Craven Craven Aromatic (Original)

Have smoked this quite a few times and always have some lying around in a pouch or jar.. Pouches can be dry or moist, i don't mind either because the difference has a certain effect on how this blend tastes: it can be quite a transformer. Opinions of it amongst those I know who smoke and enjoy it vary in the taste descriptions which I find interesting ;its as if your own pipe or mouth brings out unique identity in it. Its an enigmatic va/bur I think.

First time I smoked it I felt it was a burley forward (maybe uncased brown Cavendish)ready rubbed with a milky cocoa factor which I think I would attribute to the burley within. In fact anybody familiar in the UK of having had the breakfast cereal of 'chocolate ready brek' porridge ,this was a dead ringer in taste(when smoked in a Brentford pipe outside on a freezing winter porch in the evening).

Later pouches have filled the gaps between my taste and the opinions of others having smoked it moister and in different shaped falcon bowls. It tastes slightly different when smoked indoors. Lately I feel the base tobacco has a more matured Virginia forward citrusy /burnt orange delivery over the burley ; the effect is a slight (and you have to use your imagination) chocolate orange factor of the natural tobacco's , its not an added casing or topping..

Of the aromatic property; yes it has one, and this depending on how dry or moist your pouch is will determine the reasons why opinions differ on the actual overall tasting experience. The aromatic factor is more of a topping I recon ,this tobacco doesn't seem cased to me because it burns too cool and there is no bite. The aromatic taste is of a curious limey/grapefruit with a very green shrubby coniferous slightly bitter but sweet cool taste as well (green tea maybe) : Almost menthol but not quite ; it reminds me of that smell of conifer hedge trimmings and chewing supposedly poisonous berries as a kid(to taste what the birds eat before I would spit it out).. Anyhow I like it for this peculiarity ;also if blown out of the nostrils you get a sort of mild zesty Vicks vaporub pow factor that brings you to your senses.

Similar contemporaries would be the discontinued 'Parsons Pleasure' In the matured and ripe fermented Virginia side of the taste , with a smidegeon of bobs chocolate flake in the burley side of it ;but of the aromatic factor I don't feel Craven aromatic has any equal contemporary ;it is unique but not overpowering either. Really its like the aroma of playing in the bushes as a kid.

Aging or drying the pouch out some does make a difference and delivers a more cocoa burley surprise later. 'Surprise' kind of sums up my experience with this over the last 5 years..

Worth a solid 3 stars *** with me.