Prepping Sam Gawith's Full Virginia Flake

[cosmicfolklore]

Noting the warnings above, I've not even gotten close to over-drying FVF. But, I don't mind Vas being a little on the dry side. I've not noticed a true tongue burn like I get from some other varieties, more peppery, yes. I just get more of a variety in the nuances of taste from a more "perfect" balance of moisture. Too wet, and it's steamy and has a wet napkin taste. Too dry, and its prickly on the tongue. Balanced, and you get more of those sweet, sour, and salty, herbal notes.
But, FVF can be a tasty tobacco. I burned a flake just now. My biggest issue is how much tobacco you actually get to smoke for the weight, verses some of the other easier tobaccos to deal with.
@Roth, wow 15,000 posts in 15 months. That's amazing. I wouldn't have figured there to be enough strings going on this forum to make those numbers. :D

 

[carcosa]

Crap that is impressive.

 

[cigrmaster]

cosmicfolklore, Eric recently did an experiment where he dried out a tin of BBF and when he was done he had around 50 grams left if memory serves. It seems that SG makes up for potential weight loss due to excess moisture by putting in more than 50 grams of tobacco.
I have to be in the mood to smoke FVF as it does take additional prep time and I am a lazy s.o.b. There are times when I will smoke nothing but my ready to smoke flakes because I am not in the mood to dry stuff out. Luckily most of my blends do not require additional drying and I can be lazy without the guilt.

 

[peteguy]

I like to open a tin of FVF and then rub it out. I then let it sit for a month in a cracker jar. At least that is what I call them. They are not airtight, with either the screw on lid or the push in lid with the plastic seal. I find that after a month with this method the tobacco handles just like any other. I have been using this method for three or four years and always have some FVF open because it is my favorite.

 

[shaintiques]

This tobacco is definitely worth the dry time. It has such a full rich flavor. I actually just ordered another half pound from Smoking Pipes along with about a pound of various tins.

 

[Strike Anywhere]

Rub out fully and let it dry naturally. Using heat or other means only encourages the loss of essential oils and other volatiles.

 

[bryanf]

Reading all the posts has totally turned me off from ever wanting to buy this tobacco. I'm with Roth. Nothing is worth this much trouble to me. I haven't tried it, but can't imagine it is so good as to be worth it? I don't want to find out I'm wrong!

 

[troutface]

Slight hijack here. Can you do long term storage of 250 gr. boxes of FVF and BBF or does it have to be jarred ?

 

[nachman]

I buy FVF in 250g boxes, cut the flakes in half all at once with a hunting knife and jar them. I never smoke it with less than two years age. I take a half flake and fold it lengthwise then hold it in my hands like I am rolling a cigarette. Over a sheet of paper, I roll it back and forth moving my thumbs up and down the roll until it is stringy. Then I fold it in half and stuff it in a narrow pipe, like a Dublin. I tamp it down then I pour the loose pieces from the paper on top and light up. I never dry the tobacco more than it does aging in the jar. This way it might take two or three matches to get it going, but then it burns fine.

 

[timely]

I cube cut mostly, other times I rub it out and dry.

 

[bryanf]

A new friend on this forum kindly offered to send me a sample. Oh boy...you guys are shameless enablers!
I'm going to be gone for 2 weeks on vacation in France visiting family (leaving on Thursday), so we're not going to be able to do a swap before then. However, I am going to try my best to pick up some hard-to-find tobacco's in France (keeping my fingers crossed to find some Semois!), and will be sending some to Cortez and Peteguy if I can find it! Man, I really hope I do.
Guys on this forum are great!

 

[cigrmaster]

Alan, I just used the method you use and I am really enjoying how it smokes. I grab a flake, folded it in half, twisted like you said and stuffed it. I took some a little piece of flake and rubbed it up good to use as kindling and it lit just fine and it is smoking very cool with a ton of flavor and no prep work. So far only one relight which was a breeze. Looks like I have a new prep method for my FVF. This batch is from June 2012, as I decided to hold off on my 2008 tin until I had this method perfected. I want to thank you for opening my eyes to a different method for this blend, I can sometime get in a rut with my prep work.

 

[derekflint]

So far I've gone thru one tin of FVF's and boxes and boxes of matches and still cant get it lit.....I could probably get a fire going in the woods faster with no matches !! There should be a FVF workshop or required 3 hr coarse on this.......... :crying:

 

[snoopy311]

Dry the crap out of it. It will still have enough moisture not to loose its essential taste. Just my opinion.

 

[johnbarleycorn]

Rub out a flake. Put in microwave for 5 seconds on a paper towel. Allow to rest for a minute. Load and smoke. No problem.

 

[saltedplug]

Sorry, but anyone who microwaves tobacco is a lunker.

 

[johnbarleycorn]

And I really care what you think about me microwaving my tobacco....

 

[nevadablue]

Lunker I am I guess. I microwave mine. Works for me...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My microwave is dedicated to tobacco and reheating coffee. 8-12 seconds and presto, quality smoke.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My microwave is dedicated to tobacco and reheating coffee. 8-12 seconds and presto, quality smoke.