Tobaccos Two Friends - English Chocolate

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3022)	2015-02-20		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

The Virginias are grassy and tart and tangy citrus sweet, and always obvious. They form the base of the blend. The Cyprian Latakia is smoky, earthy, a little woodsy and sweet, and although it's a minor component, there are times I notice it more than I expect. The chocolate topping is tasty with no hint of chemical or syrup, and doesn't overwhelm the tobaccos or your senses. I sense a small vanilla note, too. The topping tone down the tobaccos to a moderate extent. The strength is in the center of mild to medium, while the taste is a step or two past that mark. Has little nicotine. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns clean, cool, dry and slightly slow with a very consistent, mildly sweet and lightly savory flavor. Requires a few relights, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a very pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

25 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2013-09-07		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was fortunate to discover a tin dated August 2011 at the tobacconist, so this blend doubtless benefited from a few years of sitting and thinking about itself. Presentation is beautiful, dark broken flake. I have to agree with a reviewer from a few years back that the initial tin note is Latakia-forward. Interestingly, I stirred the tobacco around a bit with my finger in the tin and doing so released a pleasant aroma of light cocoa. It was reminiscent of the powdered cocoa one would use to make chocolate milk.

From the charring light through the first third of the bowl, I tasted mainly Latakia. Good Latakia. Which was fine, but not the reason I purchased this tobacco. I seemed to get chocolate in small doses, interspersed worth the Latakia, with little harmony between the two. I continued skeptically.

I have to say that after the initial third, as the Virginias begin to assert and tie the blend together, this blend really came alive for me. The Virginias are smooth as silk, the Latakia becomes a true condiment, and the chocolate is very sweetly subtle. This blend burns very dry and cool, truly leaving the proverbial grey-white ash. Absolutely no doddle. This is definitely an English blend, not an aromatic. A crossover blend, perhaps, but one that can stand on its own to satisfy English smokers looking for a change of pace that's still true to its roots. Sweet, savory, smoky, and very satisfying.

Edit: this stuff is really growing on me. Maybe it's the change in seasons. Upgrading to 4 stars as I find myself reaching for this more often. A nice inside smoke when company is present and one desires a balance between room note and flavor.

22 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-11-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Mouth-watering chocolate tin aroma and dirty brown stubby broken flake (or fat ribbon) cut. Tin moisture was about perfect.

I was all prepared to write this blend off after half the tin was gone. Couldn't get any chocolate flavoring and the entire blend tasted like dirt. Interestingly, this blend resurrected a pipe that I hadn't smoked much lately - a Bekler CAO meerschaum. The resurrection was mutual. In this pipe and only in this pipe, did the blend reach its potential. I got a nice chocolate flavor with just a hint of latakia, much like G&H's Bob's Chocolate Flake, but without the florals. In said pipe, I preferred this, although Sam Gawith's Chocolate Flake toasts them both. At any rate, this tasted a bit like an aromatic but it smoked very dry. Nice crossover blend. Burned beautifully to a clean white ash and didn't overpower me with nicotine. This was a very well behaved blend in the right pipe. Why it only likes one pipe, I have no idea, but if you try this and aren't getting a very noticeable chocolate flavor along with the room aroma, try it in several different pipes. Not a barn burner but definitely worth a go.

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2017-04-25		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This is a great tasting smoke. First half a dozen puffs give a good hit of Lat and sweet chocolate. The Lat then fades to the background and the Virginias to the fore. It's a fairly sweet smoke with both the Virginas and the topping contributing. I love the flavors, but I do get a mild bite which is the only reason I can't give it 4 stars. Bite is a subjective thing so you may not experience it here. I have no problem giving this a full recommendation.

Medium in body and taste. Flavoring is mild to medium. Burns very well.

Pipe Used: MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2076)	2019-12-01		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Two Friends - English Chocolate.

Love at first light!

The tobacco has been tumbled to a perfect consistency, chunky pieces but not too coarse meaning further rubbing's required; only a small amount are larger broken flakes. The moisture's perfect and the nose is chocolatey and sweet.

The chocolate has a definite presence from the start, but isn't sticky or heavy. It embellishes the Virginia lead tobaccos, but doesn't take things over. The Latakia is a much lighter addition than the Va. It gives some woodiness, slight dryness, and a little smoke, but don't expect a 'bomb. The smoke's cool, and bereft of bite.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: nice.

