I just tried my first shot at growing, harvesting, and curing a batch of Perique. I made a lot of mistakes but I ended up with a test sample of Perique that doesn't bite or make me cough up a lung, it stays lit and my wife doesn't shoe me out of the house when I smoke it. Its pretty mild but you know, when the American/ Canadian taxation system shuts down the international shipping options for us in Canada and elsewhere I'll get by. My batches can only get better! I picked up a book by C.A Goff "Blend Your Own Pipe Tobacco" after a retired US Marine friend (now spending his golden years in Canada) suggested it. This guy is one tough SOB; out in winters minus 30 degree temps having his pipe as his residence rules don't permit smoking indoors - one heck of a nice guy and if he's in here I am grateful for the book suggestion. I haven't read all of it yet but my first impression is the book is a gift to fellow pipe smokers everywhere who may be in my same position (Australia?) and looking for a way to make their own. I'm quadrupling my planting efforts this year with seedlings already started a month ago so I'll continue the Perique style from last year using an old apple cider press with a Latakia smoker this year. Air dried Virginia is easy already. For those of you with the land and will to grow it is not the end of the world for pipe smokers. It is certainly not MM 965 or Squadron Leader I am making but I relish not having to suffer disappointment when my blend of choice disappears from online retailers in minutes, has vanished forever or my online order shows up in the post having changed from a $15 pouch to a $70 pouch with the excise taxes.