J. F. Germain & Son Germain's Medium Flake
(2.84)
Red, brown and gold Virginia tobaccos pressed to give a medium color and a medium rate of burn, with fruit extracts.
Details
| Brand | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Blended By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | Fruit / Citrus |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.84 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 51 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 02, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
A light to mid brown flake, I'd say 100% Virginias, and the tin note having some citrus quality to it. The cut is thin, like flakes used to be before the EU "1.5mm or more thick or get taxed at the much higher cigarette rate" rule came in. Maybe Germain's get away with the cut because although Jersey is a possession of the British Crown, the British monarch being Duke of Normandy since 1066, Jersey isn't part of the UK or EU. Anyway, on with the tobacco.
Very easy to load, though does take a few lights to get going. I bought a couple of tins of this while looking for a replacement for Orlik Golden SLoced which Orlik ceased selling into the UK a couple of years ago. And there is a definite similarity to OGS. The citrus notes are quite pronounced, whether from a topping or the tobacco itself.
As a mild, light flake it's very good. However...
Firstly, this tobacco bites like no other and does so ferociously. I can't smoke it at all without a filter and even with one have to smoke very carefully. I normally don't use filters and smoke a lot of Va based flake, but for Germain's Medium Flake I've found a filter or Peterson system pipe is essential.
Secondly, I have had the current tin I'm smoking open for a couple of months now and the contents are showing little to no signs of drying out. Which makes me suspect there's a humectant added to keep it moist - which may well be making the bite problem worse. I've not encountered this with any other Germain blend I've smokes, and I smoke a lot of their Brown Flake and Perique mixture. I've seen it said that Medium Flake isn't produced by Germain's but is made for them by one of the big European manufacturers. True or not, I don't know, but the blend and humectant do remind me of Danish-style aromatics.
If this didn't bite me like mad I'd give it three stars. But because of the bite I'll say I certainly recommend it as a tobacco worth trying if you like light Va flakes, but be aware that you might not get on with it.
Very easy to load, though does take a few lights to get going. I bought a couple of tins of this while looking for a replacement for Orlik Golden SLoced which Orlik ceased selling into the UK a couple of years ago. And there is a definite similarity to OGS. The citrus notes are quite pronounced, whether from a topping or the tobacco itself.
As a mild, light flake it's very good. However...
Firstly, this tobacco bites like no other and does so ferociously. I can't smoke it at all without a filter and even with one have to smoke very carefully. I normally don't use filters and smoke a lot of Va based flake, but for Germain's Medium Flake I've found a filter or Peterson system pipe is essential.
Secondly, I have had the current tin I'm smoking open for a couple of months now and the contents are showing little to no signs of drying out. Which makes me suspect there's a humectant added to keep it moist - which may well be making the bite problem worse. I've not encountered this with any other Germain blend I've smokes, and I smoke a lot of their Brown Flake and Perique mixture. I've seen it said that Medium Flake isn't produced by Germain's but is made for them by one of the big European manufacturers. True or not, I don't know, but the blend and humectant do remind me of Danish-style aromatics.
If this didn't bite me like mad I'd give it three stars. But because of the bite I'll say I certainly recommend it as a tobacco worth trying if you like light Va flakes, but be aware that you might not get on with it.
Pipe Used:
Filtered cobs
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 08, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
My review of Medium Flake is based on tins that are eight and fourteen years old, so put it in the “for what it’s worth” category. Not uncommon with Germain flakes, it can be difficult to remove the entire flake from the tin. I use look thin strips to pack each bowl. The tin note is inviting. There are more high notes in this blend offering some hay like flavor. It’s straightforward in flavor and medium in body. Surprisingly, even with age, the overall sweetness is lacking compared to other similarly aged flakes. I am less than impressed with the overall taste although those that prefer more hay-like flavor may disagree. Medium Flake seems to follow a similar pattern with Germain blends for me personally in that I find the products that they produce under other names (Smoker’s Haven, Esoterica etc) to be more of an attraction for me.
Age When Smoked:
8 and 14 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 31, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
First, I don't get any of the "Fruit" flavor. I was expecting that orange or lemon flavoring but I can't find any, the tin note is apricots. That being said, this is good tobacco on its own. A well mellowed Virginia that smokes cool, no bite and a sweet flavor. Although it is listed as "Medium" this has plenty of flavor and "N" for the first 2/3 of the bowl. I would call this a rubbed out flake that has been pressed again into the tin ( Oh, great little tin that seals well and can be slipped in your pocket). Allow this to breath and dry a few weeks to bring out the best. It doesn't have the high notes of say a Mac's Virginia #1 or the "green" flavor of Orliks "red", but it is good. I find that it loses sweetness as you get to the last 1/3 of the bowl and gets ashy. I would rate this as a 2 1/2 star as it has a slight snuff component that I don't care for.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2008 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Oranges, thats the impression I get, I've just lit up a bowl of orange Juice ! then it settles down, but with still a note of orange, eventualy this too dissipates leaving an o.k. virginia tobacco taste, but not a dramatic one. I waited a long time to try this and was sadly dissapointed. I will finish the tin, it is certainly smokeable, but I will not be buying more. Therefore, two stars if you like orange flavour for starters before the rather, and I hate to say this, insipid main course.
Final note: As with many others who tried this, I found the contents to have been cut in the flake style, but to have settled into a solid brick.
Final note: As with many others who tried this, I found the contents to have been cut in the flake style, but to have settled into a solid brick.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 20, 2002 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is another nice flake by Germain. It is mostly a bright golden virginia flake, but there are some other virgina types mixed in. However, it is densely packed in the tin (I got over 20 bowls from one tin in a local Tinder Box Ser Jacopo medium bent), and is difficult to lift or pull out many nice size slices for packing in a pipe. Most leaves come out in a rough shag. It still smokes cooly if you excercise a little patience in your packing. Maybe some who like to rub out their flakes more will like the resulting shag from the tin.