English Chocolate? To me it bridges the gap between an English and aromatic nicely. I'll happily give it four stars:

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Peder Jepessen

Age When Smoked: 06 06 19

Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bob323 (46)	2014-01-10		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Pleasant little change of paced tobacco...Nice little transition between English and Aromatic blends...If you're an Aromatic smoker and would like to try some English/Balkan blends, try this to ease your way...Also would work if you're an English/Balkan smoker and would like to dip into Aromatics...Just enough flavoring to make it interesting...Flavoring does not overpower the Virginias or the Latakia...I could see some even using this as an every day tobacco...Would be welcome as part of a regular rotation.

Pipe Used: various for testing

Age When Smoked: fresh from Smokingpipes

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2012-03-10		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I bought this on a fluke. I needed another 10 dollars on my order to get free shipping, so I wanted to find something totally out of my realm.

I was looking for a latakia blend that I could smoke indoors, so I searched for something sweet, but with a latakia punch.

The tin note is awesome, perfect moisture and free of humectants. All medium brown leaf makes up this blend. The cut is a bit weird, a small chopped ribbon, that is easily sucked through the stem into your throat. This is the only drawback to this blend.

Moderate notes of smoky latakia with an upfront chocolate note that is in perfect harmony with the latakia. Thick smoke produces a great room note, and the blend smokes great and leaves the pipe extremely dry. If you are looking for a chocolate blend that delivers the fullness of an English, look no further.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-01-08		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I purchased this tobacco on a whim as I was curious how a touch of chocolate would go with the Virginia/Latikia. Not only do they work well together but this has become one of the very select few tobaccos to receive the "OK in-the-house" official stamp of approval from my wife! I have come to love it with a glass of espresso or simply on its own. There is no bite, none of the over-moistness found in some aromatics and has quickly become a favorite.

Unfortunately the local brick and mortar as well as Internet sources are now sold out so I guess the secret is out. I highly recommend you try it if you can find it.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	canvas (337)	2020-09-08		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

It was with some trepidation I got this one, as I could never get behind C&D blends, but here we are. Wow, this one smells great. It truly is a chocolate English with a clear cocoa topping wafting over some charcoal Latakia.

The thick ribbons feel great with a tactile flavor dusting on top. Great moisture content that was ready to stuff n' puff. Smolders into a strong* smoke that might catch you unaware with its strength. The highlight for me was it still maintained a chocolate veneer over the dominant Latakia, which was a first for me, as other 'flavored' English blends I've had never delivered on the added taste, making me wonder why they bothered (or why I wasn't just smoking a parallel Aromatic in the category).

English Chocolate manages to be an English with a working candy finish; a rare success story. Not to be smoked as a desert or all day puffer, but a nice change of pace to any English regiment.

*Most other reviewers found this one mild, so please note I have become a wuss.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (317)	2013-12-08		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Nice cocoa aroma in the tin and room note. As many others have noted, just a hint of the cocoa in the actual taste, and I rarely got any Latakia flavors. For me, this burns a tad hot and acts more like a Cavendish-based blend than a VA, and is a bit too sweet for my taste, so overall, to me, it's closer to a true aromatic blend than a flavored English. Recommended for aro-lovers, I prefer to cut it with more Latakia-based blends. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably not.

Pipe Used: briar, meerschaum, cob

Age When Smoked: 2 years when opened

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2011-08-03		Mild	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Upon opening the tin, this stuff has a wonderful aroma or chocolate cordial. It packs nicely, burns well, a bit moist right out of the tin, I liked mine better after the tin had been open for awhile. I didn't particularly care for this blend at first, the flavors just weren't bold enough for me and I was surprised after having smoked GLP's other english blends that the VA's in this blend seemed very muted tome, in fact I lost them in the latakia which is unusual in his projects and on top of that I wasn't really getting much of the chocolate taste that smelled so good in the tin. After having smoked it in a variety of pipes I discovered that the pipes I was originally smoking it in were part of the problem. I discovered that this blend shines in either a big bowl or at least a wide bowl pipe. Since I've found a few pipes that it does really well in, I'm beginning to like it more, the room note is fantastic and I'm starting to taste the chocolate a bit better, it's been a good companion in the summer heat, smoked at any time of day, it's not overwhelming, which is a good thing when it's 90+ degrees outside!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-06-21		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Got tired of NorthWoods as an all day smoke and after a few months of searching I found a replacement. Glad I picked up picked up a tin of this wonderful stuff.

Tin note is very latakia, with subtle hints of cocoa or maybe burnt coffee with the familiar hay-ish sweet smell of virginias... Nice broad cut flakes broken into wide ribbons that pack easily. Lighting is a bit touch and go, requiring a very good first charr. Keeping this stuff lit is effortless. Smokes best in a cobb or wide bowled briar.

