The tin-note was of quite ordinary smelling virginia with a light woody spice from the burley.

it was reasonable to fill, and lit well, a little too well infact as it burnt rather fast and hot. The taste was a mild and rather bland and it tended to bite if drawn too hard.

The room note was pleasing and light and smelt better than the tobacco tasted.

Not horrible but not fantastic a tollerable smoke for a light aromatic bend.

Like DrDyson I too have great affection for Craven as a manufacturer recalling my days of cigarette smoking in the 70's with the likes of Black Cat.

Also, like Ex20 I found the contents of this pouch was dryer than a teenagers toothbrush and the consistency, indeed, like old leaf tea.

It was taken back and I insisted the Tesco's personage checked all of the pouches before settling on one that seemed to have retained some moisture. I bet Tesco's won't withdraw those I rejected, and some other poor sod get a dry pack. I have a suspicion that they don't sell many of these anyway...

Ah yes the tobacco.

Dry it certainly is and a pleasant pouch aroma. It has a mild creamy taste, but no room note at all. It's pretty ordinary really and not a million miles from Gold Block.

Together with Gold Block this blend is possibly the best of the supermarket brands.

Pack Smell: A light toffee & biscuit (digestive) smell with an overlay of heather and light floral fragrance.I knew that I'd like the smoke as soon as I smelled it.

Taste & flavour: I wasn't disappointed. Just like the pack smell really. Very smooth and cool smoke, and leaves a pleasant taste in the mouth after smoking too. Need to draw at it lightly so it burns lightly.

Room note: light & pleasant.

It's like ronseal, it's everything it says on the pack.

The man who invented or blended this abomination ought to have been boiled in oil; or, even better, made to smoke it. I confess that I haven’t smoked much of it; but I didn’t need to. I bought some at Tesco’s, took it home and lit up. Shortly afterwards, Klio (cat) left the room with a reproachful look and went outside to bother some mice; I was left alone with this apology for a tobacco. SWMBO was out, fortunately, or I should have been in real trouble.

This is desperate stuff. I feel much more strongly about it than previous reviewers, for some reason. Like its ready rubbed brother, Craven Aromatic is in my view dreadful: coarse, cheap, nasty, and an offence to all right-thinking nostrils. It’s admittedly cool and slow-burning; but if ‘aromatic’ means ‘smells fit to render you senseless’, this is aromatic and then some. Smoke it, and death will lose its sting, but you won’t have any friends. This is the worst kind of mass-produced supermarket floor-sweepings, with added smell.

I see that it has its devotees. Well, best of luck to you, says I; each to his own, etc.. Strange, how tastes can vary. Personally, I wouldn’t put a match to this sorry concoction again for all the rice in China. A 100% no-no, as far as I’m concerned: awful, awful, awful.

John Craven ;)

The tobacco is moist in the pouch with a sweet mild fruit smell. Easy to pack in the pipe and burns well. However the flavour is pretty nondescript and the smoke has a peppery aftertaste that irritates the back of the nostrils. It doesn't offend but if you're looking for a readily available aromatic seek out Clan or Erinmore as they are much more tasty. This is pretty bland and rough.

Good room note as it says on the pouch - "appreciated by the smoker and those around him"

This is a rather dark mixture of pressed virginias, lighter ribbon and rough-cut leaf. It's scent is not very distinct, being a mix of dried vegetable with a flat fruity note.

Sadly Craven doesn't manage to clearly distinguish itself when smoked. Having a slightly limey back and a generic summer fruit casing that dominates the centre, that is common to countless aromatics.

Nothing to write home about, or to write any more about.