.

Its character is medium-bodied, dry, and earthy; it suits smokers not looking for the sweetness of sugary aromatics but who also find plain Burley blends too flat. Records indicate two separate versions once existed — a plain Landtabak and a Spezial — and today it's mostly the Spezial version that remains with specialist tobacconists. It can be considered a surviving example of Central Europe's "village tobacco" tradition.