Semois Tobacco - a Belgian Heritage

[dime]

I am not sure where to post this (Tobbaciana History or Tobacco), but for those interested in the Belgian Semois tobacco (and probably for anyone that grows his own tobacco 'old school') I found an interesting video from 1986.
It is French-spoken, but for those who do not master the French language, I believe the images speak for themselves. Although the images date from 1986, the very limited production now, some 25 years later, remains essentially the same: very small scaled, very labour intensive and very 19th century-ish. This might give you an insight in why Semois is rare and at the verge of extinction.
Enjoy!

https://www.sonuma.be/archive/le-tabac-de-la-semois

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Thats a great tobacco on its own, only can't stop wondering for how long those few producers are still managing to stay alive since they must be hard pressured by Eu bureucrats and ruthless'health authorities

 

[danimalia]

Awesome! I bought a brick of the Manil Semois when I was a very new piper and enjoyed it in the pipe and handrolled into cigarettes. Been meaning to re-visit it and I want to try some of the other producers to see if there is much of a difference. Curious about the bouchons and cigars as well

 

[upnorth1]

Great little film! As French is my second language I really enjoyed it.

 

[Casual]

I’d like to try this stuff but have little way to decide between Tabac Manil blends to try first. Does anyone have any suggestions between La Brumeuse, Reserve du Patron, or Le Petit Robin?

 

[dime]

I’d like to try this stuff but have little way to decide between Tabac Manil blends to try first. Does anyone have any suggestions between La Brumeuse, Reserve du Patron, or Le Petit Robin?

Hi,
La Brumeuse and Reserve du Patron are essentially the same tobacco, only different in cut ('Brumeuse' being the coarser cut (about 2 mm) and the 'Reserve du Patron' the medium cut). I smoke them both regularly ( in the morning (it matches execeptionnaly well with a cup of coffee)) but prefer the coarser Brumeuse which seems to offer me more of typical semois-nuances . I have no experience with the 'Petit Robin' ( which, if I am correctly informed, has fine cut and and is mixed with VA (?)).
I you are new to semois, please be reminded that this is, at least for me, a real 'puff' tobacco: rest assured, even the smallest puff of semois is packed with flavour. Do not make the mistake to puff too vigorously, especially at lighting. It might ruin your whole bowl of semois for the rest of the smoke and corrupt the extremely nice nuances with acrid and aggresive tastes... Thus 'pianissimo' is the way to go. Due to its cut and combustion characteristics, I also like my semois in generous sized bowls (pot shape works very good) and do not hesitate to fill firmly. Semois will expand importantly and if not firmly filled, it will look as if half of your pipefull has disappeared just after the charring light. YMMV, but again, puff gently, or you might decide too quickly that semois is nothing for you for the wrong reasons...
Enjoy it while it lasts (I understand that at the moment, there are only remaining 3 artisanal producers of real semois tabacco ((Vincent Manil, Jean-Paul Couvert and Joseph Martin) working with crops of less than a handfull of growers.

 

[Casual]

I ordered 100g of Reserve du Patron. It’ll take two to three more weeks to arrive. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for your help.

 

[NomadOrb]

I tried Le Petit Robin and Reserve du Patron a couple of weeks ago, and since then, it's been hard to smoke anything else. Especially so for the Patron. I just got a brick of the La Brumeuse today, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

I'm thinking about ordering in @chasingembers quantities just in case for some reason Monsieur Manil must stop shipping to the US.

Side note: I was snacking on some peanut butter filled pretzels and it went very well with the semois.

 

[saltedplug]

One of my favorites. Distinctive.

 

[mso489]

Love at first puff, it was with Semois. I like the thick cut best, but the medium is excellent. Petite Robin is a shag cut blend, good, but more like other blends. I find the single leaf completely distinct and excellent.

 

[mityahicks]

I have many bricks squirreled away. One of my favorites

 

[jpberg]

I have a few boxes of bouchons put up somewhere. They’re a nice once in a while change of pace.

 

[anotherbob]

I’d like to try this stuff but have little way to decide between Tabac Manil blends to try first. Does anyone have any suggestions between La Brumeuse, Reserve du Patron, or Le Petit Robin?

LA brumeuse I understand the first too to be the same but different cuts. It is dry and burns really quickly so the bigger ribbons seem best. But that's just me.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Semois is great for keeping away Covid19. Even the virus flees when it smells that shit.

 

[samuelgawith01]

I like the Petite Robin.Have some in a jar for 3 years now?,and the aging has HUGELY improved and changed it.

 

[JMcQ]

I love the Petit Robin. Nice fine cut with a lot of subtle tastes.

 

[saltedplug]

Most guys were unimpressed by this tobacco. Although great guys, in this matter perhaps they wrong.

This reminds of Lakeland bashing (discussions). Two or three guys are very critical and then, wallah, pages of bashing, which, to the board's credit, has not been repeated in the recent past. Perhaps the first critical reactions potentiated others, destroying accurate objectivity en masse.

Semolis is a fine, distinctive tobacco. It's often said to be a burley, but to me a good third of its taste is an elaboration. I never smoked one tobacco all day, perhaps because I never smoked all day. But if I had, semois could have been my all day smoke

 

[NomadOrb]

Semois makes me want to visit Belgium to see where it all started. All the great beer they have helps a wee bit too

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Semois makes me want to visit Belgium to see where it all started. All the great beer they have helps a wee bit too

That quite an idea since here in EU you can not get any genuine Semois Tobaccies anywhere but in Belgium,and no they do not ship out of the country

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Aside from Manil here's two links to another two remaining Tabac de Semois producers located in Belgium

Tabac Martin - Les produits de la Semois

Le tabac à Pipe ou à rouler Jean-Paul Couvert - http://www.tabacsemois.com/tabac.html