I've smoked SG tobacco for years now. I've found the key is to leave some of the moisture in the tobacco as you did for pipe #2, 1-2 hrs drying time, else you get the sharpness you described. But the real key is to rub out in your hand, but leave 1/10 of the tobacco behind, and fill your pipe. Then finely rub out the 10%, as fine as you can and put that on the top. It acts as a kindling and lets the bowl burn sweet and evenly. Love your videos my friend.
I do something like this too. I was about to quit smoking flake tobacco because it's very expensive and it gives you a lot of issues. Now, I rub 80% o the tobacco and let it dry for some time and I put it back on the tin with the rest of it. The very fine rest I put on the top as you said, it works like a charm. I realize that if you don't rub a flake it's likely that you're gonna waste a lot of tobacco and that's a pity :)
That's exactly how I prepare the Samuel Gawith flakes. I love them since I found out how to get them to smoke. Especially the best brown flake is such a tasty flake.
My dry method is putting it in a stainless steel tin saucer, cover it, place on electric coffee mug warmer and steam out the moisture until desirable. Works great, doesn't hurt the tobacco, and once the tobacco is warm the flakes break up nice and easy. Highly recommend trying something like this, saves lots of time.
I think when people watch this they will realize that this hobby really is an art. And you exemplify how much an art it is. Admittedly, I'm a little rough and not near as refined in my pipe smoking. But I do get joy watching you and others who take pipe smoking to high levels. :-) Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for that, my friend! Really so much appreciated by heart! And ...well...the only important thing is, to enjoy! Take care, my friend! Hope you are well! Mark
Hi, Mark! This has to be one of the most rigorous and precise tests I have ever seen in my entire life. I raise my hat to you, Sir! A very straightforward and excellent video! I prefer longer videos, and surely I cannot be the only one among your subscribers that does so (therefore you need not worry that your videos might be too long). They are not, nor are they too short. They are precisely as long as the need to be. I have been watching your videos for the past ten months, and I must say that there is not a single one of them that bored me in any way. I particularly enjoy your visits to various historical sites, as well as the historical background that you provide us with. The pipes are also very classy, and they are an integral part to your particular style, which greatly enhances the experience of learning, be it in relation to pipes, tobacco, or history, or any other topic you present. A big thank you from Romania, along with all the best wishes in the world! Best regards, Andrei
Man I've discovered you recently in the past 78 hours of watching. I had to take my time to get over my prejudice to be honest but man you have fermented and now you are a absolute hero. Right on my German hero.
Very interesting video Mark,....and a brilliant way to show both the effects and importance of humidity to tobacco. When you said that it's all about the recipe, you're quite right, and I think that was the best point made by your experiment and remarks....along with the question "do we really want to concentrate that much on keeping the bowl going?" Take care and be well my friend, and we'll talk soon, Corey
Corey, my friend! Thanks for taking the time! And for most interesting thoughts! As always so much appreciated! Let's talk soon! Hope, you are well! Mark
I had Best Brown from the tin and from bulk. None of them was easy to lit, but the bulk version was a nightmare - a very wet one. I enjoy watching your videos while smoking from the same tobacco as you. Keep it up during the winter and greetings from Brazil.
Many Matches! I hope every new flake tobacco smoker watches this video. I was trying to watch you but kept getting distracted by the beautiful pipes on the wall next to you lol. You know how I love to look at quality pipes lol. I hope the summer is treating you well my friend and don't forget to buy another box of matches soon! Be well Mark!
Hello Mike, ma good friend! Thank you so much for stopping by! Yeah...I understand...LOL... There are indeed some nice pipes on the shelf... :-) Well...summer is quite "erratic" this year...sun, rain and storm... everything right at hand... :-) Hope, you are well, my friend! Let's talk soon! Mark
Thanks for great video Mark. This is very interesting topic that you have pointed out - dry or not to dry too much the tobacco that has more moisture than others. Thanks for recommending Schottish Autum Flake. Take care, Janez
You have a unique approach to your videos that is quite enjoyable. I alluded to you referentially in one of my videos and I will give you a shout out when I make a pipe smoking video. Thanks for your good work!
Mark - another fascinating video, albeit I was a bit worn out by all the fussing you had to do to get a smoke from this tobacco. You said you lost patience trying to keep the pipe lit - well I lost patience with flake tobacco years ago - simply don't want to be bothered - lazy, yes. You did show me a new way to prepare a flake and I look forward to trying that - at last once. Truly appreciate all the effort you make to share these video's. I am still looking for "THE" perfect tobacco and time is running out at my age but the challenge is fun. Take care and God bless Jim
Hello Jim, my friend! Thanks a lot for taking the time...and very thoughtful words! Yeah...give the flake another shot... and keep on searching for the perfect tobacco! Let me know, if you find it!! Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well! Mark
That was a thorough test, no doubts! Well.., I really don't mind wet tobacco- My place is getting drier by the day and once opened a Sam Gawith tin dry out to the perfect level overnight...I eventually need to humidify them back!
Great video as always, Mark. You're right about the need for focus for the Gawith blends. I tend to dry them out for 30 minutes only as I haven't found anything beyond that has helped me significantly -- though not giving that half hour drying time does make a big difference. The good news is they are tasty enough that you don't mind focusing on them, but it's definitely not a bowl to have while you are focusing on other things. I also find that if it is a humid day out, a Gawith blend is probably not a good choice as it is then even harder to keep lit. But if you're just sitting outside, nature watching, and focusing on the bowl, I find it works out for me at least. Admittedly though I don't have a lot of Gawith experience. Mainly Brown Sugar Flake and 1792 flake, but I enjoy both a great deal. Funny enough, I actually like a more moist flake; they have such a nice tin note and its a bit like a moist chocolate cake; scrumptuous. But this may be also because of how I smoke my pipe, namely, that I always purposefully set down an hour in the evening to specifically enjoy it, so for me it is not a far reach to focus on it.
I have a tin of SG Best Brown flake in my cellar and I have had a sample it's good stuff, nice experiment great video , Mark good to see you my friend keep on choochin the good stuff
Great video Mark! I picked up an ounce of SG Best Brown from Low Country P & C a few weeks ago. I loved it and had no issues lighting it or keeping it lit. I suspect my success with Best Brown may have been due to the fact that I bought it in bulk. The tobacco I purchased must have been sitting on the shelf for a while... All the best! John
Hello John! Thanks for taking the time...and kind words! Yeah...that's an interesting hint...perhaps, I gonna try the bulk version next... Take care! Be well! Mark
Hello Mark: A very thoughtful...and well-executed video...as usual. I agree with you, that the humidity is there for a reason, and that is... to enhance the flavor. Samuel Gawith is a quality producer, and, over 200 years old, I believe. So...I think that they want the tobacco to be smoked the way it comes. One thing that I may suggest, is to try the bulk version of these tobaccos. Some of the U.S. producers sell them this way, or, in a 250 gram cardboard box. Maybe...Ronny can get some. The flakes are much thinner...and longer. They are easier to light, and keep lit. I have enjoyed the SG St. James Flake, in this bulk version, and it's pretty good. I really enjoy these "experiments" of yours. Well done. Thanks, my friend. Hope you're having a delightful Summer. Be Well. Ed
Hello Ed, my friend! Thank you so much for taking the time...and a very interesting hint! Yeah...I think, I gonna give the bulk version another shot! Also still trying to figure out the connection between Stanislav, Sg and DTM....that's another riddle for me... :-) Take care, my friend! Hope, you well! Mark
you need moisture to ferment the tobacco and get those nice earthy flavors, kinda like black tea. it's likely sent out so moist so it can continue to do so in shipment and to increase production and revenue. you definitely need to dry it out.
Hello Mark great to see you and to hear your experience, I love SG Products And my way of smoking it is When I opened the tin I leave it without led just covering with paper which came in it and next day I take a Flake and let it dry for ( 2 - 3 ) hours and walla in this way I didn't lose Humidity and enjoy 😊 smoking SG this is my way. Thank you so much Mark for this video it's great to share problems with us to fix it .
Oh dear. There goes another one of our precious export markets! [I agree Mark - SG tobaccos are too moist and are too irregularly cut but just occasionally, when all the planets are aligned, it is possible to get a sublime smoke. I had a tin of Full Virginia Flake once where the flakes had been cut much thinner than normal and that was one of the best tins of tobacco I ever smoked but, alas, has not been repeated since.....] an informative and entertaining video, as ever. Keep well, Paul
Hello Paulus, my good friend! Thanks for that...and sorry...LOL... But don't worry... there is still enough great tobacco to find in the UK! And ... not to mention the Whisky! (as long as Scotland is still joining the kingdom...lol...)... Thank you so much again! And take care! Mark
Excellent experimental video.For me Best Brown is one of the best tobaccos outthere.Sadly,oh sadly,flavour and burning quality not always can be found together.My way is not fully rubbing and one day,depending on weather,drying time.Many thanks for your time and match spending.Pure virginias,specially flakes,can be wonderful but not at all easy to smoke,but they worth the toil.Your tamper is a masterpiece.The level of moisture of this tobacco is perfect for cellaring,perhaps thinking in our brothers of briar from the other side of the pool,and for me too on this side.Again,thank you very much.
