Plug V Flake. Differences

[Flatfish]

Eg Samuel Gawith Kendal Plug and Best Brown flake are the same thing, except one has been cut into flakes.
Is there any difference in strength or flavour between a plug and a pre-cut flake?

Any pros and cons to either?

Thank you.
Flatfish

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The primary difference is you have to spend the time to cut up and prep the plug. Perhaps the plug will age a little better. It would retain moisture better once opened. The flavors might be slightly more intense. In general though, I haven't seen enough to warrant buying plug over flake. To note, I have both flake and plug versions of best brown, full Virginia and St James.

 

[verporchting]

Plug stores easily and is convenient for certain instances - travel in the day, sailing, horseback, etc.

Flake is just sliced plug. So the aforementioned convenience is offset by the hassle factor of slicing and preparing nowadays.

Plugs may help marry the flavors better but that’s subjective.

 

[helistone]

For what I have experienced, SG Plugs or Flakes are of the same blend of tobacco.
I also see only one difference btw. the two. The fresh out of the tin flakes are more wet to my findings, so I have to dry them more than the plugs.
But I also enyoy the more work I have with plugs.
I have tried Cob plug and flake, and Kendal plug and BBF.
I like plug tobacco more than flakes

 

[Ahi Ka]

I like being able to shave plug tobacco much thinner than I can get flake tobacco rubbed out.

 

[OldWill]

Plugs were originally intended to be a way to keep tobacco "fresh" when proper storage was not possible, i.e., aboard a ship or other such venues. The old Irish plugs could also be gnawed and chewed, although that never worked for me--plugs can get very hard and dry.

That said, I love plugs equally as well as flakes, and after some aging, plugs don't require drying before packing as most flakes do. In my opinion, flavorings in plugs are more deeper and slightly more satisfying, but as someone else has said, this is purely subjective.

 

[fireground_piper]

I don’t like having to prep a plug so I prefer flakes. When my very few plugs are finally gone, it will be a happy day.

 

[bullet08]

Plug does give option as to how you can prep it. Personally, hate processing the plug. But you can shave it and rub it out to shag cut. This way it dries faster and burns faster. Flakes are ok. But thickness of the flake is determined by blender.

 

[captpat]

I prefer plugs because of the extra bit of ritual to prepare the tobacco for smoking. I suppose I also feel a tie to the high seas (spent 28 years in the Navy).

 

[Jacob74]

I don't mind processing a plug at all...just gives me another excuse to have a sharp knife around all the time.