Tambolaka Natural Tobaccos Tambolaka Pipe Tobacco

Like some others here, I was gifted a generous sample of this tobacco from a friend who didn't like it. My sample arrived already roughly cut & a little on the dry side. I rehydrated it somewhat until it was no longer dusty dry, but was still light on moisture. A friend of mine who sampled this commented that it smelled 'like a wet dog', but to my nose - it seemed to have an earthy quality mixed with a back-note of something oily or meaty, suffice to say it had an odour quite unlike any hound I have encountered - wet or otherwise! Appearance was of a roughly cut brown tobacco, nothing noteworthy in this area. Easy to pack & light (as I said, this was not fresh, so may not be typical of this baccy), stays lit well with ease. Room note, fairly plain, but quite heavy. Taste, rich brown tobacco earthy, dark taste, very cigar-like, and quite consistent throughout the bowl, becoming perhaps slightly stronger towards the end of the bowl. Forthright, with little sweetness and maybe a slightly sour taste as the end approached. Retrohaling, for me produced a pleasant tingly spiciness in this baccy. Nicotine, strong, but not overpowering. All in all, a good solid, dependable tobacco. As I have said, all my comments were based on an old sample that had previously been chopped & dried out & had to be rehydrated, so the fresh experience could be very different, but I didn't dislike it. I really was intrigued to try this as I had been unable to procure any, so the gift from my friend was greatly appreciated. Given the difficulty of obtaining it in this country, however, I won't be terribly sad that when the amount I've got is gone, I probably won't get it to try it ever again. A solid 2.4 stars, rounded down to 2, as I don't think it warrants 3 stars.

This tobacco is what caused me to shift from cigars to the pipe. Pure rich tobacco with a kick that cigars never had. I got the ready rubbed but would have preferred the arduous prep work the sticks would have demaned. Not an everyday tobacco. About once a week I'll fire up a tiny bowl of this, some rope, 5 Brothers, or SG 1792 flake for an N bomb. Mostly looking for Lat bombs, but need variety in my butt-kickers. Oh, don't mix this with 5 Brothers. Strong, but nasty tasting.

Over the past few months I've smoked this stuff almost every day. Every time I smoke it I seem to notice something new. It's a very dark, natural tasting tobacco. When you're first processing it (it comes in very tightly compacted "sticks") it smells very earthy & quite strong. It's very fun to smoke since it comes completely unprepared. You get to decide whether to fully rub it out or smoke it as a flake, or even as a disc. The only downside I've noticed to this stuff is that it's not real easy to get lit, once it's going though maintaining a bowl is quite easy & it burns all the way down to ash with minimal re-lights. It seems to smoke best when it's on the dry side, otherwise it can be harsh. It's something that needs to be smoked very slowly to be fully enjoyed, if you try to rush things you may get bit & you are almost guaranteed to not enjoy yourself.

It's the strangest thing, but this is the only tobacco that I've noticed an aroma of Black Tea, that's the only way I can describe it & it's WONDERFUL.

This stuff is extremely satisfying & will give you quite a nicotine kick if that's what you're looking for. I would suggest smoking it on a full stomach & while sitting down.

To sum up:

-smoke it dry -smoke it slowly -smoke it often

If you follow those 3 important guidelines you will be rewarded hansomely with an amazing & unique smoking experience.

4 out of 4.