It is lighter, sweeter and tangier compared to its fuller and very cool brother, Brown Flake (which I like more). Medium flake may have a slight citrus scent, but it is light. Most of the steady sweetness must come from the naturally sweet golden virginia leaf.
I find many golden and bright virginia flakes delicious but hot. Only a couple are my regulars in my rotation. Germain's medium flake is a good one if smoked slowly, and is lighter than the robust Solani 633 golden virginia/perique blend, and not as round as the Solani Long Golden Flake. It is bit cooler and somewhat more complex than Gawith & Hoggarth's Bright CR Flake. And it's cooler than a lot of others.
Overall, this is dry, reasonably cool, and steady burning. If you like a sweet flake with a classic bright virginia tang (like a mild salsa, but not hot unless pushed), gives a tin a try.
It is lighter, sweeter and tangier compared to its fuller and very cool brother, Brown Flake (which I like more). Medium flake may have a slight citrus scent, but it is light. Most of the steady sweetness must come from the naturally sweet golden virginia leaf.
I find many golden and bright virginia flakes delicious but hot. Only a couple are my regulars in my rotation. Germain's medium flake is a good one if smoked slowly, and is lighter than the robust Solani 633 golden virginia/perique blend, and not as round as the Solani Long Golden Flake. It is bit cooler and somewhat more complex than Gawith & Hoggarth's Bright CR Flake. And it's cooler than a lot of others.
Overall, this is dry, reasonably cool, and steady burning. If you like a sweet flake with a classic bright virginia tang (like a mild salsa, but not hot unless pushed), gives a tin a try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 28, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This up to now is by far the best I have smoked. After seeing a review by Tokin Tommy on YouTube, I was intrigued and had to get some. I wasn't disappointed. It has a lovely orange aroma too it, a really nice smooth Virginia smoke. Nice mellow sweet notes and hints of orange. I am definitely stocking up on this tobacco. Its beautiful.
Pipe Used:
corn cob
PurchasedFrom:
https://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 07, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm not one who likes toppings in tobacco but there's always exceptions. GMF is a pseudo flake of mostly golden with some brown tobacco that has a citrus topping. The taste is mellow, creamy, yeasty and hay with the topping more present at the beginning than at the end. Very good burning qualities, especially after a few weeks and easy packing, ensures this to be an all day smoke.
I must say that I had the bulk version so there was probably no aging on it. I didn't experience any bite or hot smoke and the topping never produced any gurgle. I would compare it to Reiner's LGF but with a creamier and rounder taste from the beginning.
Virginia lover
I must say that I had the bulk version so there was probably no aging on it. I didn't experience any bite or hot smoke and the topping never produced any gurgle. I would compare it to Reiner's LGF but with a creamier and rounder taste from the beginning.
Virginia lover
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Earthy hay with a topping of citrus and slightly darker fruit, possibly apricot. Minimal sweetness and a touch of spice. A floral hint on occasion. The earthy hay tends to take over in the second half of the bowl. It's a decent smoke, but that second half tends to bore me.
Mild to medium in body and taste. Flavorings are mild. Burns very well.
Mild to medium in body and taste. Flavorings are mild. Burns very well.
Pipe Used:
MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Broken flake, easily rubbed out to a fine-cut mixture, almost like cigarette rolling tobacco. Lightish brown. Almost completely tasteless - I had to keep checking that the pipe was still alight. Rubbish - which is a pity, because I've liked all the other Germain tobaccos I've tried.
(Edit) I take it all back - well, a lot of it, anyway. I'm now smoking my fourth bowlful, and it's suddenly come alive. I've no idea why the first two bowls were so disappointing, but now it's a pleasant, medium-strength, slightly fruity smoke. I wouldn't say it's outstanding, but it's pleasant enough. I have altered my ratings accordingly.
(Edit) I take it all back - well, a lot of it, anyway. I'm now smoking my fourth bowlful, and it's suddenly come alive. I've no idea why the first two bowls were so disappointing, but now it's a pleasant, medium-strength, slightly fruity smoke. I wouldn't say it's outstanding, but it's pleasant enough. I have altered my ratings accordingly.
Pipe Used:
Cherrywood, briar and meerschaum
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 06, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
It is kind of a stretch to call this a flake since it comes out of the tin more in strings than anything, but that's what you get with Germain. They've been at this for almost 200 years, so I'm happy to trust their expertise.
Medium Flake fills a very specific role in my rotation: a crowd-friendly Virginia that I can smoke around people without offending them. It's much more satisfying than a super sweet American-style Cavendish, and the component Virginias are expertly blended. There's a lot going on underneath the flavoring here that is worth tasting, although that sweet fruity flavor is present to the bottom of the bowl.
Purists should avoid this blend, but nobody really cares what those people think anyway. Anyone looking for a pleasant, moderately complex, tasty Virginia smoke should see if Medium Flake scratches that itch.
Medium Flake fills a very specific role in my rotation: a crowd-friendly Virginia that I can smoke around people without offending them. It's much more satisfying than a super sweet American-style Cavendish, and the component Virginias are expertly blended. There's a lot going on underneath the flavoring here that is worth tasting, although that sweet fruity flavor is present to the bottom of the bowl.
Purists should avoid this blend, but nobody really cares what those people think anyway. Anyone looking for a pleasant, moderately complex, tasty Virginia smoke should see if Medium Flake scratches that itch.
Pipe Used:
basket pipe
Age When Smoked:
fresh
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