PipePuffer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
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So far I have been mostly attracted to tobaccos with bolder flavors (english/balkan/oriental) but, in an effort to expand my horizons, I decided to give virginias a try. Since many people swear by FVF, that was my first choice.
When I opened the tin, it was surprisingly moist. It actually looked like juicy strips of beef jerky. The tin aroma was appealing though.
1st bowl: right after opening the tin, I gently broke the flake into short strips and loaded them up in the pipe. It was a disaster. I had to keep relighting the bowl every 2 minutes and the taste was green, grassy and bitter. Yuck.
After doing some reading on BoB, I gave it another go.
2nd bowl: I cut the flake into small cubes and let it dry for a few hours until just barely moist. Then I loaded it up very gently in the pipe (no hard tamping whatsoever). This time the bowl remained lit much longer. And the flavor was completely different. Sort of sweet and toasty I guess but very mild compared to the tobaccos I usually smoke. I found that sipping was essential for me to appreciate the delicate flavor of this tobacco. Also, I don't usually like to expel smoke out of my nose, but I felt compelled to try it with FVF and it was fantastic as the toastiness really came out. As a bonus, the room note was very pleasant and my clothes didn't stink!
3rd bowl: can't wait for more.
Conclusion: it probably won't become an everyday smoke for me, but it could be a fantastic option when I crave for something milder.
When I opened the tin, it was surprisingly moist. It actually looked like juicy strips of beef jerky. The tin aroma was appealing though.
1st bowl: right after opening the tin, I gently broke the flake into short strips and loaded them up in the pipe. It was a disaster. I had to keep relighting the bowl every 2 minutes and the taste was green, grassy and bitter. Yuck.
After doing some reading on BoB, I gave it another go.
2nd bowl: I cut the flake into small cubes and let it dry for a few hours until just barely moist. Then I loaded it up very gently in the pipe (no hard tamping whatsoever). This time the bowl remained lit much longer. And the flavor was completely different. Sort of sweet and toasty I guess but very mild compared to the tobaccos I usually smoke. I found that sipping was essential for me to appreciate the delicate flavor of this tobacco. Also, I don't usually like to expel smoke out of my nose, but I felt compelled to try it with FVF and it was fantastic as the toastiness really came out. As a bonus, the room note was very pleasant and my clothes didn't stink!
3rd bowl: can't wait for more.
Conclusion: it probably won't become an everyday smoke for me, but it could be a fantastic option when I crave for something milder.