A great video Mark. Thanks for posting. Never tried Best Brown Flake but I am a fan of Full Virginia Flake and when I opened my tin it was the perfect moisture content. Maybe it wasn't sealed very well...👍🏾
Does Ronny think you're some kind of sharp dressed crazy professor that makes videos in his shop? :-) I love the Best Brown Flake. Well rubbed and dried a bit keeps a little moisture and smoothness, especially as the bowl burns down, but rubbing it out helps the even burning. For me at least. I also find the boxed flakes to burn a bit better, and are less moisty. Cheers!
Thanks for taking the time, my friend! And...yeah...don't know...guess, Ronny already got used to that...LOL Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well! Mark
Great vid. Virginia rolling tobacco has to be really moist too. So smooth though 👌 Ages really quick if left in the desert for a year! I picked a kilo of 50g pouches up after leaving them at a job once. They were left for a year in a dusty container at 30-50oC sealed. The stuff was dark brown instead of gold! Great taste though and no harshness, not much fresh grass, more silage or hay and surprisingly sweeter. A nice change, but I definitely prefer it as the artist designed it.
The more I see your videos the more I love your channel If you find best brown hard to lit just don't try full Virginia flake (though I think you already tried it 😋) I just have been mad trying to smoke it.. Tried all.. Cube cut, different ways to get it.. No way One day I found a tin I opened long time ago... And it was incredible.. Very easy to smoke.. I think the tobacco dried in tin is another thing that airing it But you ll have to wait for.. A generation 😀 Have a good week end
Great video. I still haven't tried any SG blends because of the rumors associated with their moisture content. Maybe one day I'll try one out, when I have a lot of time haha.
I've been smoking Best Brown as my first pipe of the dayand have discovered a few thing that work for me. First, it only works as the first pipe of the day, with a cup of English black tea with sugar and milk. This helps cut down on the citric acid feeling this blend can produce. Just forget about smoking it the first couple days after you open the tin. Get a pouch and put a few flakes in there, after a few days they will be dry but not too dry. Being too dry will produce bite just as being too wet. It needs to be rubbed out pretty well too. When I put the flakes in the pouch I rub them to broken flake style consistency. I'm sure you have already solved this problem and or have moved on to another tobacco, but this has worked for me. Take care buddy, oh and it sems to be best in a briar, and preferably the same one each morning to build its flavor in the cake
This is a great video. New (and old) pipe smokers should watch this to better understand tobacco humidity issues that happen with many different tobacco's. I'm sure many people discount many different blends because they don't smoke them correctly. Thanks!
Hi Mark: I have been smoking SG Best Brown Flake for about 25 years, and have found that, like you, I have been frustrated at times with the inability of the stuff to stay lit. Like all Virginias, if one puffs too hard to keep the stuff lit the leaf tends to heat up to a point where one loses the flavor altogether. I have concluded over the years that let the stuff dry out before loading helps immensely. If one does not have hours to wait for the drying time try this, find a small saucer, rub the BBF out to your desired cut and spread it out on the plate. Then place the plate under any handy table lamp about 10 to 12 inches away from the light bulb for about 20 minutes and voila, you have a pipeful of BBF just crispy enough on the edges to stay lit quite nicely. By the way it also mixes very nicely with SG Full Virginia Flake. One of the truly great smokes for Virginia lovers.
Hello Doug! ...sorry for being late... But thank you so much for taking the time...and very good and insightful comment! Really so much appreciated! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
It really is an issue if you wanna smoke the whole thing on one sit, but it's nearly impossible to maintain S.G flakes lit all the time. My advice is that you need to keep your lighter near, and when you wanna puff just flame that bowl; not that much, or the Virginia will burn like crazy ( high sugar ) and the entire bowl will go to garbage. Great content, very informative. Thanks Mark, keep uploading.
Mark!!! How are you doing brother 😁! Hope you are doing well thanks for the experiment... I love samuel gawith but it's always soaked.. Great video my friend take care hope you are enjoying your summer take care
I had a tin of Peterson Dublin Flake from 2016 and opened it back then. It just wouldnt stay lit. After a few years it still doesnt stay lit even after ive cut it up and dried it out. ever since then i have not been a fan of flake cut. Good video!
Great video again. I found the only way to smoke Sam Gawith is to pop the tin, shuffle the flakes and then close it up and leave it on my desk for 30+ days and then it smokes fine.
heyyy Mark awesome video I've heard that most of this brand of Tobacco's are always very moist and very hard to stay lit your example was very helpful and you did an excellent job mark thanks for sharing buddy ☺☺☺☺👍👍👍👍 best regards Peter.
Hi Mark, I am fond of Samuel Gawith & Gawith Hoggarth, but I have not tried Brown Flake yet, I have had some SG Balkan Flake, but only had a couple of bowls so far. I am smoking Ogden's Original Flake which is an honest traditional flake which I find most agreeable, again I have only had a few bowls but they are quality looking flakes , oily but do not seem overly moist , the "tin" note and taste reminds me of my childhood and my pipe smoking Uncles pipe tobacco 's , in my twenties I found one of his pipes at home (he had emigrated with his wife) and that was my first pipe smoking experience of OTC Clan & Troost, i also found empty tins of Balkan Sobranie, the "good" auld pipe days ...be seeing you ...Stan.
A very interesting experiment, varying the drying time of this particular flake. Your "problem", with this tobacco, my friend, is in the way you fill the bowl. It seems obvious to me that you need to rub it out much more before filling your pipe. Combustion will be much better if you do so. Also, you might think about how you are tamping the lit tobacco - not just pressing down on it as you appear to do, but at the same time, distributing the burning portion a bit, leveling it out, so that you won't get what you call a "burn hole". Of the 3 pipes, I very much like the second one, since it has a (silver?) rim and thus obviates the problem of the rim burn that is so very obvious on the other 2 pipes.
I let the flakes dry a bit for 1 hr, cube cut it en dry half an hr. Lites like a charm en consistent flavor with 3 or 4 relights in a 75 min. smoke. Thanks for your videos! They are really good👌🏻
Great video Mark. I think that it could be the flake being very irregular in terms of cut. I rub out flakes completely - especially Sam Gawith/Gawith and Hoggarth until they are almost like ribbon and I think this helps distribute the heat more evenly. I also dry my tobacco out a lot but I don't find a huge difference in taste because of using the charcoal filter (I assume that you still use a filter?) I don't know, your taste buds are probably better than mine! Really great video - perhaps do a follow-up by rubbing out the tobacco at different drynesses, using a grinder, or cube cutting them? It could make for an interesting vid? I do think that some tobaccos are just a pain as well. I really struggle with keeping Ennerdale flake lit, to the point where I just don't smoke it anymore!
Thanks a lot for that, my friend! Yeah...perhaps, rubbing out completely...in combination with some dry out could perhaps provide some benefit... I agree on that...although, I normally expect the producer, to sell some proper tobacco without any "secret" packing methods...lol... Anyway...thanks again, my friend! Hope, you are well! Mark
I have to tell you...1) I went through what you did and more! Yet, I did not give up on this blend!. 2) I aquired another tin and placed all the flakes into a mason jar and sealed it up for 5 months...took a strip and hand crumbled it into a stainless steel bowl. Let it sit for 1 hour, because for some reason...in the jarring process, there was still a tiddo of. Moisture!!! Yet, the smell was wonderful! I then packed my pipe using the swirling method because I did not want to wreck the initial broken flake! The smoke was wonderful in the end...no tongue bite, yet...for some reason it made, whatever pipe I smoked it in very hot???? So, I enjoyed the taste in stages!?!? If that is what we are left with....it is a mildly enjoyable smoke! Thanks for your input! It was fun! John
Hello John! Wow...thank you so much for all your efforts! That's really an interesting report on that! And thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend! So much appreciated! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Like your presentations. Very suave. I wanted to ask you, about F&T. Which Virginia, Virginia/perique do you recommend for someone wanting sweetness, fruitiness? I hope you see my post
Thank you Herr professor for a nice experiment. As most people I have had problems with Best Brown Flake, but I have also had some of my most fantastic smoking adventures with this tobacco. It's driving me crazy sometimes. I have never come to a conclusion what to do. It's pure luck. As you I have tried different drying times. If it is too dry it becomes shaper and it looses some of is roundness and smoothness. Maybe I should try different ways to methods of rubbing it out as some has proposed in the comments.
Hello Tormod! Thanks a lot for watching...and very interesting comment! And...yeah...I absolutely understand, what your going through...it's pretty much the same for me.... Hope, you are well! And take care, my friend! Mark
So in the end, the five hours is about the peak of drying it out? If I remember it correctly BBF is quite a thick cut also. That is definitely a tobacco to be smoked slow and easy not while on the move. Take care Mark! Thanks for spending the time on this videom
Thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend! Yeah...I guess, it would take some more research, to find the very exact peak...but for me, the five hours version should do the trick...and yeah, you're sure right about smoking the BBF very gently ...and not "on the run"...lol Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Hi Mark, i was wondering if you could me give me some advise/tips about smoking indoors. So far i have never smoked indoors, but it's a tough call smoking outside in Patio during winter months. In case you do smoke indoors, do you use any air purifier or ventillator? But i guess, the bigger concern is that the walls might be "colored" in the long run. I would really appreciate some help, also from any fellow pipe smokers. Much thanks and a good day to you. Cheers, Tej
...yeah...well...guess, there are no real secrets about that... The smell of pipe tobacco normally leaves quite quickly after letting some fresh air in...and the only advise for the walls is, to do some painting after several years of indoor smoking... Thanks for taking the time...hope, you are well! Mark
Marc, Another great video . I am having the same problem with Peterson's 3 p tobacco with keeping it light and fighting with the tobacco to stay lit . Any suggestions?
