G. L. Pease Chelsea Morning

After a long break from pipe smoking I decided to revisit this old hobby and I'm now wondering why I left it for so long. Not wanting to make the same beginner mistake of smoking aromatics and suffering tongue bite I scoured this site until I narrowed my targets down. I used to smoke EMP as a first bowl of the day for a while but couldn't find anything to keep my interest. So hearing about CM as an alternative I gave it a try... and what a difference!

At first you are greeted with the classic English tones that one would expect but it doesn't take long before the different tobaccos start playing their roles. The first part of the bowl it's all about VA with a natural sweetness, nicely complemented by the orientals that give it some body. As you progress through the bowl, the perique starts to come through giving you that peppery hint while the ever so subtle sweetness subdues and plays a supporting role. So far only 2 relights were needed and I'll attribute that to me being a novice. Entering the 3rd and last part of the bowl, all flavours are harmonious but darker and more pronounce, there is no first fiddle here, all tobaccos are in alignment.

No gurgle, hardly any dottle, all smoked down to a powdery white ash. The tobacco was only dried for 10 minutes prior to loading the pipe.

So why is this better than EMP and why is this a great start as a morning pipe? Because sometimes less is more! While EMP is not a bad tobacco, to me it stays fairly one dimensional, a flat smoke. CM lets all the players have their say and then unites them in a very flavoursome smoke. Never pushing you in one direction but merely suggesting... is your next bowl latakia, or maybe a Vaper or would you like a nice balkan? It warms you up to what is to come, awakens your senses and invites you to think about the course of the day.

For those of you who are sensitive to lady N, do not worry. The nicotine delivery is as some have already pointed out very civilized. Smoke this one with a nice cup of coffee and if I may suggest, savour a small piece of dark (85%) chocolate with it. You will be amazed!

My new go to "pick me up" tobacco in the morning.

This is rapidly becoming one of my top favorites. I go to this when I'm in a contemplative mood, reading a book outdoors, etc. I would imagine that trying to balance out four different kinds of leaf must be difficult, and it feels like Pease got this exactly right. Almost every few puffs the flavor changes back and forth, keeping it incredibly interesting. I also find it a little less moist (or swampy??) than any other English I've had. It just seems less thick and oily, and more earthly and complex. I normally puff harder on English/Balkans than I do VAs, but this one I have to sip because it's so complex, and the Perique adds even more to that. This is fine, because the flavor is huge. Not too much of a certain leaf and not too little of it either. Right when I think there could be more Oriental, I begin tasting it again.

I can see this being great outdoors in the fall and winter. I just had in on a slightly rainy, cooler summer day commuting into work. Lovely.

Great stuff. One word description: Complex

Going back to edit this one to say that so far this is the best blend I've been able to pair with a cup of coffee. It's almost like it was designed with that in mind.

LEAF: A ribbon cut tobacco that seems more like a carefully broken flake than a traditional ribbon cut, can be broken up further if desired but I smoked it as is. Mottled and speckled gold through brow, with some nice dark Latakia scattered throughout.

TIN AROMA: Dark fruits, tangy and a little sweet, smells very fresh and vibrant for a blend with latakia, it is more a condiment than some of the heavier Lat blends out there, a sweet smokiness but nothing too campfire like. The perique pepper note is noticeable on top.

TASTE: As I have come to expect from blends of this calibre, it tastes much like it smells. The Va’s are at the front with the Orientals, fresh and grassy but still tangy and spicy. Apart from getting a good hit with the first light of the bowl, the Latakia largely lingers in the background proving good depth and body with a sweet, slightly woodsy smokiness that helps balance out the oriental tanginess that is present the whole way. The perique for me was on and off throughout the bowl, and as usual become more pronounced as you got further towards the bottom, with a perfect level of peppery spice to top everything off and tie it all together. Consistently creamy and complex, playing back and forth between the components the whole way with no single leaf overpowering the other. Extremely well balanced. This is an extremely satisfying, creamy, smokey blend that stays interesting the whole way without getting confusing or losing its way. The nicotine seems to creep up with the Perique as well and can be a bit surprising if you don’t look out. This really rewards a long smoke from a large bowl, slowly sipped and retrohaled.

