Gawith Flakes

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HeadMisfit

Can't Leave
Oct 15, 2025
455
316
When I started in pipe smoking 20 some years ago, I enjoyed sam gawith flakes. sams flake, full virginia, and chocolate. I loved them. But I am confused as to what has happened to them over the years.

I havent had any made after 2006. So my experience may be strange to some.

When i first started smoking it, the flakes were HUGE and THICK. The flake from memory were at least 2" wide, as long as the tin, and at least an 1/8" of an inch thick. I remember part of the experience of FVF was trying to keep the flake from exploding too much between fold and stuff when loading it into a pipe.

I am used to the chocolate flake, SMELLING like chocolate. Sure when I opened it, there was a very slight hint of chocolate with the latakia. Very slight. I am talking throw 2 or 3 individual pieces of stokkebye cube cut into the FVF tin over night, and youll have a stronger chocolate smell then this chocolate flake.

Now, I am not exactly sure what came in the tins. In the old days you COULDNT smell the latakia over the chocolate. Now, it smells identical to the navy flake.

I have tins of mac baren virginia flake, vanilla flake, orlik golden sliced, and some stokkebye luxury navy flake. I put the containers open side by side this morning, and i cannot tell them apart other then the smell of latakia in the gawith flakes, and the orangie smell in the orlik.

Even the marlin flake i just got looks like the sam gawith flakes. Its really strange.
 

Brendan

Lifer
Alot has changed in the last 20 years, let alone the availability of top quality tobacco leaf from once prime farming land that has either moved to more economical crops or forced that way by the anti tobacco lobby. Just speculation, I can't give you sources or links, just anecdotal stuff from spending enough time on here the past few years.
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
2,738
12,396
London UK
Gawith Louisiana (Chocolate) Flake is still big, thick and chocolate laden - it's a very good smoke, that choc/perique thing is moreish.

I think the Lakeland sauces in general were toned down when the company was reorganised, although a tin of "jogged elbow" escapes from time to time.