Manufacturer Description:
This mellow Plug contains Virginia tobaccos from Africa, Brazil and India. The mixture is pressed, heated and then stored for 14 days before being cut. A slight hint of a fruity flavour is added.
Characterisation:
The tobacco lies as a Plug, pressed to a longish block, in the pouch. The colour is dark brown with a few brighter parts. The hard block is optimally conditioned. The smell is discreet as fresh hay with a nuance of fruit aroma.
Plugging:
Due to the hardness of the plug it lends itself to be crosscut. But the tobacco could also be cut in slices and then thrown into the bowl of the pipe or plugged ready rubbed. The Virginia Plug tends definitely to expand and must be plugged rather loose. At the end some crumbs, which will accrue while cutting the tobacco, should be plugged to make it easier to light up the tobacco.
Light up:
It’s a little bit difficult to light up the Virginia Plug. It tends definitely to straighten up. Therefore it is necessary to flatten with the tamper a few times and relight, until the tobacco glows constant.
Smoking properties:
The tobacco has the typical smoking properties of a pure Virginia. The fruity flavour couldn’t be found in the taste, only straight taste of tobacco with the slightly sweetness of Virginia. Also the attention, which is recommended for the most Virginias, should be observed. Smoked too hot, an acidly, biting taste will occur. Smoked slowly and cool, the tobacco glows down with less condensate to a balance of darker grey ash.
Redolency:
The redolence is dominated by pure tobacco too. The discreet sweetness of Virginia could be recognised, but no fruity flavour. The redolence is unobtrusive and suited for the most societies.
Conclusion:
The Virginia Plug is something complicated to handle. The hardness of the plug prefers a crosscut, but with patience it is also possible to throw slices into the bowl of the pipe or to rub the tobacco to a kind of mixture. The tobacco tends heavily to straighten up while lighting up and it’ll expand while glowing down. Plugged loosely and once lighted up it glows slowly and cool without much condensate. The Virginia Plug needs, as most Virginias, a little bit more attention, to avoid that it’ll get too hot and change to a acidly, biting taste. Smoked slowly both taste and redolence have the discreet sweetness of pure Virginia. Due to the complicated handling the Virginia Plug is more recommended for experienced smokers, but in fact of the medium strength suited for beginner too, if they’ll mind the needed attention.
Copyright © 2007 by TECON GmbH
with friendly support of Heinz-Günter Döteberg
