Vauen Auenland - Broken Flake

(3.38)
A complex and rich flake that has already been loosened and therefore smoke-ready. The excellent mixture consists of sun-ripened dark Virginia, spicy Burley, and is refined with a touch of smoky Kentucky and a pinch of luxurious Perique. The room note is very pleasant and unobtrusive. The gentle and cool burning will inspire even sophisticated pipe smokers.

Details

Brand Vauen
Series The Shire
Blended By Vauen
Manufactured By Kohlhase & Kopp
Blend Type Virginia/Burley
Contents Burley, Kentucky, Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Broken Flake
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country Germany
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.38 / 4
3

5

0

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 29, 2019 Mild to Medium Very Mild Mild Unnoticeable
Experience of Vauen's Aromatic Shire blends have not been great. In fact some of them are vile.

But this is different. It looks, smells and feels different than those.

The tin aroma is amazing. I've not smelt too many bouquets like this one and I have to say it's up there with the likes of Dunhill's Early Morning, as was. It's a fresh, hay-like malty fragrance that reminds me of a sweeter version of St Bruno. I certainly can't think of any other non-aro blends as good as this.

The tobacco itself looks and indeed feels rather moist and is quite broadly cut (it is broken flake after all I remind myself) so further rubbing will be necessary. Depending on your choice, of course.

There was no way I could hang around and wait for it too dry out after that initial aroma so I went straight in and dug out a bowlful with a pipe tool. The taste doesn't really follow the aroma - let's face it, it rarely does, but it's still quite a treat. Made even better if you leave the open tin alongside as you smoke.

It quite well behaved, with only a few relights with a very pleasant malty, non-floral smooth taste that is rather mild, but not quite tasteless. No idea what the room note is like, Mrs RH must be immune to some of the concoctions I have been smoking over the years.

Not that strong and makes a good all day smoke.
Pipe Used: Briars
PurchasedFrom: Dan Pipe Lauenburg
Age When Smoked: New
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 19, 2020 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
I really like this blend a lot.

It comes very moist so I dry it at least an hour.

The tin note is quite bready, smoky, a little sour. Smells like a rather strong tobacco. No added flavors noticed.

But the taste is way better than the tin note. Not too sweet but a little bready, nutty, plummy. Just very lovely. The Kentucky just adds an earthy spiciness no actual smokiness.

Doesn't bite but can get hot if stressed. Can leave some dottle and moisture if not properly dried or smoked too fast.

There's a good amount of nicotine. I actually felt quite sick once after smoking this blend and I blame it on the nicotine.

I can really dig why them hobbits loved that stuff so much. An all day and all of the night smoke.

Pipe Used: Briars
Age When Smoked: Fresh
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 22, 2022 Mild Extremely Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
From all the Auenland tobaccos by Vauen this one clearly sticks out. I really do not get, why the shire should be associated with fruity, sweet standard VA/BC/Burley mixtures and a ton of aromas. When I think of the Shire I would see VA Flakes, vintage style english mixtures with Latakia and Orients or even plugs or curly or spun cuts, but okay perhaps this is just me. So as a pipe smoker and LotR Lover I frequently get these tobaccos as a present and smoke then and they are okay. The Broken Flake is really different though.

The smell in the tin is very nice. It is deep, leathery with hints of fresh wood and a subtle sweetness that is very pleasant. In 2022 the tobacco has just the right moisture and packs and lights very well. I did not need any further rubbing or anything, just straight in the pipe, two matches and go. The first puff come on strong, but when you figure that this tobacco burns really well and allows for a very slow smoke, it rewards you with a gentle taste: the virginia is grassy and sweet and fresh, the Kentucky is very well incorporated and provides a rich smoke. The Perique gives, if smoked really slowly a crisp yet light addition of freshness. You can really recognize the smell from the tin. The room note is surprisingly subtle and I would describe it as "old fashioned". Easily the best tobacco from Vauens Auenland range. If you like these kinds of blends with Perique and Kentucky: Give it a try.
Pipe Used: Torben Dansk Kauni
PurchasedFrom: gifted
Age When Smoked: freshly bought
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 01, 2021 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
The constituent tobaccos in this mixture really caught my attention. I enjoy smoking a Burley/Kentucky blend from time to time, so I was curious what this might bring.

