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Pipe Tobacco

The largest volume of pipe tobacco smoked is the classic British Flake Tobacco or Ready Rubbed Tobacco.

After the tobacco leaves are harvested they are compacted under great pressure and heated for days at a time, producing cakes of tobacco which are then taken from the press and are guillotined into thin slices, producing flake tobacco.

To produce the texture required for pipe tobacco the pipe smoker breaks the flakes up in the palm of the hand.  This method produces an exceptionally cool, slow burning, satisfying smoke, but does require a certain amount of time, skill and expertise to get it just right.  To save time and effort and in a bid to provide a more consistent and easy smoking mixture for the newer pipe smoker the manufacturers began producing Ready Rubbed Tobacco which is both more convenient and gives almost the same quality as the flake variety.

After the Flake Tobaccos and Ready Rubbed Tobaccos come the Tobacco Mixtures which includes the plain natural Virginia and Shags whose unique character comes from careful blending of many different and exotic tobaccos.  Some of these tobaccos may have been pressed and darkened and may well include rich flavourings to enhance the aroma and taste of the tobacco. Generally the Tobacco Mixtures are light in character and easier to smoke.

The third category of pipe tobacco is Aromatics.  Originally mainly of European and American manufacture they are most popular amongst the younger pipe smokers.  Specialist tobacconists are able to supply an increasing range of flavoured aromatic tobaccos.

Finally - Twist and Spun Cut tobacco's, are considered the enthusiasts tobaccos and normally only stocked by the specialist tobacconist.  Full bodied, powerful and rich they are made in traditional style as developed by sailors and spun to form a rope.

There is no truth to the story that with Twist and Spun Cut tobaccos there is no waste.  It used to be said that miners would chew a plug of twist whilst underground, let it dry out and smoke it when sitting at home or in the pub.  It is alleged that the ash was then crushed and used for snuff!

Choosing the right tobacco 

This can be very much a case of trial and error.  A good starting point would be to choose a tobacco that is easy to smoke and easy to burn, the beginner will find a ready rubbed tobacco much easier to start with.  The aromatic tobacco blends are also very popular with those just starting out with a tobacco pipe. 

Here's a list of some of the more popular varieties:

Full Virginia Flake - Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is for lovers of pure pressed Virginias.  Created in the heart of Lakeland, the hot-pressed blended Virginias take on a delicious and distinctive dark colour that creates a pipe smokers dream, a feeling of calm, serenity and anticipation of the next pipeful.  A "must have" for all Virginia lovers.  Medium strength.

Dutch Blend Aromatic - an even burning most satisfying smoke with a gentle aroma.  Made of carefully selected tobaccos spiced with Burley & Oriental leaf.

Stonehaven - A marriage of air-cured leaf and Burley with selected dark Virginia. Hard pressed and aged to produce brown flakes with dark undertones.  A traditional English flake favored by experienced pipe smokers.

Gold Block - 'The Aristocrat' of pipe tobaccos.  Even burning and premium quality, Gold Block is made to a centuries old unique sweetening process guaranteeing the character.

Westminster - The very essence of the traditional English mixture; rich, elegant, refined, and exquisitely balanced.  New World red Virginias are enhanced with a gentle caress of bright leaf, then lavishly seasoned with rich oriental tobaccos and generous measures of noble Cyprus mountain Latakia.  Westminster is a satisfying blend, presenting layers of flavour to delight the senses and develop in the bowl.  A perfect everyday English mixture.  Full-bodied.

Craven Mild Ready Rubbed - A sweet smelling modern style round smooth flavoured tobacco.

Blackwoods Flake - The characteristic, natural sweetness of Mellow, Red Virginias mingles inextricably with the richness and inherently spicy aroma of Black Stoved Virginias in this doubly aged Red and Black all-Virginia cake mixture.  Country of Origin: US

Erinmore Mixture - the famous aroma of this long established favourite is a surprisingly light, mild and easy smoke.

Clan - both young and old pipe smokers enjoy this cool, fragrant, mild and slow burning pipe tobacco with the unique flavour.

Condor Mild - from the House of Condor and classed as Britain's number one selling pipe selling tobacco.  Condor Mild is a blend of fine tobaccos producing a cool, slow-burning and satisfying smoke.

Falcon Medium Mixture - in contrast to traditional pipe blends Falcon Medium Blend has a mildness and an elegant flavour all its own.  The rough cut burns more slowly, cooler and completely giving a cooler smoke in a drier pipe.

Amphora Full Aromatic (Red Pack) - a subtle mixture of the fragrance of oranges, raspberries and flowers, this is the most popular aromatic version of Amphora.

Borkum Riff Whiskey - Riff cut blended with bourbon whiskey.  Made in Germany, blended in Sweden.

Borkum Riff Cherry Cavendish - heavily cased with cherry flavouring to achieve a mellow and full aroma.  Made in Germany, blended in Sweden.