The taste is incredible! Sweet quality VA is the main player here, so don't expect a "lat BomB" or some super complex smoke. The latakia is there in a perfect amount; there is very little. Latakia is more of a condiment here and for that it plays its role perfectly. The casing is very modest, peeking through if you look for it. The room note is warm, chocolaty, and just a touch of sweet smokyness. Reminds me of sitting next to a campfire while drinking hot cocoa.

English Aro hybrids don't get the attention they deserve. One would think that English smokers would actually enjoy something like this once in a while instead of claiming it to be the work of a heretic or pointing their noses into the air and passing it by without consideration.

As a primarily VA smoker, this one really hits the spot for me and has earned a permanent place in my rotation. If I had to choose one blend to smoke for a month this would be it.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (241)	2011-03-16		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I recently received my first order of this tobacco which was tinned on 12-27-10. I am smoking it in a Stanwell Vario - a featherweight poker. The tin aroma was decidedly Latakia, but not over the top as some Latakia blends go. I detected the faintest whiff of chocolate. It also smelled a bit alcoholic - like rum laden chocolate bobs, and very delicious. It came as a well rubbed out broken flake of medium brown to light tan. It filled and lit with ease and required only the occasional relight. As I am not a big fan of Latakia, I was very pleased that its dominant presence in the tin note was very well tamed by the sweet tasting Virginia. Although I wouldn't classify this an an aromatic in the traditional sense, I was able to taste the chocolate - very subtle and to my liking. English Chocolate smoked smooth, dry, and cool. Only with a faster puffing cadence could I detect the ability of this to smoke hot if pushed.

All in all, a very well put together tobacco. I believe this would satisfy pipe smokers across the board. It certainly would be a good blend for newbies to accustom their taste buds to Latakia. I've smoked other Latakia blends before - many of them, actually - and I would have to say that when I want a Latakia blend to smoke, English Chocolate fits the bill nicely for me.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-02-03		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a great blend, reminescent of Bob's Chocolate Flake. I dried it out an hour before lighting, but it appears to be ready to smoke from the tin. Lots of Latakia here to my taste, which is not a bad thing. The chocolate is not as evident in the smoke as it is from the tin note; but it is present. Nicotine was satisfying; and it burnt cool with not a gurgle at all. I smoked it in an old Meer lined billiard. I will be getting more to sock away. Recommended.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TotoPipeDreams (44)	2021-10-23		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is really really. Really good stuff. Given two years to age and it’s SUBLIME. the perfect dessert tobacco. Like a slice of dark chocolate raspberry cake.

Don’t worry about the Latakia if you’re not a fan. This is quite possibly the best aromatic in the market for English smokers like myself. But even for no English lovers it’s a wonderfully sweet tobacco (not in an unnatural or cloying way). Never had anything else like it. Get two tins. One to open one to age.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Robby the Belgian (24)	2021-02-14		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

The tin note is very pleasant: smoky and chocolate, and a bit fruity. The cut is a nice broken flake, long chunks that fold up nicely when packing. No rubbing out necessary. The cold taste has chocolate and a fruity note (raspberry or blackberry).

When smoking, at first it reminded me of chocolate milk. The kind that gets made in large pots at big winter events. Creamy, milky chocolate. As the bowl progresses, this taste dissipates a bit, as the sweetness from the Virginia really kicks in. At that point you get a very consistent, full bodied sweet smoke.

The Latakia is used sparingly, mostly condimental. However, if you're like me and you want that Latakia smoky goodness, I recommend retrohaling -- on the retrohale, the spicyness and smoky leather and heather comes through a bit more strongly, working very well with the taste of the tobacco.

The tobacco needed a fair number of relights (that's my experience with flakes, broken or not), but burned to the bottom of the bowl, leaving no noticeable moisture at the bottom, even though I gave it no drying time.

To me this is a great tobacco to smoke while reading. The flavor is consistent and there aren't too many surprises (good or bad) that draw your attention. Sitting in an easy chair with a good book, a pipe, and enjoying a pleasant winter (or fall, or spring, or just a slightly colder summer) evening.

I will very likely buy this again.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Churchwarden 601

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dixcreek (182)	2021-01-25		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Lemony hay like Virginia with enough Latakia to provide a smoky campfire hit you nose and pallet from the get go here. An additional treat of light cocoa and semi sweet chocolate come into play soon after the match. Very well behaved in the bowl throughout the process. Flavor profile true from start to end. No goopy gunk or excess moisture in this one. If you like Latakia and you like chocolate then you need to try this blend. Very well done, gentlemen. One of my late night go to blends. Plan to keep this one around for a time to come. Aromatic of a different breed, indeed!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fofo (81)	2013-05-31		Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

High quality tobacco with a high quality flavoring to create an outstanding blend from an outstanding manufacturer. The Virginias are sweet, the flavoring is a noticeable light chocolate. There is some Latakia in this blend but very, very little, just to add a little extra something.

