J. F. Germain & Son Plum Cake Mixture
(2.84)
Blended from Virginia tobacco with dark cavendish and extra matured black cavendish. Flavoured with a delicate and barely discernable plum topping whose ingredients are known only to the owners of the company.
Notes: This is a traditional pipe mixture of which 80% is prepared from seven different types of Virginia leaf. The remaining 20% is a specially prepared black tobacco made from Cavendish and Negrohead. A rare air-cured leaf. This is possibly the only British made tobacco containing this particular ingredient. The unique added flavour gives an agreeable taste and pleasant aroma. Origin Channel Islands.
Details
| Brand | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Blended By | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Plum |
| Cut | shag |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 50 grams pouch |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.84 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 63 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I would like to start off with the description of this tobacco which is from what is printed on the tin face. Note that it differs somewhat from the tin description listed above:
"Pipe Tobacco made in the British Isles. Cavendish, virginia and air-cured tobaccos blended with a special black cavendish. Flavored with wine and spices to our 80 year-old recipe. A unique smoking experience."
Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a generous amount of golden colored Virginia tobacco which was interspersed with some black tobaccos, all in a shag cut. It came folded within a wax lined paper insert - somewhat stained by the tobaccos and very inviting as it evoked a nice, old-world charm. The tin aroma, at first, was a bit overwhelming. I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. It was somewhat like a potpourri. With a more discerning second whiff, I detected a sour-wine smell (sour in a good way) and some spice. The tobacco was very fresh, but not damp. Packing and lighting were within reason considering its state of freshness. The first puff was spicy and the taste immediately brought to mind the taste of Sen-Sen breath mints that I remember from my youth. Sen-Sen is primarily licorice based and is augmented by several different herbs. It might actually be Heather Honey Liquor. The taste of the wine came through slightly with the smoking (perhaps a German plum wine, hence the name Plum Cake), and the Sen-Sen wafted in and out. The Virginia component was greatly tempered by the Cavendish treatment. I also feel there is a good amount of Burley in this blend as the overall experience was fuller than Virginia can give on its own. It tasted spicy all the way through and was very, very pleasant. One of the more unique tasting blends I have ever had in 35 some odd years of smoking a pipe. It burned slowly and not at all hot, nor was there any moisture accumulation throughout the length of the smoke. It was subtly sweet and there was no bitterness whatsoever. If I had to compare it with any other tobacco blend, I would have to say that it reminded me of Erinmore Flake - not exactly the same as Plum Cake was way milder in tobacco strength than Erinmore, and stronger in what it is cased in - making Erinmore tame by comparison. It was also reminiscent of the now defunct Irish Mead Pipe Tobacco by Douwe Egbert (which contained heather honey).
This tobacco has had many mixed reviews on this site as well as on other pipe smoking forums where one can draw the conclusion that either you like it or you hate it. I wouldn't classify it as an aromatic per se (certainly not American or even Danish style aromatics), as its flavorings (as prominent as they were) didn't interfere with good tobacco taste - albeit very mild. Obviously there are very high quality tobaccos used in this offering. I am glad I did not judge this solely on the initial tin aroma alone. After the tin is opened for a while, the intense top-note subdues quite a bit. A nice, albeit different, mild flavor that remains throughout, making for a different smoking experience. Its room note is very, old-world pipey. For when you want something different in your pipe, I've yet to find anything else quite like it. Not an everyday smoke for me, but when the muse strikes, it never fails to satisfy.
"Pipe Tobacco made in the British Isles. Cavendish, virginia and air-cured tobaccos blended with a special black cavendish. Flavored with wine and spices to our 80 year-old recipe. A unique smoking experience."
Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a generous amount of golden colored Virginia tobacco which was interspersed with some black tobaccos, all in a shag cut. It came folded within a wax lined paper insert - somewhat stained by the tobaccos and very inviting as it evoked a nice, old-world charm. The tin aroma, at first, was a bit overwhelming. I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. It was somewhat like a potpourri. With a more discerning second whiff, I detected a sour-wine smell (sour in a good way) and some spice. The tobacco was very fresh, but not damp. Packing and lighting were within reason considering its state of freshness. The first puff was spicy and the taste immediately brought to mind the taste of Sen-Sen breath mints that I remember from my youth. Sen-Sen is primarily licorice based and is augmented by several different herbs. It might actually be Heather Honey Liquor. The taste of the wine came through slightly with the smoking (perhaps a German plum wine, hence the name Plum Cake), and the Sen-Sen wafted in and out. The Virginia component was greatly tempered by the Cavendish treatment. I also feel there is a good amount of Burley in this blend as the overall experience was fuller than Virginia can give on its own. It tasted spicy all the way through and was very, very pleasant. One of the more unique tasting blends I have ever had in 35 some odd years of smoking a pipe. It burned slowly and not at all hot, nor was there any moisture accumulation throughout the length of the smoke. It was subtly sweet and there was no bitterness whatsoever. If I had to compare it with any other tobacco blend, I would have to say that it reminded me of Erinmore Flake - not exactly the same as Plum Cake was way milder in tobacco strength than Erinmore, and stronger in what it is cased in - making Erinmore tame by comparison. It was also reminiscent of the now defunct Irish Mead Pipe Tobacco by Douwe Egbert (which contained heather honey).
This tobacco has had many mixed reviews on this site as well as on other pipe smoking forums where one can draw the conclusion that either you like it or you hate it. I wouldn't classify it as an aromatic per se (certainly not American or even Danish style aromatics), as its flavorings (as prominent as they were) didn't interfere with good tobacco taste - albeit very mild. Obviously there are very high quality tobaccos used in this offering. I am glad I did not judge this solely on the initial tin aroma alone. After the tin is opened for a while, the intense top-note subdues quite a bit. A nice, albeit different, mild flavor that remains throughout, making for a different smoking experience. Its room note is very, old-world pipey. For when you want something different in your pipe, I've yet to find anything else quite like it. Not an everyday smoke for me, but when the muse strikes, it never fails to satisfy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 17, 2010 | Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant |
I purchased an old tin at the local smoke shop after I saw the owner pack it into one of her own pipes. She is by no means a blender per se but she has handmade her own pipes for over 4 decades and she rarely smokes in public (something about her german upbringing), so when I see her lighting up an exquisite pencil shanked squat tomato I was all questions. She did not go into great details like the other reviews here, but simply mentioned this was one of her all time favorite tobaccos. The next day I bought the last tin in the store - at least 5 years old but probably older. Tonight I cracked it open and was very intrigued by the tin aroma. The paper folds were stained brown and were very wet with very small crystals present. Someone who has the patience and experience for cellaring may know how significant that is, it is not in my nature but have been told by others that this phenomenon is an excellent sign. It smelled unique for a Va and was far more moist than most. I should clarify that I personally don't belong into any one category of taste classification or genre, aromatic, semi-aromatic, english, balkan, american, va/per, neo-pseudo-exotic-cavendish-whatsit-whatever. I like tobaccos from all genres and as a rule - don't enjoy the taste or odor of latakia, period (those of you who believe this to be heresy as the enjoyment of this particular tobacco is all too often equated with the upper eschalon of leaf conniseurs can go jump in a lake - with your shoe leather tasting tobacco).
The cut is extraordinary and very delicate. I did not let the tobacco air out at all. No drying whatsoever before carefully packing up an excellent smoking, small dublin and starting the lighting process. It burned much better than expected but the flavor was...odd. Not bad, just different and very subtle. While smoking I checked out the reviews here and when I read the reference to the taste of white wine it all clicked. This is what I imagine smoking the inside of a nice german sweet wine barrel would taste like. As the bowl is now at the finish it has a bit more body, probably due to a slightly increased cadence once my pallete sorted out the taste. No bite and a wonderful smoke. This is why I enjoy good VAs so much, it is subtle and will blossom into wonderful variations to the puffer who refuses to rush and allow the tobacco to stay just on the verge of going out.
Initially I thought the I was smoking quickly because at the first post-lighting tamp half the bowl had been consumed. Then it occured to me that perhaps I packed a little looser with less tobacco due to its high moisture. But as I...hold on a sec...yep, she's done...finish and check the clock it appears this was an hour and 45 minute smoke. It just seemed to go by fast due to the transcendant nature of the tobacco.
If you can ease up and slow down - this is a masterpiece. Outstanding and in a class by itself. I can't wait to taste some after a little drying.