Thanks for taking the time! Yeah..well...I like to cut that extremely(!) thin ...and rub it out after cutting...perhaps you try that method...normally works... Take care! Be well! Mark
Nice experimemt!! Do you have a tin of the season flakes at hand? Here in Austria they are only markeded as Stanislav and not as SG and at the back of the tin it says that they are made by DTM. I really like the Autumn and the Spring time flake, the summer is alright. I have never come across of one of the "real" SG, it seams they are not available here.
Thanks for taking the time! Yeah...that's really interesting....already had that conversation with a friend from Czech Republic on the video about Spring flake...in Germany they are marked with a small Stanislav symbol...in Czech just with Stanislav... I already contacted Dan Tobacco (which is the owner of DTM)...but they couldn't give a clear answer about the connection between Stani, Samuel and DTM... Let's see...still try, to figure things out.... Take care! Mark
Great video Sir. I like to light my pipe, sit back, relax, and ponder life. I don't like to have to concentrate on keeping my pipe lit. Relighting over and over is frustrating and takes away from the enjoyment I get when I'm chooching on a nice bowl. I would have trashed the whole tin after about a half the bowl if I had to relight as often as you did in the video. Thanks for the experiment. Best Brown Flake won't be on my purchase list!!
Thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend! Yeah...agree with you on the "smoking habits" ...and not wanting to focus on the glow... fortunately, there is enough good tobacco on the market without these problems... Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Hi Mark, a very interesting experiment that requires a lot of patience. You seem to be a very patient person :), like me, when it's not about the punctuality. Most of the people which live here, doesent have punctuality. This is a big problem for mi:) When I buy a tin, I open it immediately and put all the stuff on a paper towel for twelve hours to dry. After that, it usually works reasonably well with patience and concentration. The taste is preserved and you have no tongue bite. Maybe you try this version. At least, I smoke this flake exclusively at home. ¡Hasta luego! Michael
Thanks for that, my friend! I'll try that! Btw: just right now, smoking some Best Brown...the jared rest of the experiment....lol Take care! Be well! Mark
Mark, Great video. I am a fairly new to pipe smoking and will stay away from that tobacco. When I smoke my pipe I want it to be a relaxing time not a fight with my pipe. I smoke P.S. bullseye flake and dont have that problem. When you said "I recommend" I said more matches out loud....Lol. Good work bro, I really enjoy watching your vids. Until next time take it easy bro!
Sometimes it surprises me how fast a tobacco can dry out too. Ive opened very wet tins and spread out to dry in my bedroom, it went too dry in a couple hours. Much faster than other times. Now I find myself rehydrating it a bit. When I go for long walks, I like to have a flake that is just a bit on the damp side as it slows the burn rate enough to allow a 1.5 hour walk in one bowl. When I walk, I rarely need a single relight. Being into pipes just about a year, I’m just getting a good feel for what I like. Very different from cigars for sure.
I think Gawith wets the tobacco because they use very old machines and wetting the tobacco is easier on the machines. However, I have noticed their tobaccos to not be so wet in the last few years, which is an improvement.
hi my friend mark.great video as always.you are %100 academic man.a lot of experiment,a lot of material,researches;relight-religh-relight again.l.o.l. never back down...
A very interesting experiment! I absolutely love Samuel Gawith tobaccos, so I have a lot to comment on! My apologies ahead of time for being so dreadfully long-winded. As far as Burley is concerned, it is naturally the best burning tobacco out there, so your comparison to a similarly moist HU Burley blend seems like sort of an "Apples-to-Oranges" type of comparison. If you compare two blends of identical moisture levels, one with Burley and another without, the blend with the Burley will stay lit longer and generally behave better (assuming it isn't an American-style aromatic that is covered in goopy crap) far more often than blends without it. Not sure why that is, maybe it has something to do with the very low/non-existent amount of sugar that is present in Burley? Whatever the reason, Burley just burns best, so if you repeated this experiment again (hint hint) with a SG blend with a good bit of Burley in it (Lakeland Dark comes to mind) you might find the results are different. Even something like St. James Flake flake which is just Full Virginia flake with some Perique (also a variant of Burley) seems to behave better than straight Full Virginia Flake or Best Brown. The ultimate question as to why many Samuel are so tricky shouldn't be "what are they doing to keep it from burning?" but rather "what are they NOT doing to keep it burning?" Well, everyone knows that cigarettes are loaded with all kinds of nasty chemicals, many are designed for maximum nicotine absorption but just as many are designed to promote proper combustion. We've all seen (or been) the chain-smoker lightly brushing the cherry of his nearly-spent cig past the foot of a fresh cig for but a fleeting second, instantly igniting it. Now we all know that no pipe tobacco behaves that way and generally speaking they have substantially less additives in them, however if we are all really honest with ourselves it is quite likely that many pipe tobaccos have at least a *little* something in them help keep things burning more easily (I'm looking at you, Dunhill). After all how does a tobacco, which is admittedly very moist right out of the tin, but left out to dry for 5 hours and decidedly dry to the touch somehow still burn less effectively than another brand of moist tobacco with no dry time straight from the tin? To me, this says that some questionable additives are at work. Anywho, I've developed a technique for SG tobaccos (the flakes at least) which seems to work fairly well. I take a flake from the tin/jar, lay it on the cutting board, then using my sharpest kitchen knife, I slice the flake transversely. Interestingly, cutting it in this manner causes it to basically cube automatically on its own. I try to shoot for approximately 3-4mm size cubes. Then I let it dry for an hour to an hour and a half. The benefits of doing it this way is that the cube cut increases surface area, allowing faster drying as though it were rubbed out. The fact that it is still essentially in a compacted flake form however, means it will still have most of the slow burning characteristics of a folded and stuffed flake, but will tend to stay lit better due to the increased airflow of the cube cut. Once the drying is done I gravity fill it, step outside and fire it up. And speaking of outside... SG really smokes well outdoors. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was intended to be smoked outside. However you choose to prepare it, smoking SG tobaccos outside makes a huge difference. While the extra airflow of the outdoors would turn most other "combustion-assisted" tobaccos into a hot, briar-burning fireball, it seems in my experience to help stubborn SG tobaccos behave in a more "normal" manner, if you can believe that.
Thank you so much for that, my friend! Especially for your very thoughtful comment! Your efforts are so much appreciated! Yeah...I agree with you on the differences between Virginias and Burleys ...no question about that... But...my point is just, that I expect a producer, to deliver the tobacco in a proper way...without tending to be moldy already in the tin... But you're surely right about the chemicals (sometimes!) used by other producers... And...SG themselves have some really nice burning Virginias without any complications...like the Spring Flake... But anyway...as I said...perhaps, it's just my problem... Take care, my friend...and keep on enjoying the SGs...I will too... :-) Be well! Mark
of course tobacco is dry when shipped. however once the blender vacuum seals it the fermentation process begins almost immediately. That is why Virginias age so beautifully and having smoked this stuff for 50 years I assure you that the essential oils which are lost from overdrying the leaf after popping a sealed tin result in a major flavor loss.
It is clear from your video that this tobacco can only be smoked if you are next to an eternal flame. Maybe Samuel Gawith has a match company? Great experiment and very helpful.
Yeah...just used the same method, I use for (nearly) all my flakes...just made it look like a "ready rubbed" from a tin... But you're right...it could help...but on the other way...the virginia likes to get sharp, if rubbed to small... Take care! Hope, you're well! Mark
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I enjoy your video's. This particular one made me smile because I encountered the same "won't stay lit" issue with all the SG flakes that I've tried and in particular SG 1792, which is my all time favorite despite the problems of keeping it lit. I had been purchasing the tinned version and all of them behaved the same. Recently I purchased a 250 gm package of 1792 and it was completely different in terms of it's lighting and hence enjoyment. It looked the same, but the flakes "crumbled" a bit more easily and pipe stayed lit through to the bottom of the bowl leaving a grey ash. I can't explain why the difference between canned and packaged...quality control issue? Anyway, I just thought I would pass this on to you in case you might want to explore this further.
Hello Norbert! Thank you so much for taking the time! And also for the very interesting hint! I don't think, I can get the "bag version" here...but I gonna try... Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Hi Mark, If you have trouble sourcing the 250 gm package of 1792 I will give you the name of my supplier,James Barber located near Leeds in the UK. www.smoke.co.uk/ I've been dealing with them for years and they are very reputable. Importation into Germany may be a complication which I'm not aware of. All the best...Norbert
I know that it might be a wierd way but did you try to put flakes in the small bowl with some kitchen roll paper and then put them in very warm place ( direct sun light or microwave on the lover setting for 30 sec just enough to warm up the flakes so u can easily rub them. SG are using very sticky syropy casing and that's why it's so hard to rub this tabacco properly. This method helps to seperate all tabacco leaves and give you nice ribbon cut mixture. I can tell you I don't have any problem of smoking that BB after using this method. Tabaco stays nice and sweet and burn is ok still hot but that is diffrent problem .
