Planta Anno MMXII (Ripe Marula Fruit)

The rather tangy lemon Virginias are citrusy with a light grassiness, and are the lead component. The nutty, earthy, molasses sweet brown burley is a supporting player with a pinch or two of spice. The unsweetened black cavendish offers some brown sugar. The fruity sweet marula topping dominates the tobaccos, and a light clove-like, peppery spice is added as well. The strength is just shy of the center of mild to medium, while the taste is medium. The nic-hit is just past mild. The spice is tingly enough to cause tongue bite if puffed fast. Burns clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent flavor, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. Needs an average number of relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste. Not quite an all day smoke.

-JimInks

Planta - Anno MMXII (Ripe Marula Fruit).

I'd never even heard of Marula before I ordered this, so the whole thing's a new experience! I thought Marula sounded like a variety of cherry, but it isn't.

A fairly coarse ribbon, where the contents are more Virginia/Burley than black Cavendish. The pouch note isn't too suggestive of what type of flavour the Marula has, and the moisture's good.

Right from the start I identify a problem: it burns too warm. Also, it doesn't take much vigour to make it bite, and it can be over too quick. Mechanics aside, the smoke doesn't taste too bad. As the look of the blend implied, the Virginia and Burley outweigh the black Cavendish, so it isn't a 'sticky' affair; the tobaccos taste quite light and rustic. The Marula fruit topping has a plummy, jam-like, sweetness, but isn't a 'tropical' flavour.

Nicotine: quite mild. Room-note: not as nice as the flavour.

Anno MMXII? Not your run of the mill aromatic, slightly unusual, but not worth more than two stars; in my opinion:

Somewhat recommended.

When I first tried Planta's California Dream, I was knocked to the floor by the intense orange flavor. My initial revulsion of what certainly couldn't be natural, made way for my tongue to convince me it was possible for a tobacco blend to be oddly refreshing. So, did this fruit medley perform the same?

Now I have no idea what a Marula fruit is, but the bag has a pleasant powdered sugar, perfume, citrus, melon thing going on, so if that exists in nature, we have a match. The contents was not sticky, too 'chemicaly', nor overly topped, so I'm guessing a little fruit flavoring is strong enough to go a long way here. The stringy thin ribbon cut was bouncy and dry enough to was in and ignite without much effort. The lit product was not nearly as fruity as my nose initially had me believe, it was kinda dull in fact, with only a lingering 'burnt' fruit juice and ladies fragrance that in no way complimented the burning leaves.

It is entirely possible that having not grown up eating Marula fruit, I much prefer the simple orange flavor from California Dream. I can't say I found it unsmokable, just that I had no interest in wanting to.

Anno MMXII

Star Rating = 3.00

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 8

Room Note = 8

Flavor = 8

Bite = 8

Burn = 8

After Taste = 8

Raw Score = 48

Rated Percentage = 80%

Comment = Smooth, Fruity Pouch Note & Flavor, Bitter on Finish