The presentation in the tin is something to behold. The flakes are perfectly formed with no frayed edges and sliced very thin. Just handling them gives you the impression that you are handling something fine into which someone, with very exacting standards, put a lot of passion. The smell in the tin is so so nice. Fresh cut hay and timothy come to mind. The flakes are of perfect moisture level right out of the tin, but I have found that this tobacco seems to smoke best for me when fully rubbed and allowed to dry out for a half hour or so. Upon initial light I am greeted by grassy, bright, brassy lemon Va and an edgy spice like black pepper and cinnamon. A few more puffs and a bit of sugar pops up just before I tamp down the initial light’s expansion. 2nd light and subsequent full char brings a very different experience than the initial light. I immediately get softened burnt sugar and the spice has been adjusted to more cinnamon than black pepper but both are still there. Further puffing brings more of the same but this tobacco seems to soften and round out even more. By mid bowl it is yielding classic Va sweet potato pie and buttery toffee and caramel flavours. It is very soft and round at this point and some dried and stewed fruit notes start to combine with the buttery toffee, caramel and sweet potato pie while the spice persists in the background. The spice that was cinnamon and black pepper seems to be developing more into a cinnamon and chilli pepper which tends to sharpen the sweetness of the caramel and toffee topped sweet potato pie flavours. As the spice sharpens, the caramelization seems to continue and the sweet buttery soft notes develop into more concentrated burnt sugar flavours and tar and coal flavours start to appear. Just about now the spice changes yet again. The cinnamon and chilli pepper persist, but the cinnamon sharpens and to it is added a salty cumin edge which goes quite well with the tar and coal flavours that are developing. A bit of clove also seems to emerge and the whole thing sort of combines to take on an incense quality similar to good quality myrrh. The end of the bowl is strong and warm like a good cigar. Not hot, but warm. This tobacco never ever bit me or was even the slightest bit harsh on my mouth or throat. It developed steadily from start to finish and each development was fascinating. Amazing that someone can take some leaves and process them into something that can yield this fine of an experience. Kudos to Fribourg And Treyer...Kudos indeed.