Hi Mark, SG tobaccos in bulk don't have so much moisture as they have when they're in tins e.g. Full Virginia Flake is my favourite smoke but when it comes in a tin is thicker and full of humitity and can't afford it. Greetings, Lefteris
Hello Leferis! Thanks a lot for taking the time...and very interesting comment! Yeah...already heard that...perhaps, I gonna give the bulk version a shot... Take care! Be well! Mark
What also happens with drying these tobaccos too long is that part of the essential oils evaporate along with the water thus losing some flavor and increasing the risk of tongue bite. That is probably why pipe smokers I have talked to either love Virginias or hate them. I love them but they can be a little fussy to prepare for the pipe in the proper manner.
Mark does the best pipeman reviews bar none. I am not a fan of Sam Gawith tobaccos which are always wet and this experiment clearly shows the problem with them. On the other hand SG makes really good snuff.
Grat Mark I adore this tobacco from Gawith it is my favorite one of :-) I like to take out from tin one to two hours before puting in pipe and rub it full wayand it is great :-0 problem it is for everyone not in you same for me i need to concetrate to stay lit but anyway I like it,,, stay cool my Friend!!!
Hi Mark... About Samuel Gawith...I find myself that their products are different not for the higher level of humidity in the tobaccos...but for the nature of the humidity... I find all of them has an "inner humidity" (the only way I've found to explain it to myself too)... To explain that I can only try it saying that even completely drying out a Samuel Gawith tobacco you can feel water in the smoke...the tobacco as some watery component as part of the tobacco itself... Personally I think it has something to do with the old fashioned way and machinaries and processes they use to produce the tobacco itself... Have a nice week end my friend and I hope there will be no problem with the G20 in Hamburg...stay safe my friend...
Many thanks for that, my friend! Especially for your very interesting thoughts about the "inner humidity"...I really know, what you're talking about...I kinda feel the same...think, you pretty much hit the spot! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Hi, Mark, well this experiment come just at right moment, since I just cracked out my Golden Glowe By S.Gawith, and was facing to similar problems as here to a point I spread all tobacco on the sheet of paper and left to dry it for 8 hours, the result:it went most bone dry, now rehydarating it back to smokabe leavel, so I can't recommed this kind drying to anyone, better way to go is to get only a bowlful and let it dry prior to smoking about half an hour , whereas I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to tobaccos on wet side, very afraid of tongue bite ,you do know this, and now I'm guessing why S&G make them tobaccoes that moist, well, their products are destinated to last long period shipping time to Old English colonies as India or Sri lanka and perhaps are made this moist in order to keep them in smokable condition after they arrived at destination country with hot climat such as aforementioned are. Thank You for sharing and keep on experimenting,Greets, Paul
we don't know all these Old British tradition details,but it may have some influence, as we can remember,back then Brits were present in every continent, it was such an huge empire where sun never falls''
The long voyages to the British colonies around the world (India, for example) is also why the IPA (India Pale Ale) beer was developed. The very high hops content would act as a preservative, and keep the beer good over the long shipping times.
Yep and I do love these Ales myself ,along with the good German ones, Oh yes, those folks are masters in this craft aren't they? Have a great weekend there in upper N.Y , Greets, Paul
Hello Paul, my friend! Thank you so much for taking the time...and very thoughtful comment...as always! So much appreciated! Yeah..it may be, that the long lines of transport had some influence...at least the pressing itself and shipping that as a flake is surely a result of that... But these tins are now vacuumed, so there is no reason for that...and they don't come by ship any more...but by plane...and not all of the SGs suffer too much humidity... so....that brings me back to the point, that they might wanna avoid sharpness, by a very simple (and cheap) way... But...that's just an idea... Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well! Mark
I have never had luck with SG blends and therefore dont smoke them. They are all so wet, I wouldn't even consider them moist. Their flakes are also so thick cut that they just wont burn, not even after rubbing out. I have tried everything, drying for 1-24 hours and nothing works for me.
...they didn't hit me about that...so far... :-) But the German distributor knows about these issues...and at least the "mold problems" seem to be handled... Take care! Mark
I watched your video with some amusement and I have several comments. Let me first describe my experience with SG BBF and 1792. I've recently ordered 250 gm of BBF and it arrived, as you described, in what appears to be an overly moist condition. I rubbed one flake between my palms and then filled my meerschaum, lit it and smoked it gently to the very end, a white ash, with occasional tamping, but without relight . The problem you're having in your video is that you are using matches which, because of their short life, are not able to properly ignite the surface of the tobacco. You have a "burn hole" which, because the lit tobacco is in contact with unlit tobacco the burn is cooled and, of course, eventually extinguishes. Matches are not the way to go with SG tobaccos and I agree SG tobaccos are not ideal in a contest. Here is my technique, which works without fail. I light the tobacco with my Zippo, which is a gentle flame, similar to a match, but lasts much longer thereby able to raise the temperature and light the surface properly. That is the secret with SG tobaccos. I light and tamp several times at the beginning to get the surface lit properly ie, the complete surface is flat with a grey ash. I then puff gently and the heat permeates through the lower levels drying the tobacco to the required degree. All that is required is a gentle tamping as the tobacco burns. I am not being critical of your technique, but SG is unique and will give an excellent experience if handled properly otherwise it's a source of frustration
Hello Norbert! Thank you so much for taking the time...and very interesting and helpful comment! Yeah...well...normally, I do it the same way...but I used matches, to have a measurable and comparable time scale... During a smoking contest, you're only allowed, to use two matches, to get the pipe going...and that should be enough for the whole bowl... But I agree with you on the method in general of course... Take care! Be well! Mark
oh gawd... you can't smoke SG flakes like that. the flakes are too thick to just leave one sitting out, you'll only dry the surface of it and the inside will still be wet. break up a flake, let it dry until it feels dry, then put it in a bag or old tin or somewhere where it can "cure", should be good to go. idk how you even got it to burn fresh from a tin... nice I'm not the only one who realizes water is weight though. still some very enjoyable tobaccos when dried properly, my navy flake is smoking wonderfully.
Not to be mean or anything, I really like your videos but there is one thing that constantly irritates me a bit. Do you know the English word "wet"? Or wetness, instead of moist, humid, moisty... expecially "moisty" just sounds... wrong. Anyway it is my problem, not yours. I hope I managed to write about it politely. I attempted to...
Hello Tommy! Thanks for taking the time! And for interesting comment! No offense taken! Yeah...well..."wet" is just more than "moisty"...and (fortunately) most tobaccos are "just" moisty...thanks heaven.. :-) Anyway...thanks for the hint! Hope, you're well, my friend! Take care! Mark
I've smoked SG tobacco for years now. I've found the key is to leave some of the moisture in the tobacco as you did for pipe #2, 1-2 hrs drying time, else you get the sharpness you described. But the real key is to rub out in your hand, but leave 1/10 of the tobacco behind, and fill your pipe. Then finely rub out the 10%, as fine as you can and put that on the top. It acts as a kindling and lets the bowl burn sweet and evenly. Love your videos my friend.
Thank you so much for that, my friend! That's really an interesting hint...I gonna try this!
Take care! And thanks a lot for taking the time!
Mark
I do something like this too. I was about to quit smoking flake tobacco because it's very expensive and it gives you a lot of issues. Now, I rub 80% o the tobacco and let it dry for some time and I put it back on the tin with the rest of it. The very fine rest I put on the top as you said, it works like a charm. I realize that if you don't rub a flake it's likely that you're gonna waste a lot of tobacco and that's a pity :)
That's exactly how I prepare the Samuel Gawith flakes. I love them since I found out how to get them to smoke. Especially the best brown flake is such a tasty flake.
My dry method is putting it in a stainless steel tin saucer, cover it, place on electric coffee mug warmer and steam out the moisture until desirable. Works great, doesn't hurt the tobacco, and once the tobacco is warm the flakes break up nice and easy. Highly recommend trying something like this, saves lots of time.
I think when people watch this they will realize that this hobby really is an art. And you exemplify how much an art it is.
Admittedly, I'm a little rough and not near as refined in my pipe smoking. But I do get joy watching you and others who take pipe smoking to high levels. :-) Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for that, my friend! Really so much appreciated by heart!
And ...well...the only important thing is, to enjoy!
Take care, my friend! Hope you are well!
Mark
Mark you are like the top Shaman of Tobacco for Germany.
Excellent video!
LOL...thanks for that!
Take care!
Mark
Hi, Mark!
This has to be one of the most rigorous and precise tests I have ever seen in my entire life. I raise my hat to you, Sir! A very straightforward and excellent video! I prefer longer videos, and surely I cannot be the only one among your subscribers that does so (therefore you need not worry that your videos might be too long). They are not, nor are they too short. They are precisely as long as the need to be. I have been watching your videos for the past ten months, and I must say that there is not a single one of them that bored me in any way. I particularly enjoy your visits to various historical sites, as well as the historical background that you provide us with. The pipes are also very classy, and they are an integral part to your particular style, which greatly enhances the experience of learning, be it in relation to pipes, tobacco, or history, or any other topic you present. A big thank you from Romania, along with all the best wishes in the world!
Best regards,
Andrei
Man I've discovered you recently in the past 78 hours of watching. I had to take my time to get over my prejudice to be honest but man you have fermented and now you are a absolute hero. Right on my German hero.
Really appreciate the time and energy that you put into your videos! Well done, my friend.
Thanks for that! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Love your content!!! You make me motivated to try new blends/brands!!!! Keep up the good work!
Many thanks for that! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Dear Mark,
as so often: a great scientific approach!
