For Tobac-Manil Semois fans, this is a one-of-a-kind burley variant from Belgium. Many can take it or leave it, and it prompts others to throw up. But if you like burley, and appreciate a distinctive version of burley, this may be the leaf for you. It is not a blend, strictly speaking, but just one kind of leaf. It comes in a small brick-shaped foil package and is shipped very dry, and smells stable-like. I leave mine in the foil but also put it in a jar large enough for two packages. Because it is so dry, by weight it represents much more tobacco and many more smokes than it would appear. I find the best pipes for Semois are standard width chambers around .77 inches but quite deep, approaching or at 2 inches. It burns fairly fast but burns best not packed too tightly. It has some nicotine, but I don't smoke it for that and don't find it challenging in that way -- no head spinning. It's subtle and yet strong and has a quiet complexity that I find truly satisfying. It comes in two cuts, thick and medium. Some find medium a bit stronger, but I find them quite similar. Despite its strength, I get no bite at all. If you enjoy it, it climbs promptly into the favorite category. Thank you to the Forums member who sent me a sample, and to another who sent me nearly all of a package, another tin of Frog Cellar, and a beautiful pipe -- what a day that was. Semois, if you like it, is lovely stuff.
