Japan Tobacco Momoyama

Just to chime in a wee bit, this, as others have so rightly stated , is most assuredly a quality tobak. In all honesty, I haven't smoked this since the late 90's and remember when it first hit the tobacco shoppe shelves. It was not unlike some of the other "fruity" VA tobaccos, but it was unique in that there were characteristics of other various tobaks seemingly combined together in a very attractive tin. Reminds me a bit of the aroma and flavor of Limerick. That could be just my taste. My notes contain the terms "citrusy", "slight woodiness" and "spicy". I remember the Perique being light and simply peeking out from time to time. Mostly a nice red VA flavor with added goodies. Packed well, lit and burned easily enough, smoked cool and relatively dry. I liked it and would not hesitate to try it again, hence the rating I gave it. This in no way degrades the tobak, I just have so much open stuff around to smoke that I haven't purchased any more of late. If I try it again and like it at least as well as before it will take a place in the cabinet. Well worth a try though folks, & the price IS nice to boot. Very tasty tobak that Momoyama. Works for me.

I was lucky enough to have this included in a lot of tobacco that I bid on and won in an estate auction a few years back. I have no clue about the date of the tin I won, but based on the fact that nearly nothing in the auction was newer than 2005, I estimate it is no newer than around 16 years old.

I don't know when they stopped making this; in fact, I knew and still know very little about this blend, but I do know that it is unfortunate it is not made today because it is fantastic. This is my kind of aromatic, a light fruity aromatic with enough complexity to make it interesting. This is an easy four star blend; I can't think of anything bad to say about it other than it is no longer made.

The topping is lightly applied, which is good as it allows the underlying leave to shine. The oriental(s) really add a nice touch of sour citrus to the mix and the perique adds some body and spice. The Virginia and burley form the base adding and accentuating sweetness in the experience.

The cut packs nice and easy. The leaf takes to flame with no issue and stays lit for the most part with little effort. It smokes cool, no doubt, another bonus to the addition to perique and oriental. As I stated earlier 4 stars.

Not had the original; this is a review of the MB blending. I was sent a sample of a few bowls, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I can taste the hand of Mac Baren, but none of the bite I sometimes get with Mac Baren blends that don't have at least a decade of age on them. Latakia? Perique? I suppose the proportions of both are about what one expects from Mac Baren. No matter; the Virginias are quality, and though there is nothing to blow one away, it is a good, solid smoke.

This is one of the few aromatic tobaccos I enjoy. I live in Japan and Momoyama is readily avalible here. I dont know if it is hard to find in the states or europe. The taste is plum and maybe peach (the Japanese word for peach is momo,so?). In Japan it cost less than 10USD, good smoke for a nice price.

I'll begin by saying that i'm reviewing Momoyama II so no one gets confused. I've never smoked the original. Momoyama II is a great tobacco. I'm not sure exactly what is in it, but mostly Virginia tobaccos from what i can detect. It is an aromatic, but the flavoring is very subtle. I would probably describe it as a Navy blend or something very similar. Very natural tobacco flavors, but with a very subtle, fruity (but a more dry fruity like a wine) top note. If i could compare it to anything else i've smoked i'd say it is very similar to Mac Baren's Plumcake. No latakia in this one, but very similar in style and flavor (both Plumcake and Momoyama II are actually blended by Mac Baren). I'd say i like this just a little bit better. I find it burns just a bit cooler than Plumcake. It might bite a little bit. For all you who can knock out an average sized bowl in, say... 45 minutes or less, you might not like this. So please, do not get this if you find a tin. Just tell me about it and i'll get rid of it for you.. Wonderful Stuff, 4 stars.

I'm reviewing the MomoyamaII blend, which maybe be a little altered from the original. Blended by Mac Baren's in Denmark, I asked a Japanese client could he please honor me with a gift of a couple of tins. Perhaps it is this sentimental story - told with the knowledge that my tin was purchased by an up and coming, young intelligent man in the advertising business that makes my tin taste so good...but I suspect not. 10 out of 5 stars...absolutely outstanding...beyond compare or comparison, possibly the best tobacco Mac Baren have ever produced...but not sold in Europe...oh the irony! Luckily I do a lot of business with the Japanese..which I find is always and honor and a great pleasure...but with a tin of Momoyama...no game...truely...an outstanding blend! Rich, a bit wet in the tin (will age superbly), plum wine, sweet - but with all so many flavours bouncing around...seaweed, sakai, caramel, red wine, perique, the smokiness of latakia, the list goes on...truley, truley amazing...Mac Baren really show their well known blending abilities with this one. Top.

Intrigued by the reviews on this site, I recently purchased a tin of this on a well-known auction site for a premium, hoping it to be a treat to try on a special occasion. Here it is Christmas Day (Merry Christmas everyone!) and I cracked open the well-aged tin to try.

Very pronounced, fruity, almost alcohol-laden aroma. A previous reviewer noting Japanese plum wine may have hit the nail on the head. Not bad, just very different and interesting.

Upon lighting and smoking the Momoyama in a medium-sized, rusticated Don Carlos billiard, I was fascinated by the myriad of flavors that the obviously cased tobacco took on from begining to end. Orange zest at the begining, baked apples, plums, black cherries, and then boiling down to a melange of all of the above. A real nice room note, too.

I never really noticed the Perique that more experienced pipers have noted, but I would yield to their knowledge and experience in discerning the components that make up this blend. I think that fact that I never noticed the Perique further serves to emphasize how well-made this blend is. I like Perique when it is used skillfully and sparingly and I think that may apply in this case.

By no means is this an everyday smoke, but no doubt it's unique, interesting, and just what I was hoping for: a special occasion, unique and flavorful smoke.

Too bad it's discontinued. Most definitely recommended.

My first impression on this tobacco was not good as I noticed too much of chemical additives used for flavoring. Substanial amount of the 100g tin was left over for 7 months in a jar and quite recently, just in fun for a change of air, I pinched some of this and packed into a Tom Eltang Ukulele. Surprisingly, the smell which I abhored last time has gone, and I was rewarded with quite nice taste which reminded me of Haddo's Delight, but with slightly more vividness. Maybe I'll add one or two tins of this to my cellar.

The tin I tasted was obviously a product by MacBaren and was named Momoyama II.

It's a shame this tobacco is not produced any more, to my knowledge. Upon first opening the tin, I thought the tobacco had been cased in Japanese plum wine, but when smoking it, I found the plum flavour to be a slight note in fuller experience of the tobacco. This tobacco burns evenly, has a balanced moisture content, and has a great flavour and room note. Stock up on this if you can find it!