Thank you and best regards,
Peter
Hello Peter!
Thanks for that...and for taking the time! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Ever the academic : ) Great video Mark. Always look forward to your next installment.
...lol...Thanks for that, my friend!
Take care!
Mark
Very interesting video Mark,....and a brilliant way to show both the effects and importance of humidity to tobacco.
When you said that it's all about the recipe, you're quite right, and I think that was the best point made by your experiment and remarks....along with the question "do we really want to concentrate that much on keeping the bowl going?"
Take care and be well my friend, and we'll talk soon,
Corey
Corey, my friend!
Thanks for taking the time! And for most interesting thoughts! As always so much appreciated!
Let's talk soon! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I had Best Brown from the tin and from bulk. None of them was easy to lit, but the bulk version was a nightmare - a very wet one. I enjoy watching your videos while smoking from the same tobacco as you. Keep it up during the winter and greetings from Brazil.
Many Matches! I hope every new flake tobacco smoker watches this video. I was trying to watch you but kept getting distracted by the beautiful pipes on the wall next to you lol. You know how I love to look at quality pipes lol. I hope the summer is treating you well my friend and don't forget to buy another box of matches soon! Be well Mark!
Hello Mike, ma good friend!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Yeah...I understand...LOL... There are indeed some nice pipes on the shelf... :-)
Well...summer is quite "erratic" this year...sun, rain and storm... everything right at hand... :-)
Hope, you are well, my friend! Let's talk soon!
Mark
Hello Mark!
I really enjoy all of your experiments!
Thanks for great video Mark. This is very interesting topic that you have pointed out - dry or not to dry too much the tobacco that has more moisture than others. Thanks for recommending Schottish Autum Flake. Take care, Janez
Hello Janez!
Thanks a lot for that! Much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I love your videos. Thank you.
Great video! Enjoyed the experiment and looking at all those pipes on the wall.
Thanks for that! Hope you are well!
Mark
I really enjoy yor videos
one of the most learned pipe videos I've seen! You're a sage when it comes to tobacco!
Thank you so much, my friend! Truly appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Great review. Thank you very much for your keen observations.
WOOOOOW, so coll lecture! UR the best, Mark!
Greetings from Russia! I'm with you for a bit long, and enjoyed, as ever!
Thank you so much for that, my friend! And all the best from Bremen to Russia!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
You have a unique approach to your videos that is quite enjoyable. I alluded to you referentially in one of my videos and I will give you a shout out when I make a pipe smoking video. Thanks for your good work!
Thank you so much for that! So much appreciated!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Great video as usual. The meerschaum pipes are looking/coloring great.
Thanks for that! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Mark - another fascinating video, albeit I was a bit worn out by all the fussing you had to do to get a smoke from this tobacco. You said you lost patience trying to keep the pipe lit - well I lost patience with flake tobacco years ago - simply don't want to be bothered - lazy, yes. You did show me a new way to prepare a flake and I look forward to trying that - at last once. Truly appreciate all the effort you make to share these video's. I am still looking for "THE" perfect tobacco and time is running out at my age but the challenge is fun.
Take care and God bless
Jim
Hello Jim, my friend!
Thanks a lot for taking the time...and very thoughtful words! Yeah...give the flake another shot... and keep on searching for the perfect tobacco! Let me know, if you find it!!
Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well!
Mark
That was a thorough test, no doubts! Well.., I really don't mind wet tobacco- My place is getting drier by the day and once opened a Sam Gawith tin dry out to the perfect level overnight...I eventually need to humidify them back!
great video - nice to see the meerschaums as well. I smoke alot of sam gawith but have not yet tried best brown - it's on my list!
Great video as always, Mark. You're right about the need for focus for the Gawith blends. I tend to dry them out for 30 minutes only as I haven't found anything beyond that has helped me significantly -- though not giving that half hour drying time does make a big difference. The good news is they are tasty enough that you don't mind focusing on them, but it's definitely not a bowl to have while you are focusing on other things. I also find that if it is a humid day out, a Gawith blend is probably not a good choice as it is then even harder to keep lit. But if you're just sitting outside, nature watching, and focusing on the bowl, I find it works out for me at least. Admittedly though I don't have a lot of Gawith experience. Mainly Brown Sugar Flake and 1792 flake, but I enjoy both a great deal. Funny enough, I actually like a more moist flake; they have such a nice tin note and its a bit like a moist chocolate cake; scrumptuous. But this may be also because of how I smoke my pipe, namely, that I always purposefully set down an hour in the evening to specifically enjoy it, so for me it is not a far reach to focus on it.
Thanks for that, my friend! As always so much appreciated! I agree with you on that...completely!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I have a tin of SG Best Brown flake in my cellar and I have had a sample it's good stuff, nice experiment great video , Mark good to see you my friend keep on choochin the good stuff
Berg, my friend!
Thanks for stopping by! Keep on choochin! We gonna talk soon, brother!
Hope, you are well!
Mark
Great video Mark! I picked up an ounce of SG Best Brown from Low Country P & C a few weeks ago. I loved it and had no issues lighting it or keeping it lit. I suspect my success with Best Brown may have been due to the fact that I bought it in bulk. The tobacco I purchased must have been sitting on the shelf for a while...
All the best!
John
Hello John!
Thanks for taking the time...and kind words!
Yeah...that's an interesting hint...perhaps, I gonna try the bulk version next...
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Excellent Mark. Very interesting video with supported results.
Thanks for that! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Very informative and well done!
Hello Mark: A very thoughtful...and well-executed video...as usual. I agree with you, that the humidity is there for a reason, and that is... to enhance the flavor. Samuel Gawith is a quality producer, and, over 200 years old, I believe. So...I think that they want the tobacco to be smoked the way it comes. One thing that I may suggest, is to try the bulk version of these tobaccos. Some of the U.S. producers sell them this way, or, in a 250 gram cardboard box. Maybe...Ronny can get some. The flakes are much thinner...and longer. They are easier to light, and keep lit. I have enjoyed the SG St. James Flake, in this bulk version, and it's pretty good. I really enjoy these "experiments" of yours. Well done. Thanks, my friend. Hope you're having a delightful Summer. Be Well. Ed
Hello Ed, my friend!
Thank you so much for taking the time...and a very interesting hint! Yeah...I think, I gonna give the bulk version another shot! Also still trying to figure out the connection between Stanislav, Sg and DTM....that's another riddle for me... :-)
Take care, my friend! Hope, you well!
Mark
you need moisture to ferment the tobacco and get those nice earthy flavors, kinda like black tea. it's likely sent out so moist so it can continue to do so in shipment and to increase production and revenue. you definitely need to dry it out.
Mark awesome video excellent job mark thanks for sharing mate
Thanks for taking the time, my friend!
Be well! And take care!
Mark
Hello Mark great to see you and to hear your experience, I love SG Products And my way of smoking it is When I opened the tin I leave it without led just covering with paper which came in it and next day I take a Flake and let it dry for ( 2 - 3 ) hours and walla in this way I didn't lose Humidity and enjoy 😊 smoking SG this is my way.
Thank you so much Mark for this video it's great to share problems with us to fix it .
Hello Nasser, my friend!
Thanks for taking the time...and very interesting comment!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Oh dear. There goes another one of our precious export markets! [I agree Mark - SG tobaccos are too moist and are too irregularly cut but just occasionally, when all the planets are aligned, it is possible to get a sublime smoke. I had a tin of Full Virginia Flake once where the flakes had been cut much thinner than normal and that was one of the best tins of tobacco I ever smoked but, alas, has not been repeated since.....] an informative and entertaining video, as ever.
Keep well,
Paul
Hello Paulus, my good friend!
Thanks for that...and sorry...LOL... But don't worry... there is still enough great tobacco to find in the UK! And ... not to mention the Whisky! (as long as Scotland is still joining the kingdom...lol...)...
Thank you so much again! And take care!
Mark
Excellent experimental video.For me Best Brown is one of the best tobaccos outthere.Sadly,oh sadly,flavour and burning quality not always can be found together.My way is not fully rubbing and one day,depending on weather,drying time.Many thanks for your time and match spending.Pure virginias,specially flakes,can be wonderful but not at all easy to smoke,but they worth the toil.Your tamper is a masterpiece.The level of moisture of this tobacco is perfect for cellaring,perhaps thinking in our brothers of briar from the other side of the pool,and for me too on this side.Again,thank you very much.
Many thanks for taking the time...and very thoughtful comment! So much appreciated! Perhaps, I gonna try that...
Take care! And enjoy!
Mark
I picked up a tip from Pipestud. I rub the flakes out well and then chop up flakes in food processor. One of my favorite tobaccos
A great video Mark. Thanks for posting. Never tried Best Brown Flake but I am a fan of Full Virginia Flake and when I opened my tin it was the perfect moisture content. Maybe it wasn't sealed very well...👍🏾
Thanks for taking the time, my friend...and very interesting comment!
Hope, you are well! Cheers!
Mark
Does Ronny think you're some kind of sharp dressed crazy professor that makes videos in his shop? :-) I love the Best Brown Flake. Well rubbed and dried a bit keeps a little moisture and smoothness, especially as the bowl burns down, but rubbing it out helps the even burning. For me at least. I also find the boxed flakes to burn a bit better, and are less moisty. Cheers!
