Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Skandinavik Regular

I was recently overpowered by the design of the pouch and instead of buying a more reliable blend I bought this one, being seduced by it's appellative Nordic wooden theme.

As I was driving home I thought - Well, thats bound not to be a great tobacco, it's cheap, they seam to have it everywhere it's likely to be something quite bad...

I later found myself corrected, as I and a fellow pipe smoker decided to try the Tobacco (and the brand, neither of us had ever smoked skandinavik). My first impression when I opened the pouch was the freshness of the tobacco, it was in imaculate state of conservation and moist, it didn't smell aromatic, yet it smelled rather sweet and woody. Packed it lighted it. It was tobacco.Very simple, tasty, yet mild, no pretense, just a respectable cool burning, lightly sweet blend. I was instantly impressed, it was exacly what the name 'Regular' makes you feel. As the bowl progresses it might get a little bit stronger, and it is not aromatic, I don't recommend it in public indoor places, though is very much tolerable in the sense that the smell doesn't propagate very far, (or so it seams).

I've since then purchased more of this blend, I find it a very good companion for when you don't know specifically what you want, and just want to enjoy the pipe, and a good smoke.

Well, I've been around some 'over the counter' pipe tobaccos, taking in consideration that it's a cheap, very available tobacco (at least around here), I cannot resist giving it top score (in it's class)

Skandinavik Regular quickly became a favorite for me. It's in a nice little brick in the pouch. Dark in color and has an earthy smell. After breaking it up and firing it up, I got the taste of delicious tobacco flavored tobacco. Only took one relight after the char and burned smooth all the way down to a fine white ash. The Burley and Virginia are balanced out perfectly. No tongue bite even when I puffed fast on this one. This is one I enjoy on a regular basis. Nice clean taste.

I have great difficulty finding non aromatic blends to buy here due to living in a small town out in the Pampas so I just have to buy what is available. The Argentine produced tobaccos are very low in quality so I have been desperate to find something non aromatic to smoke. I popped in to the shop and found this blend for sale so snapped up a 50g pouch to give it a try as it seemed to fit the bill of being non aromatic. On opening the pouch I was disappointed to find it had the smell of an aromatic blend....kind of chocolate and prune I thought. Anyway, after that initial shock I can tell you now it doesn't in any way smoke like an aromatic so that's a result in my book. Not a strong smoke but neither is it a weak one. I liken it to English blends especially those with a Virginia bias. On first light it might disappoint those who like an instant blast of nicotine. I know I was but as you smoke your way through the bowl it gets stronger and better in my opinion. A bit of tongue bite but I like that.

For a tobacco that is half the price of Samuel Gawith it certainly isn't half the quality. I shall be heading back to the shop asap to buy their remaining stock.