Greetings PMF Community! I present to you a tale of two chocolate flakes. But be forewarned -- some may be horrified at what transpires! It might be akin to grafting a weasel's head onto a stoat's body! Read on if you dare...
I bought Gawith & Hoggarth's Bob's Chocolate Flake early in my pipe-smoking career. My jar is dated May 2024. I tried it and thought it was 'okay', but at that nascent time in my smoking preferred more 'Americanized' aromatics. I was looking more for Boswell's Chocolate Cream and similar that hit you over the head with the flavor at the expense of the tobacco. I was young and impetuous then.
Fast-forward a year and I am embracing blends like Mac Baren Vanilla Roll Cake over Boswell's Best. I had learned how to smoke slowly and with intention, and my palette had developed to enjoy the subtle nuances of the tobacco. I tried BCF again and enjoyed it much more than I had originally.
And then I heard tale of another... of Samuel Gawith's Chocolate Flake. Rumors were that it had a darker, richer chocolate flavor with all the tobacco goodness retained. I had to give it a whirl. (Ironically purchased from Boswell's site,) I cracked open the tin and smoked a bowlful in my LCS Briars bent Rhodesian. Wow! All the dark chocolatey goodness I was hoping for. Except -- it was also less sweet and a bit more astringent to my taste than Bob's.
And thus was the experiment conceived. Would I? Could I? Oh yes. I was going to take one beautiful flake from each of these storied blends and mash them together in some sort of frenzied cocktail of chocolatey tobacco goodness!
In the interest of science, I will clarify that the SGCF had a tin date of February 2022 and the GHBCF had a tin date of May 2024.
What were the results of my unholy experiment? Bliss. Unreserved bliss I tell you! More chocolatey than Bob's. A bit sweeter and smoother than SG's. And all the tobacco flavor of both rolled into one. I have found my chocolate flake nirvana.
I'd love to hear your experiences with both -- individually or blended!
PS: I haven't given up on Americanized aromatics -- I still love Boswell's Best and blends like Cult Blood Red Moon. In my opinion, it's all good.
I bought Gawith & Hoggarth's Bob's Chocolate Flake early in my pipe-smoking career. My jar is dated May 2024. I tried it and thought it was 'okay', but at that nascent time in my smoking preferred more 'Americanized' aromatics. I was looking more for Boswell's Chocolate Cream and similar that hit you over the head with the flavor at the expense of the tobacco. I was young and impetuous then.
Fast-forward a year and I am embracing blends like Mac Baren Vanilla Roll Cake over Boswell's Best. I had learned how to smoke slowly and with intention, and my palette had developed to enjoy the subtle nuances of the tobacco. I tried BCF again and enjoyed it much more than I had originally.
And then I heard tale of another... of Samuel Gawith's Chocolate Flake. Rumors were that it had a darker, richer chocolate flavor with all the tobacco goodness retained. I had to give it a whirl. (Ironically purchased from Boswell's site,) I cracked open the tin and smoked a bowlful in my LCS Briars bent Rhodesian. Wow! All the dark chocolatey goodness I was hoping for. Except -- it was also less sweet and a bit more astringent to my taste than Bob's.
And thus was the experiment conceived. Would I? Could I? Oh yes. I was going to take one beautiful flake from each of these storied blends and mash them together in some sort of frenzied cocktail of chocolatey tobacco goodness!
In the interest of science, I will clarify that the SGCF had a tin date of February 2022 and the GHBCF had a tin date of May 2024.
What were the results of my unholy experiment? Bliss. Unreserved bliss I tell you! More chocolatey than Bob's. A bit sweeter and smoother than SG's. And all the tobacco flavor of both rolled into one. I have found my chocolate flake nirvana.
I'd love to hear your experiences with both -- individually or blended!
PS: I haven't given up on Americanized aromatics -- I still love Boswell's Best and blends like Cult Blood Red Moon. In my opinion, it's all good.
