Windels Half Grove Semois

This is a no fuss straight forward tobacco. Rustic and bold, the taste is full bodied and cigar like. It is fast burning and requires no relights. This is what I like to smoke when I want something quick and satisfying.

Top quality raw, unflavored natural Belgium brown tobacco, strong with powerful, masculine "cigar-like" flavor, deep taste of dark chocolate, black coffee, hay and Havana cigar, I got 100g pack of this, I will be ordering some more for sure.

Wonderful stuff! Highly recommended for cigar smokers and for those who like true natural tobacco.

I've tasted a Burley tobacco here and there that reminds me of Semois. I wasn't surprised when I was told that Semois is a Kentucky cultivar that made its way to Belgium. Regardless, Semois is a nice treat.

When I first received some from a friend in Belgium, I thought the stuff smelled like fresh Play Doh and cigars. No toppings, casings, or other flavors. This is natural tobacco.

Semois brings nicotine to the party. But unlike the ropes, which I find ghastly, Semois is full of flavor. And Semois delivers the nicotine differently than the ropes. My first few bowls of Semois led to a tingly, humming feeling on the top of my head. Inreresting. The sensation went away quickly.

Semois does have smooth, cigar-like undertones. I find it can venture into herbal territory and carry in slight hints of pine as well. Very good stuff. Not for the timid. As a bonus, this stuff burns cool and dry and can be smoked with a single match. Fantastic.

I've also blended this half and half with St. James Parish Perique. Yum.

Semois lingers like crazy in a pipe, so consider smoking it in a cob. If you love it, think about dedicating a pipe to it. My meerschaums are reserved for Semois. I'm glad I have a source for this fun stuff.

Hi everyone. I have been consulting this site since the beginning. Have tried many tobacco's. This one is one of my favorites. Almost as good as "Langue de chien" from J.MARTIN. No bite, strong, not disturbing smell, cheap, and available (http://maisonmartin.be)

As far as I remember, and only until recently, pipe tobacco for me has always been linked to semois. In fact Poupehan, my username is the name of a village along the semois river. I think Corbion where my favorite tobacco comes from was already taken, an Poupehan, come-on think about it, is WAY funnier sounding 😉 In fact there are two brands of Semois that can be found everywhere (I should say everywhere here in Belgium): Carte d?or and Florina. Windels is only found at some tobacconist's. It is only through ASP and a Belgian smoker (C.) that I learned about the existence of this Windels. So this makes that the international pipers community (through many posts on this site, ASP, pipes.org) knows this brand best, while in Belgium it is virtually unknown.. So simply put semois is the Belgian version of ?tabac bruns? ? dark air cured tobaccos (the drying happens in barns in the mists of the semois valley). Caporal is the French version of this type of smoke and better known. There is a similarity, but caporal is much harsher and less aromatic. Even if all semois tobaccos are easily identified as semois, both carte d?or and florina have very distinct tase and aroma profiles. This Windels first dissapointed me because it sits somewhere between both and so I thought of it as somewhat blander. In fact it is probably the finest and most elegant of the three, whereas the others while excellent (florina remains my favorite) are somewhat rougher. And even if it is the softest and mildest, it is probably the strongest one too. Unlike what you might think, over here it is not the smoke of bikers an truckers. All the pipers I know smoke semois, and all are thoughtful,cultivated and well mannered pater familias -like me I?d like to add 😉 The last point I?d like to make is that of all tobacco?s I?ve had the opportunity to taste, a bit like fine wines or fine cigars, this is the only pipe tobacco I know that reflects very well what the french call its ?terroir? . If you know the Ardennes, you know what I mean.

I do NOT recommend this at all: production is low and I wish to be able to find some for years to come 😉

Thanks God I have some friends in Belgium and I can always be supplied with this fantastic tobacco. If you think this is another strong typical European tobacco, such as Italian Forte or French Caporal, you are missing the point. It is strong, that's for sure, but its real strenght is its delicacy. When you open the pouch you can smell a scent of hay and maybe tonka, something that reminds me of Amsterdamer, but less intense. This fragrance disappears when you light it up, making space for its earthy taste. You better smoke that after lunch or dinner, 'cause the last third is quite challenging.

The smell of the package reminds me very much of a fine cigar - forgive me, I only smoke cigars once a year perhaps. Friendly reminder: this is a very fine ribbon cut, I'm not sure if it qualifies as shag. Maybe there's a reason the package shows beautiful clay pipes with rather small bowls: it burns fast, it burns hot.

Taste is delightful. At first, the first half of the bowl grants you a smoky, cigar-leaf experience, and let me tell you: it's the best of both worlds! Cigars never appealed to me so much, but in this fashion I couldn't be more satisfied. Through the latter half of the bowl it suddenly turns into a festival of nuttiness, even hints of molasses and bread. If you think this tobacco, as old-fashioned as it is, can ever get old, I must disagree. The variety of tastes this traditional Belgian tobacco offers is manifold.

If ever you find yourself in Belgium, take the time to look for this piece of history. I was lucky to have a friend share some with me and I say you must try this.

Now this is real tobacco! If you're planning to smoke this in company, be aware that your peers might get a nicotine hit just from your proximity. Sleepiness ensues...

As a side note - don't inhale if you're trying to roll this 'baccy into a cigarette. You might enjoy the first few draws, but you will regret any further attempts. Gauloises Caporal and Gitanes are soft compared to Semois tobacco.

Unfortunately this tobacco is impossible to get where I live. Thank´s to Peter/Pure Impact for getting me one of this! Semois halve grove is a natural tobacco with no added flavoring. I would describe this blen as full, natural, honest, strong, tasty.... Very cigarish taste without being harsh, after midbowl it turns more nutty. Has a very strong nicotine hit and it is a very sedating, relaxing smoke. Perfectly suited for the after work pipe, chilling out and reflecting the day. Definitly no all day blend. Burns fast and hot, no relighting needed. Highly recomended!