Thanks for taking the time, my friend! And...yeah...don't know...guess, Ronny already got used to that...LOL
Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I don't think there is a Ronny, we've never seen him. I think Mark IS the ever elusive Ronny himself.
Great vid. Virginia rolling tobacco has to be really moist too. So smooth though 👌 Ages really quick if left in the desert for a year! I picked a kilo of 50g pouches up after leaving them at a job once. They were left for a year in a dusty container at 30-50oC sealed. The stuff was dark brown instead of gold! Great taste though and no harshness, not much fresh grass, more silage or hay and surprisingly sweeter. A nice change, but I definitely prefer it as the artist designed it.
The more I see your videos the more I love your channel
If you find best brown hard to lit just don't try full Virginia flake (though I think you already tried it 😋)
I just have been mad trying to smoke it.. Tried all.. Cube cut, different ways to get it.. No way
One day I found a tin I opened long time ago... And it was incredible.. Very easy to smoke.. I think the tobacco dried in tin is another thing that airing it
But you ll have to wait for.. A generation 😀
Have a good week end
Great video. I still haven't tried any SG blends because of the rumors associated with their moisture content. Maybe one day I'll try one out, when I have a lot of time haha.
Thanks for taking the time!
And ...yeah...just give it a shot... :-)
Take care!
Mark
Great video. You have more patience than me for sure. I had the same experience with Gawith Full Virginia Flake.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend! And for nice words!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I've been smoking Best Brown as my first pipe of the dayand have discovered a few thing that work for me. First, it only works as the first pipe of the day, with a cup of English black tea with sugar and milk. This helps cut down on the citric acid feeling this blend can produce. Just forget about smoking it the first couple days after you open the tin. Get a pouch and put a few flakes in there, after a few days they will be dry but not too dry. Being too dry will produce bite just as being too wet. It needs to be rubbed out pretty well too. When I put the flakes in the pouch I rub them to broken flake style consistency. I'm sure you have already solved this problem and or have moved on to another tobacco, but this has worked for me. Take care buddy, oh and it sems to be best in a briar, and preferably the same one each morning to build its flavor in the cake
You are right Mark, it seems that in general flake tobacco can be a challenge to smoke yet at times worthwhile.
Hello Phil!
Thanks a lot for taking the time! Much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
This is a great video. New (and old) pipe smokers should watch this to better understand tobacco humidity issues that happen with many different tobacco's. I'm sure many people discount many different blends because they don't smoke them correctly. Thanks!
Many thanks for that, my friend! Really so much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Hi Mark: I have been smoking SG Best Brown Flake for about 25 years, and have found that, like you, I have been frustrated at times with the inability of the stuff to stay lit. Like all Virginias, if one puffs too hard to keep the stuff lit the leaf tends to heat up to a point where one loses the flavor altogether. I have concluded over the years that let the stuff dry out before loading helps immensely. If one does not have hours to wait for the drying time try this, find a small saucer, rub the BBF out to your desired cut and spread it out on the plate. Then place the plate under any handy table lamp about 10 to 12 inches away from the light bulb for about 20 minutes and voila, you have a pipeful of BBF just crispy enough on the edges to stay lit quite nicely. By the way it also mixes very nicely with SG Full Virginia Flake. One of the truly great smokes for Virginia lovers.
Hello Doug!
...sorry for being late...
But thank you so much for taking the time...and very good and insightful comment! Really so much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
It really is an issue if you wanna smoke the whole thing on one sit, but it's nearly impossible to maintain S.G flakes lit all the time.
My advice is that you need to keep your lighter near, and when you wanna puff just flame that bowl; not that much, or the Virginia will burn like crazy ( high sugar ) and the entire bowl will go to garbage.
Great content, very informative. Thanks Mark, keep uploading.
Thanks for that! And for taking the time! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
Mark!!! How are you doing brother 😁! Hope you are doing well thanks for the experiment... I love samuel gawith but it's always soaked.. Great video my friend take care hope you are enjoying your summer take care
Brad, brother!
Hope, you're doing well...and summer is treating you nice!
Let's talk soon, my friend!
Take care!
Mark
I had a tin of Peterson Dublin Flake from 2016 and opened it back then. It just wouldnt stay lit. After a few years it still doesnt stay lit even after ive cut it up and dried it out. ever since then i have not been a fan of flake cut. Good video!
Great video again. I found the only way to smoke Sam Gawith is to pop the tin, shuffle the flakes and then close it up and leave it on my desk for 30+ days and then it smokes fine.
Thanks for that! So much appreciated!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
heyyy Mark awesome video I've heard that most of this brand of Tobacco's are always very moist and very hard to stay lit your example was very helpful and you did an excellent job mark thanks for sharing buddy ☺☺☺☺👍👍👍👍 best regards Peter.
Peter, my friend!
Hope, you are well! Thanks for stopping by!
Let's talk soon! And take care!
Mark
Hi Mark, I am fond of Samuel Gawith & Gawith Hoggarth, but I have not tried Brown Flake yet, I have had some SG Balkan Flake, but only had a couple of bowls so far. I am smoking Ogden's Original Flake which is an honest traditional flake which I find most agreeable, again I have only had a few bowls but they are quality looking flakes , oily but do not seem overly moist , the "tin" note and taste reminds me of my childhood and my pipe smoking Uncles pipe tobacco 's , in my twenties I found one of his pipes at home (he had emigrated with his wife) and that was my first pipe smoking experience of OTC Clan & Troost, i also found empty tins of Balkan Sobranie, the "good" auld pipe days ...be seeing you ...Stan.
Hello Stan!
Thank you so much for taking the time...and good words too!
So much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
A very interesting experiment, varying the drying time of this particular flake. Your "problem", with this tobacco, my friend, is in the way you fill the bowl. It seems obvious to me that you need to rub it out much more before filling your pipe. Combustion will be much better if you do so. Also, you might think about how you are tamping the lit tobacco - not just pressing down on it as you appear to do, but at the same time, distributing the burning portion a bit, leveling it out, so that you won't get what you call a "burn hole". Of the 3 pipes, I very much like the second one, since it has a (silver?) rim and thus obviates the problem of the rim burn that is so very obvious on the other 2 pipes.
I let the flakes dry a bit for 1 hr, cube cut it en dry half an hr. Lites like a charm en consistent flavor with 3 or 4 relights in a 75 min. smoke. Thanks for your videos! They are really good👌🏻
Thanks for taking the time...and interesting hint... Much appreciated!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Great video Mark. I think that it could be the flake being very irregular in terms of cut. I rub out flakes completely - especially Sam Gawith/Gawith and Hoggarth until they are almost like ribbon and I think this helps distribute the heat more evenly. I also dry my tobacco out a lot but I don't find a huge difference in taste because of using the charcoal filter (I assume that you still use a filter?) I don't know, your taste buds are probably better than mine!
Really great video - perhaps do a follow-up by rubbing out the tobacco at different drynesses, using a grinder, or cube cutting them? It could make for an interesting vid? I do think that some tobaccos are just a pain as well. I really struggle with keeping Ennerdale flake lit, to the point where I just don't smoke it anymore!
Thanks a lot for that, my friend!
Yeah...perhaps, rubbing out completely...in combination with some dry out could perhaps provide some benefit... I agree on that...although, I normally expect the producer, to sell some proper tobacco without any "secret" packing methods...lol...
Anyway...thanks again, my friend! Hope, you are well!
Mark
I have to tell you...1) I went through what you did and more! Yet, I did not give up on this blend!. 2) I aquired another tin and placed all the flakes into a mason jar and sealed it up for 5 months...took a strip and hand crumbled it into a stainless steel bowl. Let it sit for 1 hour, because for some reason...in the jarring process, there was still a tiddo of. Moisture!!! Yet, the smell was wonderful! I then packed my pipe using the swirling method because I did not want to wreck the initial broken flake!
The smoke was wonderful in the end...no tongue bite, yet...for some reason it made, whatever pipe I smoked it in very hot???? So, I enjoyed the taste in stages!?!?
If that is what we are left with....it is a mildly enjoyable smoke! Thanks for your input! It was fun! John
Hello John!
Wow...thank you so much for all your efforts! That's really an interesting report on that!
And thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend! So much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Like your presentations. Very suave. I wanted to ask you, about F&T. Which Virginia, Virginia/perique do you recommend for someone wanting sweetness, fruitiness? I hope you see my post
Thank you Herr professor for a nice experiment. As most people I have had problems with Best Brown Flake, but I have also had some of my most fantastic smoking adventures with this tobacco. It's driving me crazy sometimes. I have never come to a conclusion what to do. It's pure luck. As you I have tried different drying times. If it is too dry it becomes shaper and it looses some of is roundness and smoothness. Maybe I should try different ways to methods of rubbing it out as some has proposed in the comments.
Hello Tormod!
Thanks a lot for watching...and very interesting comment! And...yeah...I absolutely understand, what your going through...it's pretty much the same for me....
Hope, you are well! And take care, my friend!
Mark
I have the same issue with this tobacco several re lights it's actually pretty good once you get it going be well !
So in the end, the five hours is about the peak of drying it out? If I remember it correctly BBF is quite a thick cut also. That is definitely a tobacco to be smoked slow and easy not while on the move. Take care Mark! Thanks for spending the time on this videom
Thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend!
