Semois Test

[docpierce]

This is my 2018 air cured Semois crop. As almost everyone knows, Semois tobacco is a burley type- grown for more than a century in the Belgian Semois River Valley.
It's a short, squat plant with long dark green leathery leaves. In appearance, it resembles the Little Dutch plant. It is a hardy, robust plant and generally easy to grow.

Today, I'm taste testing it. The frst test will be to toast it in the oven at 250F for 10 minutes.

 

[chilllucky]

Let me know what you discover, as I also have a couple pounds of home grown semois from last year's grow.

Have you had much of the real stuff, for comparison?

 

[mso489]

I'm a fan of Tabac-Manil Semois, the only version i've tried. I like the thick cut best, but medium is almost as good. Being a burley smoker, it lends a new dimension to the strain. I suspect that, grown outside Belgium, it is somewhat different in flavor, but only you can say.

 

[docpierce]

This is my 2018 air cured Semois crop. As almost everyone knows, Semois tobacco is a burley type- grown for more than a century in the Belgian Semois River Valley.
It's a short, squat plant with long dark green leathery leaves. In appearance, it resembles the Little Dutch plant. It is a hardy, robust plant and generally easy to grow.

Today, I'm taste testing it. The frst test will be to toast it in the oven at 250F for View attachment 2503210 minutes.

First, let the record show that I like Manil's tobacco. I mean I really like it. I understand that it's not at the top of everyone's list. But for me it's the pure tobacco experience. In fact, I have made several attempts to obtain J. Martin's version- Tougue of the Dog- all to no avail. Not one retailer will send it out of Belgium. That's why I was so excited to be gifted some authentic Semois seeds, a while back. After all, I'm good at growing things and the process of Semois appears very strait forward. Air cure and maturing for a couple of years and a toasting. After curing the crop, I had to hide it from myself high up in the attic's crawlspace.

I loaded a MM cob with the toasted Semois and lit it.
I have, for comparison, I have some Manil Pure Semois.
Here are some impressions:

Like Manil, the '18 homegrown burns relatively quickly. This is probably due to the toasted state of the tobacco.
It definitely has the unique Semois flavor that I was looking for. By exhaling through the nose I can really taste it. Hay, oiled leather with a faint cinnamon flavor- possibly smokey sweet bacon. Surprisingly, there was no harshness. Medium Nic hit. In fact, it was so pleasant that I considered repacking the bowl for a 2cd round. I like it very much and am in fact smugly pleased.

 

[mso489]

Sound great! What satisfaction, growing it yourself. It always reminds me of a deeply nuanced blend, in its way, similar to really fine Virginia, but with a deep bass tonality, if you will.

 

[docpierce]

Sound great! What satisfaction, growing it yourself. It always reminds me of a deeply nuanced blend, in its way, similar to really fine Virginia, but with a deep bass tonality, if you will.

Check your PMs.

 

[augiebd]

Thanks for sharing and well done on the journey from seed to cured, toasted and smoked!

 

[mingc]

Kudos to you!

Any casing?

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Wow,! very Nice , and Yes there are other manufacturers or Tabacs de Semois still in operation in Belgium,(J Martin and Couvert ) but as You have stated, none of those cultivateurs' would ship anything out of the country,even within the EU

 

[Sonorisis]

Great report. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Let me know what you discover, as I also have a couple pounds of home grown semois from last year's grow.

Have you had much of the real stuff, for comparison?

Being grown in different regions has massive effects on the taste of tobacco. Likely no similarity at all.

 

[rushx9]

Very interesting experiment! I bet the Mendocino climate is near perfect for a strain like that...

 

[jhand45]

Hey docpierce! I know you from the other tobacco forum (whereI go by DistillingJim). I never got around to growing any Semois but I'm lucky enough to have a fair bit of Manils so i guess I'm ok for now.

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Beautiful! I love Burley and Semois is a favorite. Your batch looks great.

Very interesting experiment! I bet the Mendocino climate is near perfect for a strain like that...

Semois Breath...

 

[docpierce]

Hey docpierce! I know you from the other tobacco forum (whereI go by DistillingJim). I never got around to growing any Semois but I'm lucky enough to have a fair bit of Manils so i guess I'm ok for now.

Hey everyone- this is a good guy right here. He gifted me the seeds. Welcome jhand45! I think you will like it over here.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Every report of successful home grown Tobacco is great news.
Someday we will probably be totally dependent on this production method.

 

[didimauw]

Awesome thread, and congrats on your success! I have two questions.
How much tobacco in pounds do you think you yeilded? And how big of an area did you grow it in?

 

[docpierce]

Awesome thread, and congrats on your success! I have two questions.
How much tobacco in pounds do you think you yeilded? And how big of an area did you grow it in?

I yielded approximately two pounds. Something like 10'x20'.

 

[didimauw]

I yielded approximately two pounds. Something like 10'x20'.

Awese thank you!

 

[davek]

Don't know how much I got my first year just sticking some plants in the flower bed. Maybe a pound.

Heirloom Tobacco Plants from the New Hope Seed Company

Rare heirloom tobacco seedlings available for purchase for home growers and gardeners. Float grown plants for a better start to growing your own tobacco.

www.newhopeseed.com