SMOKEABILITY: As is tradition with Pease blends, tin moisture was perfect for me, cut was great. Lit up straight away and stayed lit very well, burnt down to a great ash with noting to spare. Burns cool and consistent the whole way and won’t be upset if you get a bit excited puffing away a bit aggressively, although it tastes better if you don’t.

SUMMARY: As with all other Pease blends I have smoked I cannot fault this. It’s like perfect English and a perfect VaPer rolled into one. Smokes like a dream, tastes even better. It’s like a more amazing version of EMP which is similar but not as complex, if you like that, this is worth a look. I usually gravitate towards more lat heavy blends, but this was a very welcome departure and shows how Latakia can, and should often be, just one of the players in a smoke and not the star. Very close to a perfect smoke for me.

Pease Pilgrimage Reviews (a tasting journey through every GLPease blend) Tin date: 2/18/10

Let me warn you ahead of time that vile, disgusting stuff like this should not even be allowed on the market. Run. Fast. Away from that mouse! Away from those Pease etailers and retailers! Get as far from them as you can! You are getting very sleepy.....YOU MUST NOT BUY ANY MORE CHELSEA MORNING! BWAH HA HA HA HA!

Well, just in case you're still here...

Appearance: A mottled, multi-colored blend, including some little flecks, some striated slices, and some lumber. I pulled a stick out of my tin, but the variety of forms and shapes in the blend is interesting to me. Very easy to pack, perfect humidity (or lack thereof, since I find most of Greg's blends on the dry side, just the way I like 'em).

Aroma: The tin aroma is delicious. Think Abingdon or Westminster but with much less Latakia. The same characteristics are there, but the smokiness is much more subdued.

Pipe 1: Meer Billiard Pipe 2: GBD pot Pipe 3: Stanwell Vario Billiard

Flavor: In a nutshell, Chelsea Morning absolutely puts Early Morning Pipe to shame. There is a reason why everyone is drooling on themselves over this one. If you're on the fence over this blend, it's time to jump down and cowboy up! Fork over the ten bucks and step into the arena of this delicious, destined-to- be-a-classic, perfectly balanced, medium English blend. If you're even remotely interested in english blends you owe it to yourself to try it.

Starts off great, ends up delicious. If there is one word I would use to describe Chelsea Morning it would be balance. None of the ingredients vie for attention, all of them contribute to the exceptional end result. The very definition of symbiosis, where the individual parts work for the benefit of the whole.

Even though very light, there is enough Latakia in there for lovers of Latakia (like me) to enjoy, there is enough complexity to keep lovers of contemplative smoking interested, and there is enough flavor and strength to keep it interesting. I am definitively NOT a fan of mild smokes, and this one falls squarely in the medium part of the spectrum. Amp up the temperature, and you can easily cross over into the low end of full-flavored.

If you concentrate, you can pick out some of the flavors. The Virginia sweetness and foundation are noticeable. The oriental leaf is is perfect proportion. The Latakia gives a noticeable does of smokiness and smoothness, and the Perique actually is noticeable as a pungent, very slightly sourness to balance the smoky and sweet.

When Greg hits is right, he knocks it out of the park. I used to live near Chicago, so you Cubs fans will know about the buildings beyond center field where the locals gather on the rooftops to watch the game. That's where Mr. Pease directed this one, except the ball kept traveling right on into Lake Michigan.

Four stars, of course.

Wait a minute, I meant NEGATIVE four. Yeah, negative four stars. Vile stuff. Run away. Leave it for me to dispose of safely and properly!

I make it a point never to review anything until I've had at least several bowls of a blend. It takes time to get to know a blend, especially since first impressions can be deceiving. I've known blends I loved the first bowl or two that turned out to be duds, and others I've hated the first couple of times that turned out to be treasured go-to blends.

