J. F. Germain & Son Royal Jersey Original Latakia Mixture
(2.74)
Cyprus Latakia with special matured golden cavendish and Virginia type tobaccos, enhanced with vanilla.
Notes: Selected Virginian and Maryland type tobaccos carefully blended with a selection of Oriental tobaccos from Greece and Turkey leaf and top grade latakia. Specially processed to produce a mellow smoke with rich flavour.
Details
| Brand | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Blended By | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Maryland, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 50 grams pouch |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.74 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 12 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 07, 2017 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Spotted a few tins of this blend resting on the shelf at my local B&M, and they've been there a while. The tin artwork looks pretty nice, so i decided to buy one. On opening, the tin note was very pleasant, slightly sweet, sour, with just a hint of Latakia. Probably something added too. The tobacco was also a feast for the eyes; the wax paper was oily and stained, and some sugar crystals were apparent on the leaf. The cut is a fine shag, the blend is mostly dark in color, with muted, gray-ish browns. I was excited and loaded up a bowl after some drying time. It is then that the disappointment begun... It finally took a light, and the initial taste is a subdued version of the tin note. Something fruity and sour (yes, it may evoke apple cider), a hint of delicate smoke, some spices (cloves?) and some ''dry'' sweetness. All delivered very lightly. On paper, it sounds delicious, but as a smoke, it somehow fails to impress or leave any lasting impression. To me, Presbyterian is a ''light'' smoke that satisfies, so is 3 Oaks Syrian or some of the Grand Orientals from McClelland. But sadly, Germain's Latakia mixture dosent quite hit the spot. I would still recommend it, were it not for the awful burn characteristics. The fine shag is a dubious choice... smoke it too wet, it will torch your mouth and leave a funky lump at the bottom of the bowl and gurgle. Smoke it too dry, and it is consumed all too quickly, turning to ashes in a few puffs, lacking in taste... maybe my technique is to blame here... I still find this blend's taste profile interesting, but not really worth the hassle...
2017-02-23 update: this tobacco REALLY must be sipped slowly, like some virginias, or else the taste quicly becomes unpleasant. Once again, not worth the hassle...
2017-06-17 update: I am now partially reconciled with this tobacco. If you can smoke it at the proper moisture content (and that sweet spot is quite hard to find...), you will be rewarded with: 10 minutes of tasteless smoke and acrid room note, and THEN, if smoked in a big, wide bowl, the flavour will start developping, and it becomes quite interesting. There is something powdery, light and faintly sweet, which merges with the subtle latakia, making it quite pleasant. A bit like the new Bengal slices, only Bengal Slices is about 10 times as tasty... The end of the smoke is the best part, and luckily for nicotine lightweights (like me), this doesnt pack a strong nic hit, so finishing a big bowl shouldnt be a prolelm. Under the right circumstances, will burn down to a proverbial fine, white ash. 2 and a half star !
2017-02-23 update: this tobacco REALLY must be sipped slowly, like some virginias, or else the taste quicly becomes unpleasant. Once again, not worth the hassle...
2017-06-17 update: I am now partially reconciled with this tobacco. If you can smoke it at the proper moisture content (and that sweet spot is quite hard to find...), you will be rewarded with: 10 minutes of tasteless smoke and acrid room note, and THEN, if smoked in a big, wide bowl, the flavour will start developping, and it becomes quite interesting. There is something powdery, light and faintly sweet, which merges with the subtle latakia, making it quite pleasant. A bit like the new Bengal slices, only Bengal Slices is about 10 times as tasty... The end of the smoke is the best part, and luckily for nicotine lightweights (like me), this doesnt pack a strong nic hit, so finishing a big bowl shouldnt be a prolelm. Under the right circumstances, will burn down to a proverbial fine, white ash. 2 and a half star !
PurchasedFrom:
Tabagie Giguère
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 17, 2001 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This one was very strange. Like Germain's 1820, when I first smelled this one I thought it was cased. This blend has a distinctive apple flavor, both in the tin and in the pipe, however, unlike 1820, the apple character doesn't seem to go away with time. I'm not sure if it's cased or not, but it's certainly bizarre for an oriental/latakia blend.
This blend reminds me of Harrod's English Mixture (green lid). The flavor is sort of burnt apple and black walnut, with some additional spiciness from the orientals, although the Harrod's blend smelled like black walnut in the tin instead of apples. However, this blend definitely had Harrod's oriental throat-coating effect. Towards the bottom of the bowl, the flavor gradually turns more burnt and ashy.
The first part of the bowl was certainly interesting (if different), and would probably appeal more to fans of aromatics than to english fans. A meerschaum might help as well.
This blend reminds me of Harrod's English Mixture (green lid). The flavor is sort of burnt apple and black walnut, with some additional spiciness from the orientals, although the Harrod's blend smelled like black walnut in the tin instead of apples. However, this blend definitely had Harrod's oriental throat-coating effect. Towards the bottom of the bowl, the flavor gradually turns more burnt and ashy.