Yeah...I guess, it would take some more research, to find the very exact peak...but for me, the five hours version should do the trick...and yeah, you're sure right about smoking the BBF very gently ...and not "on the run"...lol
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Hi Mark, i was wondering if you could me give me some advise/tips about smoking indoors. So far i have never smoked indoors, but it's a tough call smoking outside in Patio during winter months. In case you do smoke indoors, do you use any air purifier or ventillator? But i guess, the bigger concern is that the walls might be "colored" in the long run. I would really appreciate some help, also from any fellow pipe smokers. Much thanks and a good day to you. Cheers, Tej
...yeah...well...guess, there are no real secrets about that... The smell of pipe tobacco normally leaves quite quickly after letting some fresh air in...and the only advise for the walls is, to do some painting after several years of indoor smoking...
Thanks for taking the time...hope, you are well!
Mark
Marc, Another great video . I am having the same problem with Peterson's 3 p tobacco with keeping it light and fighting with the tobacco to stay lit . Any suggestions?
Thanks for taking the time!
Yeah..well...I like to cut that extremely(!) thin ...and rub it out after cutting...perhaps you try that method...normally works...
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Nice experimemt!!
Do you have a tin of the season flakes at hand? Here in Austria they are only markeded as Stanislav and not as SG and at the back of the tin it says that they are made by DTM.
I really like the Autumn and the Spring time flake, the summer is alright.
I have never come across of one of the "real" SG, it seams they are not available here.
Thanks for taking the time!
Yeah...that's really interesting....already had that conversation with a friend from Czech Republic on the video about Spring flake...in Germany they are marked with a small Stanislav symbol...in Czech just with Stanislav... I already contacted Dan Tobacco (which is the owner of DTM)...but they couldn't give a clear answer about the connection between Stani, Samuel and DTM... Let's see...still try, to figure things out....
Take care!
Mark
Gute und interessante Videos.
Great video Sir. I like to light my pipe, sit back, relax, and ponder life. I don't like to have to concentrate on keeping my pipe lit. Relighting over and over is frustrating and takes away from the enjoyment I get when I'm chooching on a nice bowl. I would have trashed the whole tin after about a half the bowl if I had to relight as often as you did in the video. Thanks for the experiment. Best Brown Flake won't be on my purchase list!!
Thanks a lot for taking the time, my friend! Yeah...agree with you on the "smoking habits" ...and not wanting to focus on the glow... fortunately, there is enough good tobacco on the market without these problems...
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Hay friend , It's impressive , fine and fantastic . It's awesome . Thank you .
Thanks for watching and kind words!
Take care and be well!
Mark
Hi Mark,
a very interesting experiment that requires a lot of patience. You seem to be a very patient person :), like me, when it's not about the punctuality. Most of the people which live here, doesent have punctuality. This is a big problem for mi:) When I buy a tin, I open it immediately and put all the stuff on a paper towel for twelve hours to dry. After that, it usually works reasonably well with patience and concentration. The taste is preserved and you have no tongue bite. Maybe you try this version. At least, I smoke this flake exclusively at home.
¡Hasta luego!
Michael
Thanks for that, my friend! I'll try that!
Btw: just right now, smoking some Best Brown...the jared rest of the experiment....lol
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Mark, Great video. I am a fairly new to pipe smoking and will stay away from that tobacco. When I smoke my pipe I want it to be a relaxing time not a fight with my pipe. I smoke P.S. bullseye flake and dont have that problem. When you said "I recommend" I said more matches out loud....Lol. Good work bro, I really enjoy watching your vids. Until next time take it easy bro!
Thanks for taking the time, my friend! So much appreciated!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Sometimes it surprises me how fast a tobacco can dry out too. Ive opened very wet tins and spread out to dry in my bedroom, it went too dry in a couple hours. Much faster than other times. Now I find myself rehydrating it a bit. When I go for long walks, I like to have a flake that is just a bit on the damp side as it slows the burn rate enough to allow a 1.5 hour walk in one bowl. When I walk, I rarely need a single relight. Being into pipes just about a year, I’m just getting a good feel for what I like. Very different from cigars for sure.
Thanks for that and for taking the time! Much appreciated!
Take care and be well!
Mark
I think Gawith wets the tobacco because they use very old machines and wetting the tobacco is easier on the machines. However, I have noticed their tobaccos to not be so wet in the last few years, which is an improvement.
Molto interessante. Grazie. Un saluto da Venezia.
Thanks for that! All the best from Bremen to Venezia!
Take care!
Mark
hi my friend mark.great video as always.you are %100 academic man.a lot of experiment,a lot of material,researches;relight-religh-relight again.l.o.l. never back down...
Oguz, my friend!
Thanks a lot for stopping by!
Hope, you're doing well!! Hang in!!
Let's talk soon...and be well!
Mark
A very interesting experiment! I absolutely love Samuel Gawith tobaccos, so I have a lot to comment on! My apologies ahead of time for being so dreadfully long-winded.
As far as Burley is concerned, it is naturally the best burning tobacco out there, so your comparison to a similarly moist HU Burley blend seems like sort of an "Apples-to-Oranges" type of comparison. If you compare two blends of identical moisture levels, one with Burley and another without, the blend with the Burley will stay lit longer and generally behave better (assuming it isn't an American-style aromatic that is covered in goopy crap) far more often than blends without it. Not sure why that is, maybe it has something to do with the very low/non-existent amount of sugar that is present in Burley? Whatever the reason, Burley just burns best, so if you repeated this experiment again (hint hint) with a SG blend with a good bit of Burley in it (Lakeland Dark comes to mind) you might find the results are different. Even something like St. James Flake flake which is just Full Virginia flake with some Perique (also a variant of Burley) seems to behave better than straight Full Virginia Flake or Best Brown.
The ultimate question as to why many Samuel are so tricky shouldn't be "what are they doing to keep it from burning?" but rather "what are they NOT doing to keep it burning?" Well, everyone knows that cigarettes are loaded with all kinds of nasty chemicals, many are designed for maximum nicotine absorption but just as many are designed to promote proper combustion. We've all seen (or been) the chain-smoker lightly brushing the cherry of his nearly-spent cig past the foot of a fresh cig for but a fleeting second, instantly igniting it. Now we all know that no pipe tobacco behaves that way and generally speaking they have substantially less additives in them, however if we are all really honest with ourselves it is quite likely that many pipe tobaccos have at least a *little* something in them help keep things burning more easily (I'm looking at you, Dunhill). After all how does a tobacco, which is admittedly very moist right out of the tin, but left out to dry for 5 hours and decidedly dry to the touch somehow still burn less effectively than another brand of moist tobacco with no dry time straight from the tin? To me, this says that some questionable additives are at work.
Anywho, I've developed a technique for SG tobaccos (the flakes at least) which seems to work fairly well. I take a flake from the tin/jar, lay it on the cutting board, then using my sharpest kitchen knife, I slice the flake transversely. Interestingly, cutting it in this manner causes it to basically cube automatically on its own. I try to shoot for approximately 3-4mm size cubes. Then I let it dry for an hour to an hour and a half. The benefits of doing it this way is that the cube cut increases surface area, allowing faster drying as though it were rubbed out. The fact that it is still essentially in a compacted flake form however, means it will still have most of the slow burning characteristics of a folded and stuffed flake, but will tend to stay lit better due to the increased airflow of the cube cut. Once the drying is done I gravity fill it, step outside and fire it up. And speaking of outside... SG really smokes well outdoors. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was intended to be smoked outside. However you choose to prepare it, smoking SG tobaccos outside makes a huge difference. While the extra airflow of the outdoors would turn most other "combustion-assisted" tobaccos into a hot, briar-burning fireball, it seems in my experience to help stubborn SG tobaccos behave in a more "normal" manner, if you can believe that.
Thank you so much for that, my friend! Especially for your very thoughtful comment! Your efforts are so much appreciated!
Yeah...I agree with you on the differences between Virginias and Burleys ...no question about that... But...my point is just, that I expect a producer, to deliver the tobacco in a proper way...without tending to be moldy already in the tin... But you're surely right about the chemicals (sometimes!) used by other producers... And...SG themselves have some really nice burning Virginias without any complications...like the Spring Flake...
But anyway...as I said...perhaps, it's just my problem...
Take care, my friend...and keep on enjoying the SGs...I will too... :-)
Be well!
Mark
of course tobacco is dry when shipped. however once the blender vacuum seals it the fermentation process begins almost immediately. That is why Virginias age so beautifully and having smoked this stuff for 50 years I assure you that the essential oils which are lost from overdrying the leaf after popping a sealed tin result in a major flavor loss.
Fascinating exercise in how a tobacco can cause problems in smoking.
Thank you so much for that! Much appreciated!
Take care!
Mark
It is clear from your video that this tobacco can only be smoked if you are next to an eternal flame. Maybe Samuel Gawith has a match company? Great experiment and very helpful.
Dana Whitfield I
Thanks for taking the time...and kind words! Much appreciated!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
good video... what about the way you "rub out " Wet flakes helps in burning abilities?
Yeah...just used the same method, I use for (nearly) all my flakes...just made it look like a "ready rubbed" from a tin... But you're right...it could help...but on the other way...the virginia likes to get sharp, if rubbed to small...
Take care! Hope, you're well!
