Lakeland Soapiness

[saltedplug]

When I was first introduced to the oft-found soapiness in these blends, I was put off, and I stayed away. In all the time that I've been smoking Lakeland blends I've never come across it again, but the batch of Dark Flake currently in front of me has it, the most pronounced at the top of the bowl. It is slight and reappears now and again through the smoke; and now I find it appealing. Something different.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I really tried to like the lakelands. I ordered an oz of several that I had read were lakeland scented. But, I just couldn't enjoy the flavor. I love the strength of GH&co blends though. Dark Flake unscented and Coconut Twist rope are two that I keep on hand all of the time.

I'm glad that you like the lakelands though. You can have my share ::

 

[forest7]

Soapiness of tobacco left a ghost in my pipe. I did salt and alcohol treatment several times but ghost never go a way.

Any method to get rid of this ghost?

 

[jitterbugdude]

Try ozone.

 

[dottiewarden]

In all the time that I've been smoking Lakeland blends I've never come across it again, but the batch of Dark Flake currently in front of me has it, the most pronounced at the top of the bowl. It is slight and reappears now and again through the smoke; and now I find it appealing.

Inspiring words indeed.
As someone who's never tried Lakelands, the soapy taste does not exactly sound appealing, but if I've learned anything about pipe smoking it's that when it comes to tobacco, each one of us has to explore and find out which one suits us personally.
I'm rather anxious to fill a pipe with some Condor just to give it a go. You never know, it just may turn out to be my cup of tea!

 

[oldreddog]

Condor, go for it great tobacco especially the plug.
I find the soapy reputation of Lakelands is a bit overdone. In fact I don't get a soapy flavor at all, to my palate it's more like a delicate talcum powder dusting, which disappears as the bowl is smoked. I feel that any perception of soapiness is far outweighed by the complex and diverse nature of the various blends.
But I suppose its like liver. If you take a nice slice of veal liver, sauté it in butter add red wine, parsley, and caramelized onions, its still going to be 'offal' to someone who's taste doesn't lie in that direction.

 

[barleynbaccy]

It's refered to as soapy, but I think some people are not used to what these different flowers and herbs contained in the essence taste like. I think it works with certain tobacco and topping combinatations, just not all that are offered by the blenders.
Ennerdale ftw.

 

[dottiewarden]

I feel that any perception of soapiness is far outweighed by the complex and diverse nature of the various blends.

@oldreddog
Makes sense to me.

It's refered to as soapy, but I think some people are not used to what these different flowers and herbs contained in the essence taste like.

@barleynbaccy
I just keeps sounding better to me. Can't wait for my Condor!

Ennerdale ftw.

Is this a recommendation?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's the Rose Geranium essence. It is the exact essence that they used in American female hygiene products in the 50's and 60's, so we all have had a grandmother or mother who had these little pink soaps that have the exact same aroma as the lakelands. Maybe it is just an American thing, but it brings back memories of my grandmother's bathroom, with stockings hanging over the shower, a dish of soaps, and an enema bag on the back of the toilet. When I get that whiff of lakelands I have the compulsion to run out into the woods and pee on the trees.
The same thing happens in Japan, when they drink rootbeer. To us it taste like a refreshing drink, but to them, because they use that flavoring in children's liquid medicines, they think about being sick and going to the doctor.

 

[billypm]

I've become devoted to Lakelands (love G&H and Condor, don't like the SGs) and I think we're wandering down the wrong road here. To me they absofreakinlutely taste soapy and any attempt to downplay that fact is doing both the baccies and the smokers a disservice. The point is that they DO taste soapy, floral, perfumey, and strange-- yet delicious. Many smokers love them and have loved them for years and years and years. So DON'T try to get around the soapiness. But DO try the baccies. You, like me, might be very pleasantly surprised!

 

[agnosticpipe]

Alright! Something to look forward to, a rootbeer flavored tobacco blend! Just don't smoke it in your Tsuge pipe.... :roll:

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, I was thinking the same thing as billypm, don't downplay it. One whiff of a bag of tobacco topped with lakelands will bring tears to your eyes (if you don't like the smell). It's not just a subtle flavoring. It coats my mouth, throat, and the walls. But, apparently some can't seem to sense it as strongly or at all.
I smoke lots of strong blends. I love all of the dark fired blends, strong cigars, maduros, my favorite cigar is a GTO Painkiller that brings most to their knees. But, just a dab with that lakelands overrides all tobacco flavors IMO.
Some love it, and I have absolutely no problem with that. But, if you are unsure whether you will like it, try a small 1oz sample bag before investing too much, maybe the Kendal Flake to see if it is too much and work up to the stronger flakes from there.

 

[papipeguy]

I find it interesting that I don't get the soapiness from Condor Ready Rubbed but I do from the Condor Long Cut. I'm OK with Lakelands. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[brewshooter]

They definitely have various floral and herbal scents and flavors. They are soapy to me in the way a scented soap or perfume would smell, but I do not really associate that with the flavor of soap. To me soapy has always been the wrong word to describe them.

 

[zekest]

Smoke it in a corn cob pipe. You can get corn cobs for $4.99 per dozen, so tossing one out if it ghosts is the best remedy.

 

[barleynbaccy]

Is this a recommendation?

Sure, if you are looking for some. Rum Flake is also good, though it was hit or miss with the sample amount I smoked.

 

[shutterbugg]

I got a free tin of Hyde Park along with a Peterson pipe. One puff and I almost gagged. Like it was laced with laundry detergent. Yuck. Gross.

 

[dottiewarden]

I got a free tin of Hyde Park along with a Peterson pipe. One puff and I almost gagged. Like it was laced with laundry detergent. Yuck. Gross.

I'm yet to hear anything good about Hyde Park

 

[billypm]

I got a big sample of Hyde Park from my B&M the other day, and I like it a lot-- although free tobacco always tastes pretty good to me, so...

 

[drennan]

They definitely have various floral and herbal scents and flavors. They are soapy to me in the way a scented soap or perfume would smell, but I do not really associate that with the flavor of soap. To me soapy has always been the wrong word to describe them.

+1.
I associate the tobaccos scented with rose with turkish delight, a rose water flavoured sweet I used to buy as a kid. They're at they're best smoked with the sun on your back, the scent of summer in a pipe