Vauen Black Pepper

[mark]

I spotted this tobacco a couple years ago on a german site and it piqued my curiosity. The shipping and handling squashed the deal, but when it became available here I guess I thought I needed an adventure. This tobacco is as black as midnight with a very sparse sprinkling of brown. The tin aroma is hard to place, vaguely familiar in a frustrating way, somewhat similar to fresh cracked pepper but not spot-on. Moisture level was a little high and I tried it both moist and dried. Packed easily in my cob, a Baki meer, and an old Oxford rhodesian yard pipe. This blend doesn't take well to the flame moist or dry, and persistence is required to get it lit. Its initial flavor is burley-like with an undertone I can only describe as chemical, giving an aftertaste somewhat peppery. Some Virginia showed up shortly after, providing some sweetness to the mix, but couldn't be enjoyed due to the industrial tasting topping. The room note does try to resemble black pepper if you use your imagination.
Halfway through the bowl the tonguebite starts, (I'm not susceptible to tonguebite) and follows to the end. I can't say I've enjoyed this tobacco, but I gave it a fair shake and kept an open mind till the end. Half a tin of adventure remains for some curious soul to experience, drop me a PM and it's yours to explore. Be advised, vigorous scrubbing of ones moustache is required to remove the odd pepper/chemical-like smell after smoking. No ghosting remained in any of the pipes used.

 

[Beginner112]

Sounds realy good I wish I could try some

 

[Frost]

Nice review Mark. You are a braver man than I.

 

[Sasquatch]

I just ordered 15 pounds of that blend based on this review.

 

[mark]

My simple life has become total chaos, the phone is ringing off the hook and I can't keep up with the e-mail. The offers are coming fast and furious from all the major blenders, seems they all want me to review the competitions product.

 

[Strongirish]

This is the darnest stuff, it really does taste like black pepprer and the pouch note and room note both do too. I could not smoke this often, but it really is not bad for a change of pace. i took some to a pipe shop today and it got a lot of attention.