The cut is extraordinary and very delicate. I did not let the tobacco air out at all. No drying whatsoever before carefully packing up an excellent smoking, small dublin and starting the lighting process. It burned much better than expected but the flavor was...odd. Not bad, just different and very subtle. While smoking I checked out the reviews here and when I read the reference to the taste of white wine it all clicked. This is what I imagine smoking the inside of a nice german sweet wine barrel would taste like. As the bowl is now at the finish it has a bit more body, probably due to a slightly increased cadence once my pallete sorted out the taste. No bite and a wonderful smoke. This is why I enjoy good VAs so much, it is subtle and will blossom into wonderful variations to the puffer who refuses to rush and allow the tobacco to stay just on the verge of going out.
Initially I thought the I was smoking quickly because at the first post-lighting tamp half the bowl had been consumed. Then it occured to me that perhaps I packed a little looser with less tobacco due to its high moisture. But as I...hold on a sec...yep, she's done...finish and check the clock it appears this was an hour and 45 minute smoke. It just seemed to go by fast due to the transcendant nature of the tobacco.
If you can ease up and slow down - this is a masterpiece. Outstanding and in a class by itself. I can't wait to taste some after a little drying.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Perusing the reviews, I have become convinced that people are smoking two utterly different tobaccos. Plum Cake has a magical dark, dried fruit smell in the tin, and is a shag pressed into a small block. Like all Germain blends, waxed paper--never cellophane--is used to pack it. Upon the light, one expects a strong aromatic element due to the tin note, but it's not there, except as a pleasant backdrop to a dusty, savory brown VA which I find pleasant but not extraordinary. With 20 minutes of drying it's ready to smoke--right out of the tin it's too wet, and as with all shag cuts, rehydration would be a disaster, and it will bite like hell. But that is not a quality of the tobacco--when properly dried, even smoking a pipe that is normally mean to me if I stop paying attention, I found no bite whatsoever. I am especially sensitive to bite, smoking mostly brown Virginias, and so I can't see what all the whinging is about. Different palates, I guess, or improper drying. The aromatic element is not "chemically" at all--again, I am especially sensitive to polypropylene and detect none at all in the feel or in the mouthfeel of the tobacco. I will be buying some to cellar, as I'm sure the quality of the VA will do nothing except improve. It is my opinion that what some people refer to as a 'chemical' taste in their tobaccos is nothing but the soapiness of natural African Virginia leaf. There are no chemicals in this tobacco--or really in any Germain mixture; it's not their style. All in all, a fine tobacco that burns beautifully and quickly (like any shag cut), but just distinctive enough to scare off some smokers. I think that we need to be a little more careful with 'accusations' of heavy casing, since you should be able to tell simply by handling the tobacco--if it is tacky to the touch and shows no drying after 24 hours, it's probably cased. If it leaves a pool (not just dottle, but a pool) of liquid at the bottom of your pipe, it's probably cased. Germain's blends do neither of these things, and while technically an aromatic, the casing is minimal and tasteful.
Pipe Used:
Dunhill 463 Group 2 1962
PurchasedFrom:
The Briar Shoppe; Houston, TX
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2014 | Medium | Strong | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
On initial opening, the tin aroma is very powerful and doesn't evoke happy pleasant memories of anything in particular, at least not in me. (I don't have much experience with plum cakes so that could be a reason!). That led me to feel this is a rather synthetic and unnatural product. but not unpleasant, just odd. And at the same time, the tin says it is "a unique smoking experience" - it is, so no marketing fibs there; and it also says it is based on an 80 year recipe which means it was "a la mode" sometime around 1933 which was the very year that the London Passenger Transport Board (LT to londoners - red buses and tube trains to the rest of the world) was created. It is also around the time that my newly married grandparents bought their brand new semi detached house, no doubt full of anticipation and excitement for their life ahead, on the slopes of Shooters Hill (a house that I got know and love 4 decades later); an era of art deco, streamlined steam engines beating world speed records', talking movie pictures - and all of a sudden, I have a smell to associate with a bygone era and I really quite like it!!! The smoke is a bit on the hot and steamy side but controllable with care, and a little bit flat on the flavour side but not too bad. As the bowl develops I seem to get an ocassional faint sense of smoked bacon; I can't make my mind up on this between 2 and 3 stars but for the happy (and somewhat synthetic!!) evocation of a bygone but very optimistic age, It gets 3 stars! It also remains smokable well after opening the tin.
Postscript: after writing and posting I took a look at what others had to say - seems there is at least one other reviewer for whom this tobacco takes them back through the decades -for RCUSElder it is London in the 1880's, for me, London in the 1930's - so pick your preferred decade from years gone by, open a tin up and boom - you're there!,! Magical!