I'm going to break that rule here. Last night at the monthly meeting of the Toronto Pipe Club we all sampled Pease's new release. You cannot get G L Pease in Canada, it must be shipped from elsewhere, so I was very grateful to have an opportunity to sample this so early in its release since I was looking forward to trying it -- it advertised itself as just the kind of blend I'd really enjoy. And, since I don't know when I'll be able to have another bowl of it, I couldn't wait to offer my first impression.

Straight to the point -- this is an exceptional blend! It's very seldom that a blend sings to me the way this one did on the first bowl. It's also very seldom that promotional copy lives up to itself. I cannot improve on what Mr Pease says of his own blend: "easy to pack, easy to smoke... The flavours are lively and engaging, with a subtle fruitiness and gentle smokiness that wakes up the palate. For those expecting a Latakia powerhouse, this ain't that. The Cyprus leaf provides depth and character; it's certainly present, but it's not the dominant voice... The orientals present in this one add another dimension to the smoke. It's really a delightful blend." I'll also add it's very creamy with a silky, rounded mouthfeel.

If I had one criticism, it's that, like all of his blends I've tried, it tasted a tad young and raw, and would benefit from some aging to smooth down its rough edges. But this is a niggling complaint given how exceptional it was in every other respect.

This is a major winner. It's only the fifth Pease blend I've tried, but it's handily the best. And it needn't be smoked only in the morning -- it would make a terrific all-day blend, too. I intend to always keep some on hand.

(Mind you, this is after only one bowl, and could be a misplaced infatuation. If my opinion changes after I get to know it better I will definitely be back for an update.)

I must admit I'm not one to enjoy my pipes early in the morning, as even though I tend to wake at a decent hour, I find I've other things occupying my attention. Perhaps this is a joy I can experience more often during retirement years should I be fortunate enough to make it that far. And if I do, G.L. Pease's Chelsea Morning will be a prime choice.

Chelsea Morning's tin note is fragrant, with an alluring mix of floral, sour, and smoky aromas wafting to the nose. The tobaccos themselves are many, with bright virginias and orientals being the bulk of the blend, but there is perique and latakia to be found as well.

The blend smokes rather well. Relights are moderate, and there is little tongue bite to contend with. This is meant to be a mild smoke enjoyed upon waking, after all, perhaps with a cup of coffee or over a farmer's breakfast. But don't mistake mild for boring. No, sir; this blend is savory and sweet, and carries surprising depth and complexity.

This is an English blend, but the latakia plays the role of laying the foundation, thus ensuring that the natural smokiness is omnipresent throughout the smoke. This helps anchor the naturally sweet virginias, which are vibrant and rich. The orientals take the most assertive role, offering a savory and slightly sour profile that hits the palette first, with the stewed fruit flavor of the perique ending the ordeal with a whisper and a pleasant after taste. This blend never tastes peppery or overly sour or sweet, but it is a very flavorful one all the same.

This is a masterful blend that has a very specific goal in mind, and accomplishes it with aplomb. Zesty, sweet, and interesting without being overwhelming or harsh. And like any good breakfast delight, this can, and should, be enjoyed at all times of the day. Wonderful!

First of all, let me say that with no other blend I have reviewed before, I have not had so much difficulty in describing it. I opened a tin of Chelsea Morning almost three weeks ago, and in that time I have smoked 4 ounces of excellent English tobacco, but could not describe it. There are several reasons for that, and I'll be sure to mention them below.

The 8 ounce tin was labeled "December 30, 2015." The appearance of the blend was a rather coarse cut in a coarse ribbon of even, almost monochromatic brown milk chocolate color. The tobacco has been sitting, maturing in a tin, for just under six years. I know that a great many fans of latakia blends believe that over the years, English blends lose flavor as the latakia, they say, becomes more "flat" and unexpressive. I don't agree with this opinion. Having smoked a number of tins of blends with 5-6 year old latakia, I'm sure this is a great age: the initial predatory note of smokiness exploding a bomb a couple of meters around goes away, and the tobacco flavor becomes more whole and complex.

