Manufacturer Description:
The S.V.H. flake impresses with its smooth, naturally sweet notes and attractive aroma. Enjoy a more mellow, wonderfully smooth smoking experience with a delightful bouquet.
Characterisation:
S.V.H. Flake is packaged in a round tin wrapped in a paper rosette. The wrapper shows some moisture, but the flake underneath appears rather dry, even though it is elastic. The flake slices are marbled in light and medium brown with larger dark brown and straw-colored inclusions. Although the manufacturer doesn't specify a particular aroma, the rising scent is reminiscent of vanilla crescent cookies. Due to the low residual moisture, it is advisable to transfer the S.V.H. Flake to an airtight container to preserve its quality for longer. This also eliminates the need to pre-dry the S.V.H. Flake; it can be plugged directly after opening the tin.
Plugging:
Since S.V.H. Flake contains enough residual moisture to be bend and folded, it can be packed into a reasonably sized pipe. A few loose crumbs at the end of the filling make lighting easier. Of course, S.V.H. Flake can also be ground into a ready-rubbed tobacco, as fine as your personal preference likes. Unusually for a compressed tobacco, S.V.H. Flake is quite forgiving of a firmer plugging.
Light up:
S.V.H. Flake takes the flame well, which can be attributed to its low residual moisture. Before lighting it a second time, you can smooth the surface with the tamper. This ensures a long-lasting ember.
Smoking properties:
As promised by the manufacturer, S.V.H. Flake is not overly intense. Nevertheless, it is smoky and subtly spicy. Whether an aroma was used, as the cold aroma might suggest, is not entirely clear, as the tobacco seems rather natural. It evokes memories of lush bread, but also hints of wood. Interestingly, there's a rather dry mouthfeel, comparable to the tannins of a good wine. The subtle natural sweetness gives the whole thing the "drinkability" that fits well into the picture and is promised by the manufacturer. The burning is very straightforward, even if the tobacco is packed a bit too tight. Since only a few unburned crumbs and some dark gray ash remain, cleaning the pipe is also simple.
Redolency:
In the room, the S.V.H. Flake is not overpowering, but rather natural. Therefore, consideration should be given to non-smokers.
Conclusion:
S.V.H. Flake comes in a round tin and wrapped in paper. The wrapper has absorbed the excess moisture, so the flakes are not too moist, but still elastic. Marbled in light brown tones, they have a pastry aroma, but deliver flavors typical of mild Virginia tobaccos: bread, smoky notes, and a subtle underlying sweetness. Unusually for a Virginia-based tobacco, it smokes easily. Even a careless packing doesn't negatively affect the burning. These qualities make the S.V.H. Flake suitable for smoking at any time and also make it suitable for beginners looking for a flake that is forgiving and doesn't overwhelm with flavor, but without being boring.
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