Mark
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I enjoy your video's. This particular one made me smile because I encountered the same "won't stay lit" issue with all the SG flakes that I've tried and in particular SG 1792, which is my all time favorite despite the problems of keeping it lit. I had been purchasing the tinned version and all of them behaved the same. Recently I purchased a 250 gm package of 1792 and it was completely different in terms of it's lighting and hence enjoyment. It looked the same, but the flakes "crumbled" a bit more easily and pipe stayed lit through to the bottom of the bowl leaving a grey ash. I can't explain why the difference between canned and packaged...quality control issue? Anyway, I just thought I would pass this on to you in case you might want to explore this further.
Hello Norbert!
Thank you so much for taking the time! And also for the very interesting hint! I don't think, I can get the "bag version" here...but I gonna try...
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Hi Mark, If you have trouble sourcing the 250 gm package of 1792 I will give you the name of my supplier,James Barber located near Leeds in the UK. www.smoke.co.uk/ I've been dealing with them for years and they are very reputable. Importation into Germany may be a complication which I'm not aware of. All the best...Norbert
I do one or two charring lights .... then set it aside overnight. Next morning, it's a sweeter smoke.
I know that it might be a wierd way but did you try to put flakes in the small bowl with some kitchen roll paper and then put them in very warm place ( direct sun light or microwave on the lover setting for 30 sec just enough to warm up the flakes so u can easily rub them. SG are using very sticky syropy casing and that's why it's so hard to rub this tabacco properly. This method helps to seperate all tabacco leaves and give you nice ribbon cut mixture. I can tell you I don't have any problem of smoking that BB after using this method. Tabaco stays nice and sweet and burn is ok still hot but that is diffrent problem .
Thanks for the hint...woth a shot!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
with that kind of moist tobacco, and you relight and tamper several times...didn't you get tongue bite? How you manage to avoid it?
..well...I use a 9mm active charcoal filter...
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Bremen Pipe Smoker You are the Kaiser of pipe smoking
...LOL...thanks for that!
Take care!
Mark
Hi Mark,
SG tobaccos in bulk don't have so much moisture as they have when they're in tins e.g. Full Virginia Flake is my favourite smoke but when it comes in a tin is thicker and full of humitity and can't afford it. Greetings, Lefteris
Hello Leferis!
Thanks a lot for taking the time...and very interesting comment!
Yeah...already heard that...perhaps, I gonna give the bulk version a shot...
Take care! Be well!
Mark
What also happens with drying these tobaccos too long is that part of the essential oils evaporate along with the water thus losing some flavor and increasing the risk of tongue bite. That is probably why pipe smokers I have talked to either love Virginias or hate them. I love them but they can be a little fussy to prepare for the pipe in the proper manner.
all of your tobacco was bone dry when it got to the blender. they re-hydrate it, it's cheaper to ship.
Mark does the best pipeman reviews bar none. I am not a fan of Sam Gawith tobaccos which are always wet and this experiment clearly shows the problem with them. On the other hand SG makes really good snuff.
Grat Mark I adore this tobacco from Gawith it is my favorite one of :-) I like to take out from tin
one to two hours before puting in pipe and rub it full wayand it is great :-0 problem it is for everyone not in you same for me i need to concetrate to stay lit but anyway I like it,,,
stay cool my Friend!!!
Thanks for that, my friend!
Take care! Be well!
Mark
Hi Mark...
About Samuel Gawith...I find myself that their products are different not for the higher level of humidity in the tobaccos...but for the nature of the humidity...
I find all of them has an "inner humidity" (the only way I've found to explain it to myself too)...
To explain that I can only try it saying that even completely drying out a Samuel Gawith tobacco you can feel water in the smoke...the tobacco as some watery component as part of the tobacco itself...
Personally I think it has something to do with the old fashioned way and machinaries and processes they use to produce the tobacco itself...
Have a nice week end my friend and I hope there will be no problem with the G20 in Hamburg...stay safe my friend...
Many thanks for that, my friend! Especially for your very interesting thoughts about the "inner humidity"...I really know, what you're talking about...I kinda feel the same...think, you pretty much hit the spot!
Take care! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Hi, Mark, well this experiment come just at right moment, since I just cracked out my Golden Glowe By S.Gawith, and was facing to similar problems as here to a point I spread all tobacco on the sheet of paper and left to dry it for 8 hours, the result:it went most bone dry, now rehydarating it back to smokabe leavel, so I can't recommed this kind drying to anyone, better way to go is to get only a bowlful and let it dry prior to smoking about half an hour , whereas I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to tobaccos on wet side, very afraid of tongue bite ,you do know this, and now I'm guessing why S&G make them tobaccoes that moist, well, their products are destinated to last long period shipping time to Old English colonies as India or Sri lanka and perhaps are made this moist in order to keep them in smokable condition after they arrived at destination country with hot climat such as aforementioned are.
Thank You for sharing and keep on experimenting,Greets, Paul
Interesting idea, Paul. You might just be right about that, based on the long Samuel Gawith 200+ year history.
we don't know all these Old British tradition details,but it may have some influence, as we can remember,back then Brits were present in every continent, it was such an huge empire where sun never falls''
The long voyages to the British colonies around the world (India, for example) is also why the IPA (India Pale Ale) beer was developed. The very high hops content would act as a preservative, and keep the beer good over the long shipping times.
Yep and I do love these Ales myself ,along with the good German ones, Oh yes, those folks are masters in this craft aren't they? Have a great weekend there in upper N.Y , Greets, Paul
Hello Paul, my friend!
Thank you so much for taking the time...and very thoughtful comment...as always! So much appreciated!
Yeah..it may be, that the long lines of transport had some influence...at least the pressing itself and shipping that as a flake is surely a result of that... But these tins are now vacuumed, so there is no reason for that...and they don't come by ship any more...but by plane...and not all of the SGs suffer too much humidity... so....that brings me back to the point, that they might wanna avoid sharpness, by a very simple (and cheap) way... But...that's just an idea...
Take care, my friend! Hope, you are well!
Mark
Some flakes are better off rubbed out to allow a bit moe air thru the draw,or you can just get a cigar and relax😜👍
I am going to buy stock in that match company
I have never had luck with SG blends and therefore dont smoke them. They are all so wet, I wouldn't even consider them moist. Their flakes are also so thick cut that they just wont burn, not even after rubbing out. I have tried everything, drying for 1-24 hours and nothing works for me.
What has Samuel Gowath said about theses issues
...they didn't hit me about that...so far... :-)
But the German distributor knows about these issues...and at least the "mold problems" seem to be handled...
Take care!
Mark
Love SG Best Brown, superior to FUll Virginia Flake imho.
I
watched your video with some amusement and I have several comments. Let me first describe my experience with SG
BBF and 1792. I've recently ordered 250
gm of BBF and it arrived, as you described, in what appears to be an overly
moist condition. I rubbed one flake
between my palms and then filled my
meerschaum, lit it and smoked it gently
to the very end, a white ash, with occasional
tamping, but without relight .
The
problem you're having in your video is
that you are using matches which, because of their short life, are not able to
properly ignite the surface of the tobacco.
You have a "burn hole" which, because the lit tobacco is in contact with unlit tobacco the burn
is cooled and, of course, eventually
extinguishes. Matches are not the way to
go with SG tobaccos and I agree SG tobaccos
are not ideal in a contest.
Here
is my technique, which works without fail.
I light the tobacco with my Zippo, which is a gentle flame, similar to a
match, but lasts much longer thereby able to raise the temperature and light
the surface properly. That is the secret
with SG tobaccos. I light and tamp
several times at the beginning to get the surface lit properly ie, the complete
surface is flat with a grey ash. I then
puff gently and the heat permeates through the lower levels drying the tobacco
to the required degree. All that is
required is a gentle tamping as the tobacco burns.
I am not being critical of your technique, but
SG is unique and will give an excellent experience if handled properly
otherwise it's a source of frustration
Hello Norbert!
Thank you so much for taking the time...and very interesting and helpful comment!
Yeah...well...normally, I do it the same way...but I used matches, to have a measurable and comparable time scale... During a smoking contest, you're only allowed, to use two matches, to get the pipe going...and that should be enough for the whole bowl... But I agree with you on the method in general of course...
Take care! Be well!
Mark
I'll make a cuppa and Pop back 🤣
oh gawd... you can't smoke SG flakes like that.
the flakes are too thick to just leave one sitting out, you'll only dry the surface of it and the inside will still be wet.
break up a flake, let it dry until it feels dry, then put it in a bag or old tin or somewhere where it can "cure", should be good to go.
idk how you even got it to burn fresh from a tin... nice I'm not the only one who realizes water is weight though.
still some very enjoyable tobaccos when dried properly, my navy flake is smoking wonderfully.
I try to avoid tobaccos like thatX too moist and it’s not enjoyable. Even if you can get it lit, you end up with a pipe full of juice... not good
No matter what pipe you put it in you will have the same issues i guess this is how this tobacco works.
Let the tobac dry first!
Imagine working all-day and then have to come home and fight with your wife and your pipe.
Not to be mean or anything, I really like your videos but there is one thing that constantly irritates me a bit. Do you know the English word "wet"? Or wetness, instead of moist, humid, moisty... expecially "moisty" just sounds... wrong. Anyway it is my problem, not yours. I hope I managed to write about it politely. I attempted to...
Hello Tommy!
Thanks for taking the time! And for interesting comment! No offense taken!
Yeah...well..."wet" is just more than "moisty"...and (fortunately) most tobaccos are "just" moisty...thanks heaven.. :-)
Anyway...thanks for the hint! Hope, you're well, my friend!
Take care!
Mark