That's what happened this time, too. The flavor of the blend - the primary quite complex, but very even, a bouquet of wildflowers, a light note of unsweetened apple, bitter chocolate, malt and stained oak logically add up to a flavor similar to that of a good Highland whiskey. But if you sniff longer, a sweet-smoky note of latakia with a spice of allspice pepper emerges. The aroma is very difficult to separate into individual notes, the time spent in the tin, it literally became one - as it is with an aged whiskey. I opened the tin a few times, poured the tobacco over and dried it a little in the air, and vice versa, moistened it a little - but the constituent parts of the flavor I caught with great difficulty and far from the first time. During this time I've tried half a dozen pipes - billiards, bents, large, medium and small. What I write below about the taste is a kind of averaging.

The taste is barley malt, a good note of cardamom and pepper mixture, a slight fruity sweetness, a little cream and cocoa, and literally a tiny bit of smokiness. The taste, quite dense, gives the feeling that the tobacco is stronger than it really is. I listened to the author and never stuffed the pipe tightly, so the blend smoked easily and coolly in any pipe. However, small pipes may not be able to handle it and may not reveal the full flavor due to the rather rough cut of the tobacco. The tobacco smokes quite dry and doesn't bite. The flavor is very calm - it's not the brightness of the balkan or the sweetness of the aromatics, it's a very smooth blend that turns into a little softer from the middle, losing its spiciness. However, I have noticed that different pipes exhibit different accents. In bents this tobacco is slightly sweeter and more airy, while billiards, on the other hand, makes it even drier and denser on the palate. Either way, the basic flavor doesn't change, but the difference is noticeable. The strength of the tobacco is a little below average, I did not feel the nicotine hit once. The tobacco leaves some moisture in the pipe. The ash is an even gray color, fine, the tobacco burns well.

The aroma of the smoke - a little wood, a slight smokiness, a sweet note. Probably not everyone will like it, but I can't say it's intrusive. The smoke is light, but the aroma stays in the room for a long time.

Bottom line: this is an extremely balanced blend for leisurely smoking. It would certainly be good for morning walks with the dog or with a cup of morning coffee. I liked it a lot, especially in the larger bents. I'm probably ready to buy it regularly instead of my beloved but more expensive Boutique Blend, and let it sit out for a couple or three years if it turns out to be fresh.

Presentation: Slightly chunky broken ribbon cut. There are some misconceptions about what ribbon is supposed to look like and this one is thicker than one might think, however not as chunky as some of the other Englishes offered in the GLP line. A very rich and warming mahogany brown and red with very little light or dark leaf noticeable.

Palette: One can immediately know that this blend is full of great orientals and some nice red VA. The bouquet is sweet and tangy along with a touch of spice. What I like about CM is that it isn't heavy on latakia and adds perique to the mix. On light up, the red VA and orientals are initially the main players, while the light handed latakia and a touch of perique keep things interesting.

Performance: Burns well, cool, and at a moderate pace. Mild nicotine and doesn't bother me to smoke two bowls in a row.

Conclusion: Chelsea Morning is another winner in my book. I tend to prefer my English/Balkans with perique (Sunset Harbor Flake, Nightcap). I find that it is right up my alley with the floral and tangy orientals and just the right amount of latakia. Definitely a staple in many peoples rotation. This is my second tin and I thin in the future I'll add some 8oz tins.

Upon opening tin I was greeted with Smokey Latakia, oriental tangy fruitiness and sweet Virginias. First light is smokey Latakia and slightly fruity fig? As bowl progresses it quickly becomes Oriental forward with Virginia’s blending in and becoming very tasteful. Perique is there but only as a slight touch of spice. Smokes and taste complex, smooth and creamy to end of bowl. Very good! After 10 months aging Perique has come forward more and Virginia’s have become deeper and mustier. Very nice! Opened a 2 year old tin and wow! Virginia’s have deepened and sweetened much more and are even more forward with tangy/sour orientals an extremely close second. Perique rounds it out with the Latakia bringing up the very back. Just excellent. I should note that this is not just a morning smoke. Could easily be an all day and is excellent with the afternoon coffee or tea.