Poschl Tabak Hansa Krüll

I wanted to try this out of pure curiousity. Here in germany it's a blend with tradition and said to be most natural smoking tobacco. "Dutch-Style" they say. Java and import tobaccos and Virginias with low sugar content would characterize such. The description irritates me a bit. What are "import-tobaccos"? , Sadly google gives no informations on "import-tobaccos", but only laws on importing tobacco! 😛

Anyways I opened the lovely and old fashioned designed pouch. Shining yellow, no fancy nancy, solid block capitals font and a adventurous semmingly ship with 5 masts make the pouch appearance. As we have these annoying, huge warning stickers here in germany most pouch/tin designs don't give much of a feeling to me. This one does, it really looks like old-fashioned, solid and honest tobacco without having opened the pouch. I personally love it, just those stupid stickers..

Opening the pouch reveals a very subtle and natural tobacco scent. The medium-sized ribbons are pressed firmly into the pouch and it comes a touch too moist, but smokeable right out of the pouch. With its golden-yellow, partly beige and medium to darker brown variety of colours this blends appearance is inviting and I couldn't hold myself back to dip my nose into it to take a deep breath of its scent.

The scent is very subtle and natural seeming. First thing I get is rich spiciness, that's not only peppery, but tart and tangy, almost herbal. A tad of citrusy sourness is in the back that's underscoring the bold spiciness. Very tobacco-ey, no flavouring I could detect.

So I packed a bowlful of it into one of my beloved clay pipes and set it on fire. First thing that hit my palate is a rich spiciness, that's reminding of a melange of real spices. Full-bodied, but not overwhelming to smokers who like a spicy smoking experience. The Virginias are noticeable and form a citrusy-fresh, slightly sweet base to the robust tanginess. Mild cigar-ish notes, along with herbal notes give this blend depth and keep it from being one-dimensional. The best term to describe the taste is "tobacco-ey". No flavouring I could detect at all, also in the taste! The very slightly honey-ish sweetness seems all natural from the Virginias and is rather subtle, but present. By times I perceive a bit of floralness, too.

Hansa Krüll really isn't the most complex blend out there, but the few flavour-dimensions it offers are well done and blended in perfect harmony.

Strenght is medium to strong nicotine- and taste wise. Leaves a pleasant, tobacco-ey/herbal taste in the mouth, that doens't linger for too long tho. Price of 5,35€ per 50g pouch is decent pricing, as a 50g pouch is usually between 7-12€ here.

This tobacco will appeal to lovers of full-bodied, natural blends, and I think this will also appeal to smokers who come from cigarettes and look for something that taste like pure tobacco without any additives. 3/4 stars for a solid, honest and tasty blend with a tradition to it. Not a "must-try", but a blend definetly worth trying and a welcome change of pace for any pipe smoker who wants to experience a tobacco true to its name - TOBACCO!

I'll keep a pouch at hand whenever possible of this by now, I find it to be pretty good! Another OTC that's pretty decent, I'm pleasantly surprised.

One of the best drug store blends !!!! This is most close to Dunhill Royal Yacht, strong, mild plum flavor, no tongue bite, cool dry smoke, almost pleasant after taste. Big four stars !!!