Postscript: after writing and posting I took a look at what others had to say - seems there is at least one other reviewer for whom this tobacco takes them back through the decades -for RCUSElder it is London in the 1880's, for me, London in the 1930's - so pick your preferred decade from years gone by, open a tin up and boom - you're there!,! Magical!
Pipe Used:
Falcon
PurchasedFrom:
4 Noggins
Age When Smoked:
New to 10 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 07, 2014 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I've always been quite fond of aromatics, having smoked various blends. So, when I visited my local tobacconist recently I decided to get a tin of Germain's Plum Cake. I felt like trying something new and I spotted this. It was an aromatic, I liked the sound of it and I knew that it would be decent quality tobacco (having researched it) ... if nothing else.
On opening the tin I was greeted by golden shreds of tobacco and a lovely smell of fermented plum and/ or raisins. My first thought was of Victorian England (others have noted this as well; a typical English 'olde worlde' aroma). The tobacco was slightly too wet, so I let it dry out a bit over night.
This is a beautiful smoke. Flavoursome, satisfying and well behaved with no tongue-bite. I prefer it after dinner or in the morning, but you can easily smoke this all day long. The sweet-ish, fruity flavour is there but never overpowering. An all-round great tobacco. In fact, having smoked a tin of this, I have come to the conclusion that this is much better than some of the other aro's I used to smoke; much better quality tobacco and a much more natural flavour. A definite keeper.
UPDATE: After a couple of tins of this I stand by my review - great blend and I'm definitely gonna keep a tin of this in my cellar. One thing I've noticed, though, is that the tin aroma seems to diminish quite a bit after you've had the tin open for a week or two and, consequently, the smoke seems slightly less flavoursome as well. However, since I don't recall anybody else having commented on this, it could be just my imagination.
On opening the tin I was greeted by golden shreds of tobacco and a lovely smell of fermented plum and/ or raisins. My first thought was of Victorian England (others have noted this as well; a typical English 'olde worlde' aroma). The tobacco was slightly too wet, so I let it dry out a bit over night.
This is a beautiful smoke. Flavoursome, satisfying and well behaved with no tongue-bite. I prefer it after dinner or in the morning, but you can easily smoke this all day long. The sweet-ish, fruity flavour is there but never overpowering. An all-round great tobacco. In fact, having smoked a tin of this, I have come to the conclusion that this is much better than some of the other aro's I used to smoke; much better quality tobacco and a much more natural flavour. A definite keeper.
UPDATE: After a couple of tins of this I stand by my review - great blend and I'm definitely gonna keep a tin of this in my cellar. One thing I've noticed, though, is that the tin aroma seems to diminish quite a bit after you've had the tin open for a week or two and, consequently, the smoke seems slightly less flavoursome as well. However, since I don't recall anybody else having commented on this, it could be just my imagination.
Pipe Used:
Aldo Morelli, Ermanno Elite, Peterson Churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
Brucciani Ltd
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 16, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
My first review here and I wanted to redress the balance slightly as I feel that, for some people at least, this blend could prove more enjoyable than they might expect given its overall reception so far.
As someone who doesn't usually smoke aromatics I was a bit wary about ordering a tin, but I needn't have worried. This is not a heavily flavoured, cloyingly sweet or chemically tasting smoke - rather it is one where the slightly unusual aromatic flavourings blend nicely with the slightly unusual tobacco flavourings.
The taste in the pipe matches up to the smell in the tin, a slightly musty, fruity aroma that to me is reminscent of the filling from a mince pie. There is no bite or irritation here and with a bit of drying time the fairly fine shag cut smokes cool and dry all the way to the bottom, retaining its character as it does so.
Nicotine is on the medium side of mild (as opposed to the mild side of medium) and works nicely for me as a daytime smoke at the weekends.
The intriguing 'special' black tobacco that is mentioned in the description does impart a flavour which, I can appreciate, is going to be a love it or hate it experience, but I find it makes a nice change and gives the blend a body that it would otherwise lack.
The flavours in Plumcake seem to me a bit more grown up than the usual vanilla and cherry offerings most of us think of when we think 'aromatic'. I will be buying more. If you fancy trying something a bit different and like to be able to taste the tobacco in your aromatics then you might do well to pick up a tin yourself.
