Samuel Gawith St James Flake - An Exercise in Frustration

[seanv]

This thread was a good read. I purchased a 250 g box of SJF last year. I jarred it immediately into 5 jars at 50 g each. I will open 1 this year to experiment and determine if I should buy more.

 

[ashdigger]

I love aged St. James Flake. I have a couple of pounds from 2014 that I’m working on.

Here’s my technique. I pull out 3-4 flakes and cut them with an Ulu or scissors to lengths of about 1 1/2. When the cutting is done I rub out the cut flakes and rather quickly I have a nice ribbon\shag. I leave it in the tray overnight and then load and go.

I’ll post a photo of the finished product in a few when I go to my office.

BTW, advance prep is the key to ALL things Gawith. Whether it’s flake, rope, twist or whatever. Once you get the hang of it it’s just second nature.

 

[Bigdadz]

St james is an excellent VaPer, but as previously mentioned, it seems all Gawith tobaccos need to be thoroughly dried out and rubbed out to be smoked well without the need for frequent relights. I personally like prefer it close to bone dry. Whereas one of my favourites, Solani 633 is much easier to smoke and is less fussy.

 

[ashdigger]

Here’s the finished St. James Flake from 2014. Time to smoke.

 

[musicman]

SJF is one of my favorite smokes, and a gold standard VaPer.

I enjoy it fresh, but a while back @ashdigger generously gifted me some of the 2014 he has, and it's FANTASTIC.

My prep method is always to fully rub out the flake, then dry for 4-5 hrs in the very dry conditions we always have here in Tucson. Load, then light. Since I first tried SJF about six months ago, I have had very few bad bowls using this method.

However, if I don't want to wait, I also find that microwaving a fully rubbed out flake on a paper towel, then waiting 5 minutes (for it to cool and for the towel to absorb the moisture) works almost as well as drying it. Everyones microwave is going to be a little different based on power/size, etc., but I find that 15-17 seconds works well for SJF (and other Gawith flakes)

 

[cigrmaster]

I recently opened a tin of 2004 and I let it stay in my tupperware plastic container for about 6 months. I opened the tin took out enough for about a group 5 bowl full . I folded and stuffed it, did my thing to get it ready to smoke. One I got it ready, I checked the draw, made sure it had the proper resistance. I always have a pipe cleaner ready to go if I need to lose one if I packed it too tight. If it a is a tad tight, I run the pipe cleaner into the pipe, pull it out check the draw and it is perfect. I do a char light and then a full ligt, make sure it is going good and then puff away to my hearts content. Simple.

 

[FurCoat]

I also find loading the pipe and letting it sit on the stand works for me. There is a thread started recently on this subject.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I sometimes cube cut St James Plug, Kendal Plug and Full Virginia Plug and as long as it's nice and dry it smokes just fine.

 

[PipesRock]

I sometimes cube cut St James Plug, Kendal Plug and Full Virginia Plug and as long as it's nice and dry it smokes just fine.

Cube cut and well dried KP is sweet, creamy Va deliciousness. Now onward with TAD for some St James.

 

[PipeIT]

Here’s the finished St. James Flake from 2014. Time to smoke.

View attachment 63308

Thanks for sharing, that looks yummy! ?

I just bought two tins today off of Iwan Ries, I’ve been waiting months to get SJF.

I’d also seen in the past that KBV was selling a 2014 & 2015 tins, I just grabbed the 2014 tin today, I’m surprised no one had bought them already.

I read a lot about how people are drying, when I’m ready to smoke I just spread out a bowls worth on a plate under a ceiling fan. It typically takes most tabac only 10-15 mins., maybe 30 is all if it’s really moist.

 

[PapeChulo]

St James is the Sam Gawith with virginia that I can smoke. Full Virginia Flake is blah as the dickens for me, but SJF is kinda tasty must be the perique.