The King Street Emporium

Gates of Light

Burley Virginia

Gates of Light, or Sha'are Orah in Hebrew, takes its name from a thirteenth century text by Rabbi Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla, one of the foundational works in the history of Kabbalah. The book explores the mystical names of God and their relationship to the structure of creation, and it remains in print and in serious study more than seven hundred years after it was written. Rabbi Ira Stone, the friend of blender William Serad whose preferences inspired the entire Hebraica Series, chose the name for this blend. The construction sits closer to the natural tobacco tradition than Milk and Honey does. Cube cut Burley and stoved red Virginias form the base, with stoved referring to a controlled heat process that deepens and sweetens the Virginia leaf before blending. Oriental leaf and Perique round out the blend, the Orientals adding their dry, slightly tangy character and the Perique contributing spice and depth. No aromatic toppings, no casing. The cube cut encourages a slower, cooler smoke than ribbon and rewards a patient cadence. Medium strength.