I would consider this an aromatic, and a high quality one. The topping isn't used to mask inferior quality leaf.

Lights easy, burns cool, does not bite, leaves a pleasant room note. One of the best aromatics out there.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mnadz (69)	2012-07-07		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is a very good unique smoke. My tobacconist recommended it when I asked for something more full and flavorful. Tobacco is definetly high quality. Packs well, no tongue bite. Definetly get alot of taste (Virginia then Latakia) with just a hint of cocoa (think baking cocoa powder). Not an ever day smoke for me, but definetly will fit the bill when I am looking to change pace. Wife apprecited the aroma. Three years later and other chocoloate blends smoked, I am now highly recommending this. No others have come close. If I feel for a chocolate/Latakia blend, this is the only one to turn to.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	marc7570 (2)	2012-02-23		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

great aroma from the tin. you can smell the chocolate right from the start. taste just like it smells. gets stronger as you smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cgar (37)	2011-08-03		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This is a very nice change up from the norm. Well flavored but not over the top! Produces a fine rich creamy smoke that will be enjoyed by everyone around you. I was very suprised to find that it smoked as dry as it did and stayed lit with very little effort. I found no tongue bite nor an after taste, but it will cling to everything on you. Overall just as advertised and a fine example of two fine blenders coming together to make a one of a kind smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-03-20		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I ordered a tin of this since Bob's Chocolate Flake seems to be hard to find these days and I am looking for a substitute so I don't have to smoke all of my stash.

Upon opening the tin and taking a big whiff, I get an overwhelming smell of chocolate liqueur - I like it. I load up a pipeful and it packs well and seems about the right moisture level out of the tin.

Its flavor profile is in between BCF and Honey and Chocolate. It is sweet but not overly so, fine hint of chocolate, and smooth and flavorful throughout the smoke.

I will definitely get more of this and keep it around in the celler.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	willie b (37)	2022-08-28		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

really good. aged for about a year and this is tasty. subtle chocolate mild English taste. satisfies my sweet tooth. a favorite of everyone around. tin note is heavenly as well as the room. if you don't like heavy aromatics and flavor try this one.

Pipe Used: dedicated briar

Age When Smoked: fresh and aged

Purchased From: tobacco pipes and smoking pipes

Similar Blends: milder version of Sutliff chocolate..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Greybeard (62)	2022-07-13		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Upon opening I get a tin note of mostly chocolate and maybe a hint of latakia. The chocolate aroma and taste comes through after the first light, as well as sweet hay taste from the Virginia. Later in the bowl a tangy, dark fruit note comes through, and the coco flavor is noticeable until the end. I had a hard time detecting the latakia throughout the entire bowl. It did tend to get hot at times. Give it some dry time before lighting.

Overall, a 3 star recommended rating. It's pleasant, and enjoyable, but when I'm wanting an English blend I will reach for something else.

Pipe Used: Brebbia Sabbiata, Benton Select, various cobs

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: SmokingPipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TheSeuff (5)	2019-03-02		Very Mild	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Sounded like a good idea but turned out to be a horrible execution by C&D. Room note smells tolerable burning, but taste like stale tootsie rolls. Very artificial topping that gave me painful tongue bite even when dried and sipped.

Pipe Used: MM Cob and Peterson Oscar Wilde

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cwbristow (8)	2023-01-28		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Properly named. Very mild chocolate note with no chemical taste. Does seem to have a slight spice to it as I continue through the bowl. Typically I would not be a fan of that, but this seems to compliment this blend.

Cut is like a ready-rubbed but it need to break it up a little more for a better burning bowl.

I'm not a Lat Head, but do enjoy it when it is balanced more in a blend. So don't shy away from this just because it is only a VA/Lat blending. The VA's and the mild (and very realistic) topping make this something everyone can enjoy.

I enjoy this in the evening after supper as a medium strength dessert tobacco. The topping DOES NOT overtake the tobaccos in this. It merely compliments. For me its not an all day smoke, but this is definitely in my night rotation. Proper english lovers or Lat Heads could smoke this anytime, or all day, I believe.

Pipe Used: Savanelli 320KS Tortuga

Age When Smoked: new in tin

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

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