The tin note is really pungent and it can lead you to believe that this is going to be a strong blend. It's smoky, woody, somewhat sweet with a bit of a chocolate/cocoa smell coming from the Burleys and also a bit of raisins, possibly from the Perique.

The broken flake is pretty finely rubbed, but some extra rubbing is required for a more consistent smoke. Other than that, there are no problems with this one mechanically. Smokes well, cool and dry. There might be some dottle left, but no moisture of any kind at the bottom of the bowl.

Given the constituent leaves and the smell of the unlit tobacco, this blend was not as strong as I'd expected. The overall character of the smoke is very earthy, nutty, somewhat spicy and, to my taste, the Burley is the main player in this one. The dark Virginia is there to lend a bit of sweetness and a bit of a bakery, yeasty character to the taste. The Perique and the Kentucky are supporting players, working in the background to lend some spiciness, pepper and some smokiness.

But this blend has one issue that kinda irks me: it's a little too dry. And I don't mean that as in a lack of moisture, but dry as in a dry wine. Most tobaccos I've smoked have (more or less) a creamy/buttery character in the smoke. This one does not and it puts me off quite a bit. The smoke is tasty, consistent and there are definitely high quality tobaccos in this blend, but that lack of creaminess prevents me from really enjoying it.

As such, this is not exactly a blend for my taste. That doesn't mean it's bad; far from it, but the dryness puts me off quite a bit. I will finish the tin and I don't think I'll buy it again. But I'm glad I've tried it and if someone likes this more than I did, I can see why.
Pipe Used: Auenland Almar churchwarden and Angelo
PurchasedFrom: Mohilla store (Vienna)
Age When Smoked: Fresh from the tin
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 23, 2022 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
Smell very well, nice presentation, and does not have a flavored sensation at all. It can bite a little bit if you push too much, but very pleasant and easy to smoke, especially for a relaxed period. Not my favorite from Auenland series but I like it more than others. Recommended to test at least once.
Pipe Used: John Aylesbury - Billiard Dunkelbraun
PurchasedFrom: Cigarworld
Age When Smoked: 1
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 29, 2021 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
Vauen - Auenland Broken Flake (The Shire) classic Virginia/Burley/Perique style,smooth,balence,gentle,pure,very good quality for non-flavoring tobacco.maybe the best of The Shire series. rocommend rocommend rocommend rocommend rocommend rocommend
Age When Smoked: 3
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 31, 2020 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin note: bready with a clear raisin note from the perique. A slight drying of about 15 min may be beneficial. The VAs play the dominant role during the initial phase: very sweet, with the lighter VAs slightly more pronounced than the darker ones. The spiceyness of the perique is there, the nutey burley supports the aroma of the first two ingredients. The kentucky is taking a supporting role but stays clearly in the background with it's smokey, earthy aroma. As the bowl progresses, the burley takes a step forward and the sweetness of the VAs slightly diminishes. The VAs seem to tolerate a medium cadence without leading to bitterness. Overall a very well made blend, taking over the role of great introductory blend to nonaromatics for beginners and people who would like to transition from the other aromatic blends of Vauen's Auenland series.
Pipe Used: Golden pipe (pear wood) w/ 9 mm charcoal filter
PurchasedFrom: pfeifen-shop-online.de
Age When Smoked: fresh
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 09, 2023 Mild Extremely Mild Mild Unnoticeable
Not really broken flake. It is ribbon cut with fruity sweet aroma. Tobacco is on premium side of portfolio. Virginia is sweet, but little bit overwhelmed by full creamy nuts from burley. Very average good tobacco without special nuances. Accurate moisture, need fair amount of relights. Burn well till the end. Could be repeatable.
Pipe Used: BPK, Corn
PurchasedFrom: tecon-gmbh.de
Age When Smoked: 1 year
0 people found this review helpful.
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