Granted British aromatics for the most part are very different than their American Cavendish based cousins.

It seems Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. use the Tonka bean or an extract in many of their offerings and this blend has a lot.

This simply does not leave me wanting for more, in poor form I might add. Drying this does help a some but not nearly enough. I cannot taste dark Chocolate nor Cocoa. Maybe a very slight too slight in fact an occasional hint of vanilla, which likely is coming from the Tonka bean.

Bland, and frankly boring. After this batch is done, I won't be trying anymore for a very long time.

It does pack and burn great, by the pleasure is sadly lacking for me.

Latakia is definitely present, but quite subtle. Same goes for the chocolate flavor. It's certainly there, but in small enough amount to not overwhelm, but merely round out the flavor with a touch of something extra. The chocolate also adds to the perceived body of the smoke, giving it a slight creaminess. It competes with the burley, imho, which tries to thin it out to an extent.

Like other aromatics that I've tried, sipping brings out the best in the flavor. Smoked hotter and fuller, much of the nuance is lost and the burley/virginia dominates, which I don't particularly care for. For me this is best enjoyed as a very pleasant background smoke, not simply savored for its own sake. For this purpose it really shines.

Very wet, for me, straight out of the pouch. Had to relight often(perhaps I just haven't figured out how to pack it yet).

All in all, I really enjoy this blend and will be adding it to my inventory as an everyday smoker. However, when I want to simply sit and enjoy my pipe, I'll likely be reaching for something with a little more depth.

Oh, the latakia to me is not noticeable, except that it does add a bit of a smokey spicy edge to things, just a tad, so if you buy this expecting a latakia blend with Lakelands, it's not that.

Soli Deo gloria.

It comes in a plastic bag inside the tin, no doubt to preserve the aromas. The moisture level is perfect. The flakes rub out easily with one hand. The tin aroma is a little chocolate, a little vanilla, a lot of something else. The Latakia is nonexistent. It is a flavoured Burley flake.

It smokes easily, no bite, does not require more than the initial light. The taste is not chocolate, but an artificial floral scent without even a hint of sweetness. I will not finish the tin. A couple of bowls is plenty.

This one is for the lovers of aromatic smokes, but it is a notch above the usual stuff.

As you might expect, if tightly packed, insufficiently rubbed out or aggressively smoked then these flakes are uninspiring. Loose packing and gentle sipping is needed to really being out the chocolate, then it's how I'd imagine a pipe to taste after drinking hot chocolate.

The latakia keeps the tobacco interesting without ever coming to fore (which would probably be a bit weird anyway).

Sold loose, so next time you see them maybe pick up a couple of flakes and give your rotation an occasional kiss of chocolate.

Edit: in a cob, the lakeland essence was reduced and some chocolate showed up in the pipe as well as the room note, esp as it burned down past half -- v nice. For me, then, a ** in the briars, a *** in a cob

It's O.K. but I much prefer Two Friends English Chocolate. I wish I had just ordered a second tin of English Chocolate. This is one that will be going to a buddy.

Not as strong as many of their others but still very satisfying. The small amount of latakia is a perfect addition to the sweet chocolate. It's only just discernable but it really helps to give this blend body and cool the smoke which prevents it from becoming just another dull chocolate aromatic.

I didn't notice any Lakeland florals but the depth of flavour would be enough to keep me interested in this for a very long time. If you're an all day smoker I think this would be the perfect tobacco for you - it doesn't overwhelm the palette but is consistantly interesting, the nicotine is there but not in huge quantities, it's cool smoking and maintaience free.

A great english/aro crossover which is exactly what I hoped the Samuel Gawith version would be (and wasn't).

UPDATE: I was able to get my hands on some Bob's from 2008, 2004 and the late 90's and this flake becomes deep, dark and rich with age. Outstanding!

But this came as a good as any introduction blend to latakia. Well I'm sadly dissapointed.

First off the tin note is nice. The packaging is better than most other flakes in that its wrapped in plastic packaing in the tin. Out of the tin the flake is of good moisture content and reuqires no dry time. In good lighting you can even see what looks like tiny shimmers of sugar crystals. Lights up fine from the get go. Burns perfect with a nice mild to medium volume of smoke.

The Chocolate burley and latakia flavors are evident in the smoke and they work well together. Latakia is neither too strong nor dominant in this blend. Vitamin N is for Nicotene and is present here. But it won't get your hair in a dander either. No room spinning buzz. But my tongue did tingle a bit.

At this point I would give this blend 3 stars (maybe 4) were it not for two very serious short commings that ruin the latakia and nice burley note and I do not see how anyone could enjoy these two elements either.

Soap and Perfume. These come slightly after your light up when you say "hey this ie pretty good stu....woah nelly whats with the Dawn dishwashing liquid flavor?

Lakeland perfumes do not belong in pipe toby. Keep it in yer snuff if you like.......but it just over powers the flavor of everything else thats in toby. I wonder if G&H think lakeland scents don't ghost pipes?

So I'm over powering the stars you think you deserve here....

-1 star for the soap -1 star for the perfume.

A big let down for what could have been a good tobacco.

But this is how it went - I have tried it in 2 pipes as I find that flakes do give a totally different result in certain pipes, I used Peterson's Arans, I rubbed it out a bit after letting it "air" for 20 mins, packed it VERY carefully - then lighted, blimey it reminded me of very bad sweat in a male changing room, initial burn up is a bit confusing, BUT but but....it CHANGES - after a few mins it was a totally different experience, a perfume was then noticeable, at times I definitely noticed the cocoa/chocolate and it was then a sweeter burn.

Hmmm odd and complex, on the 2nd pipe it was then same - first light was like a bad armpit smell in need of deodorant - then the change and halfway through the perfume and hints of choc, the reviews that hate are pretty harsh its not to everyone's taste and I am not sure if its mine yet, I am an Aro fan - but this is strange, I will continue to persevere with it.

Leaves a pleasant taste on the pallet.

Yes, it has this little soapy aftertaste, but I don't mind, considering this is richer, mellower and tastier than SG.

Also, it does not have the acidic note in the background.

But this is not an aromatic: it is an English blend with "hints" of chocolate, vanilla and coco, thus a very light topping.