The first part of the bowl was certainly interesting (if different), and would probably appeal more to fans of aromatics than to english fans. A meerschaum might help as well.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 26, 2010 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I don't know about this one.
Try King Charles, it is much better than this one.
Try King Charles, it is much better than this one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 03, 2009 | Mild | Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based:
Royal Jersey Original Lakakia Mixture (RJOLM) jumps right out of the tin at you. Sweet heavily fermented fruits can be smelled across the room! There is no question in my mind that this blend is cased. Aromatic fans might find something here, but it's all a bit too much for me...
Royal Jersey Original Lakakia Mixture (RJOLM) jumps right out of the tin at you. Sweet heavily fermented fruits can be smelled across the room! There is no question in my mind that this blend is cased. Aromatic fans might find something here, but it's all a bit too much for me...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 07, 2005 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Tolerable |
This is a quality tobacco and delightful in the tin. Once it's in the pipe though, it's only okay.
Upon lighting, the intial taste is very light latakia and not much else. As the pipe progresses I taste a light anise or sassafras note, which I suspect comes from the orientals. The most remarkable thing is how 'dry' the flavor is. I don't sense much of the sour apple or cider flavor that other reviewers mention, but I do get a bright sour burning taste on the roof of my mouth which is not all that pleasant. An experience I also have with other blends high in light or lemon virginas. The bite does go away fairly quickly, but why bother, especially for a blend with no disernable virgina sweetness. The surprising thing is how cool and dry it burns for a blend I find a bit nippy. If it were a straight VA that bit like this I'd expect the bowl to be scorching hot, then you'd just have to slow down to keep it in check.
Exhale through your nose, and you're likely to be surprised at just how light and airy this blend is.
Not much nicotine to be found here.
Overall I find that this blend is just too light for me, and would only recommend it to someone looking for the lightest english blend possible.
Upon lighting, the intial taste is very light latakia and not much else. As the pipe progresses I taste a light anise or sassafras note, which I suspect comes from the orientals. The most remarkable thing is how 'dry' the flavor is. I don't sense much of the sour apple or cider flavor that other reviewers mention, but I do get a bright sour burning taste on the roof of my mouth which is not all that pleasant. An experience I also have with other blends high in light or lemon virginas. The bite does go away fairly quickly, but why bother, especially for a blend with no disernable virgina sweetness. The surprising thing is how cool and dry it burns for a blend I find a bit nippy. If it were a straight VA that bit like this I'd expect the bowl to be scorching hot, then you'd just have to slow down to keep it in check.
Exhale through your nose, and you're likely to be surprised at just how light and airy this blend is.
Not much nicotine to be found here.
Overall I find that this blend is just too light for me, and would only recommend it to someone looking for the lightest english blend possible.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This medium English blend tastes more like an Oriental blend, the latakia is less pronounced and so are the VAs. This has an odd taste to it, as if there was some sort of topping of which I have no idea. In a way it leaves a taste of metal. I know that is sort of non-descript for it isn't iron or copper, I know those tastes. Well that's a big question mark for me, but it certainly isn't the type of taste you want to encounter while hoping for a rich English blend. Maybe some of the tin rubbed off on the tobacco? 🙂 I'm not sure if I got a bad tin or this one just didn't go well with my constitution when smoked. I'll give this 2 stars just because of the odd interaction with this blend, otherwise it would be only 1 star. I must admit I'm very hesitant to buy this again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 17, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
This was an interesting offering from JF. I thought the tin looked quite regal with its purple label and hoped the tobacco would be equally impressive. Though the tobacco packed and lit well, produced a good cloud of smoke, it unfortunately was not that impressive with regards to taste and aroma. There was something acrid about the taste on my tongue which was quite bothersome and the feeling lingered well after I finished my bowl. I didn't smell anything fruity, but there was something "chemical" about the mixture. There seemed to be some sort of light casing on this weed since it felt a little sticky to me...smelled like a mutated latakia type smell...odd to be sure. I might have gotten a bad tin, but can't be certain. I may have to revisit this blend again someday. Somewhat Recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 16, 2011 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This would be a good introduction to English tobaccos as it is quite mild. This however, is its weakness as it is too mild for me. This is otherwise a nice tobacco for an all day smoke.
soli Deo gloria
soli Deo gloria
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
A friend gave me some of this tobacco to try, 4/5 bowls. The first thing I noted is a strange topping but, after that, the tobacco has little to say: too flat to be interesting, ever for a mild tobacco. Not really bad, but not something I will buy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is a not-particularly-bad typical Latakia mixture. I had a bit of trouble with the overall tobacco flavor, because there's more Virginia and Maryland than I would usually like, so that it makes it taste like what I call the 'typical ashtray flavor' of a cheaper cigarette. But the oriental portions of the flavor are OK, though not stellar.
Basically, I got a bland and ho-hum impression from this, with a little bit of a disappointment and a little bit of a "I guess I could smoke this if I have to" kind of feeling.
Basically, I got a bland and ho-hum impression from this, with a little bit of a disappointment and a little bit of a "I guess I could smoke this if I have to" kind of feeling.
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