FVF With a Hint of Juicy Fruit Flavor

[cosmicfolklore]

I have heard discussions about FVF having a hint of a Lakeland floral for a few years now. And, I can say that i have never tasted this in FVF before. But, I popped open a jar of some FVF from 2014 last week (it's been a while since I have actually smoked FVF), and in my first bowl, about half way through the bowl, I picked up hints of Juicy Fruit gum in the smoke. It went away as I puffed a little more to verify this, which probably drove off the flavor.

My first thoughts were that it must be some residual flavors ghosting over from Erinmore, but it has been six months since I have popped a tin of that, and my pipes are all well used. Well... I noticed it again and again in different pipes... at the half way mark, Juicy Fruit. And, consciously smoking slower, the flavor lasts for a lot longer.

So, I popped a new batch for comparison, from a tin I picked up within a few months at The Briary. Yep, half way through, Juicy Fruit.

Is this the lakeland floral people say they taste? Has anyone else picked up on this?

I do not taste it in the first half of the bowl, just midway, whether in a fat shallow bowl, or a tall narrow bowl. It doesn't last long, but the rest of the bowl from that point on becomes more full flavored tobacco tasting. I kind of like it, but then I really enjoy Erinmore, which has that exact same Juicy Fruit flavor.

 

[BROBS]

I think it’s just the fruity sweet and sour from the VA?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I think it’s just the fruity sweet and sour from the VA?

Maybe, I know that I have grown bright leaf that has had citrus flavors, and with age... a plummy or stewed fruit taste. But, I haven't ever picked up this particular flavor from any other Virginias.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

And, of course if one is knowledgeable about how raw cured Virginias with no casings smoke, this is obviously heavily cased.

 

[verporchting]

I know the flavor you describe but it’s not the one I associate with Lakelands. I’m thinking it’s the fermented VA plus whatever the individual casing is. Good stuff when you can get it but as you noted it’s ephemeral and goes away when you chase it too aggressively. Alas.

 

[gervais]

I'm going to have a bowl of FVF this evening, so I will let you know if I get the same thing

 

[cosmicfolklore]

@verporchting So, you've tasted this also?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I’ve smoked various vintages of FVF over the last couple years ranging from brand new production to nearly 20 years old. I’ve gotten all kinds of faint sweet, perhaps fruity, flavors at random. I’ve also gotten spicy incense like moments interspersed by super dark earthworm and mud pie. This is why I love it so much.. so much variety and it’s always interesting and good.

 

[Sonorisis]

It is definitely in a category all to itself. Next time I smoke some, I'll look for the Juicy Fruit at the half-way point.

 

[verporchting]

@verporchting So, you've tasted this also?

Yup, it’s just as you say. I was a bit surprised the first time but truly enjoyed the sweetness. The harder I tried to savor it the less it seemed to happen. Almost without exception it has happened when I’m idling along and smoking without thinking about it and suddenly - bang, there it is.

Oddly, I’ve experienced this phenomenon a couple of times with - of all things - Latakia Flake. Once the heavy smoky flavor settled down around 1/2 - 3/4 bowl and the VAs are in full swing I’ve gotten that juicy fruit / Erinmore sensation. Let me say that was the LAST thing I expected!

Partly that’s why I think there’s a VA casing that comes into play, but it seems to only be detected if you’re sip sip sipping on the pipe and only around the middle point. Weird but cool.

 

[voorhees]

I love the FVF smell, I'll have to check to verify if I smell Juicy Fruit.

 

[BROBS]

SOLVED: he stored it in his coat pocket next to his pack of gum.

j/k ?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

SOLVED: he stored it in his coat pocket next to his pack of gum.

j/k ?

If it were that easy, I would put a stick of gum in all of the jars of Virginia flakes. I love that taste.

Funny though, in my early explorations of FVF, I don't recall thinking there was anything spectacular about it. I had thought of it as humdrum. But, I like this new Juicy Fruit FVF. I hope that the new bulk boxes of this are the same.

 

[BROBS]

If it were that easy, I would put a stick of gum in all of the jars of Virginia flakes. I love that taste.

Funny though, in my early explorations of FVF, I don't recall thinking there was anything spectacular about it. I had thought of it as humdrum. But, I like this new Juicy Fruit FVF. I hope that the new bulk boxes of this are the same.

Problem is, I doubt they will be!
I’ve found SG to be pretty damned inconsistent.

 

[spartacus]

I've smoked a lot of FVF from new to old. I've never recalled a Juicy Fruit taste or a Lakeland taste. Sometimes I get a Plum Fruit Roll Up smell when I open an old tin but that never comes through in the taste.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, for clarification, I never smelled Juicy Fruit in the tin nor jar. I just tasted it slightly mid-bowl.

 

[python]

Are you sure that it's FVF and not Erinmore Flake?

 

[dcon]

I agree with most of the responses about different tastes as FVF is aged and smoked. I can’t say that i have tasted the exact Juicy Fruit taste and I have not noticed the Lakeland (which I love). I will state that, to me, Lakeland tastes nothing like Juicy Fruit.

 

[briarbuck]

I've never picked up on Juicy Fruit, but I have on occasion got a fain whiff of lakeland.

The only pipe tobacco that tasted like Juicy Fruit to me was Elwood #2 and it was gross.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, because if I could buy Erinmore in bulk, I'd pile boxes of jars of that stuff in my daughter's bedroom till she had to move out. I am a big Erinmore fan.
But, I limit popping tins of it to three a year till they get more age on them. So, I am definitely sure it's not a ghost... plus, I have jars of other blends open that i am smoking in the same pipes that don't Juicy Fruit me up, ha ha.

So, I guess you don't taste it? I'm just curious.