As someone who doesn't usually smoke aromatics I was a bit wary about ordering a tin, but I needn't have worried. This is not a heavily flavoured, cloyingly sweet or chemically tasting smoke - rather it is one where the slightly unusual aromatic flavourings blend nicely with the slightly unusual tobacco flavourings.
The taste in the pipe matches up to the smell in the tin, a slightly musty, fruity aroma that to me is reminscent of the filling from a mince pie. There is no bite or irritation here and with a bit of drying time the fairly fine shag cut smokes cool and dry all the way to the bottom, retaining its character as it does so.
Nicotine is on the medium side of mild (as opposed to the mild side of medium) and works nicely for me as a daytime smoke at the weekends.
The intriguing 'special' black tobacco that is mentioned in the description does impart a flavour which, I can appreciate, is going to be a love it or hate it experience, but I find it makes a nice change and gives the blend a body that it would otherwise lack.
The flavours in Plumcake seem to me a bit more grown up than the usual vanilla and cherry offerings most of us think of when we think 'aromatic'. I will be buying more. If you fancy trying something a bit different and like to be able to taste the tobacco in your aromatics then you might do well to pick up a tin yourself.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 07, 2009 | Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Yet another " Love-it-or-hate-it ".Aromatic ? By definition ALL tobaccos are aromatic, lit or unlit. After trying 3 tins of this, I have to completely change my ratings. If my taste buds (and smell buds) are anything to go by, honey is used in this tobacco.I found this to my cost when smoking hot, which is difficult not to do with this one, as it guarantees me a sore throat every smoke.The deposit in the bowl is like treacle. The room note is pleasant in the short term, but smoke regularly in one location, and the resulting aftermath is like an old fashioned "Bar Parlour". This is not the smell that I want in my office, (even if I liked the tobacco.)
Why are there two separate sections here for the same tobacco ?? Also, this is not broken flake, but shag....perhaps more suitable for hand-rolling cigarettes.
Why are there two separate sections here for the same tobacco ?? Also, this is not broken flake, but shag....perhaps more suitable for hand-rolling cigarettes.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2007 | Mild | Medium | Very Mild | Pleasant |
One of the two or three sweetest smelling tobaccos I have ever tried. When I opened the tin I was greeted with the aroma of sweet figs and light berry, I was prepared for an aromatic delight. The cut is, as others have mentioned fine, like cigarette tobacco. East to pack and easy to light, the sweet smell permeates the room. Once lit the flavor quickly fades, Plum Cake becomes a rather bland, light English blend. The room aroma also quickly fades as well.
The sweet taste comes up every once in a while when smoking this blend, but on a whole it remains bland throughout. There are are many more light English tobaccos that taste better than Germains Plum Cake, but none that smell better.
The sweet taste comes up every once in a while when smoking this blend, but on a whole it remains bland throughout. There are are many more light English tobaccos that taste better than Germains Plum Cake, but none that smell better.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 12, 2005 | Medium | Strong | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Reading some of the previous reviews makes me think these people are smoking an almost entirely different blend. A rather intense aromatic tin and smoke aroma. The aroma is liken to perfumed talcum powder. The flavor as being so aromatic does not taste like tobacco. The flavoring gives a somewhat bitterness to the smoke. There is another character in the smoke that I can only liken it to the carbination in cola; bazaar, I know. Despite what the tin says this is not sweet to the taste like cavendish. The base is golden matured virginia ribbon with the corresponding medium stregth smoke and heat. There are some flavor undertones similiar to Germain's #7, so some common ingredients are shared. Quite possibly the most unique tobacco I have ever tried, but so odd that it is'nt something I will smoke on a regular basis, perhaps as an occasional departure.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 09, 2002 | Very Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
This blend is sweet in the tin, taste and the room aroma. The light VAs are complemented by a black add that I believe gives the tobacco its fruity effect. I've heard that they treat this portion with oils and whatever they're using imparts a rather unique but pleasant flavor. Perhaps the 'cake' in its name refers to the baked variety since this is more of a ribbon cut preparation in my view. It therefore burns much faster than the flakes that I normally smoke. Moisture content and this cut requires some practice in packing technique/pipe size selection or a difficult draw and hot smoke may result. Once this is mastered, you are justly rewarded with a cool, bite-free smoke without moisture buildup in the bowl. The taste is consistent thruout the smoke and although one dimensional, is good. A smooth, sweet and mild smoke that I enjoy especially in the hot/humid weather like we've been having recently in the Northeast.
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