Esoterica Tobacciana St. Ives
(2.22)
A totally new concept for the smoker of fine aromatic tobacco. Dark and golden Virginias are blended with black Virginia cavendish and portions of Greek, Oriental, and Cyprian latakia tobaccos. Enhanced with a subtly scented fruit extract. An aromatic English.
Details
| Brand | Esoterica Tobacciana |
| Blended By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Coffee, Fruit / Citrus |
| Cut | Shag |
| Packaging | 8 ounce bag |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.22 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 28, 2005 | Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
New Review 08/16/10
Its amazing how a blend can change in 5 years and changed it has. I ordered an 8oz bag recently and St Ive's is no where to be found in this bag of St. Ives. Rather than the whimsical cross over blend of the past and in its place is an innocuous, bland replacement that carries none of the English or Aromatic qualities of its former self. The tobacco is good quality tobacco but its as if they forgot to blend in its soul. I'm changing my recommendation from Highly Recommended to not recommended with one caveat; its recommended as a blending agent for those bitey aromatics that sting. This makes a great blending tobacco since it has almost no taste of its own beyond dull tobacco. I've mixed it 50/50 successfully with one such blend and the results were great. The blend just tastes like a smoother version of the aromatic.
Review fr0m 8/28/05
Like Sceny, I have a hard time classifying this blend as it is a true cross over blend though if pressed, I would say it?s essentially an English with an Aromatic topping. Opening the pouch, a whiff reveals that familiar Esoterica aroma with a fruity note. It also has that typical Esoterica moistness, which some think is too much but I think is just right. Of all the Esoterica's I've tried, this is closest to Pembroke and if you like that, you'll probably like this. I happen to love Pembroke and this was a nice change of pace. It's is flavorful while at the same time being mellow and it's very much suited to an all day smoke. It has enough depth of taste to keep you satisfied without being heavy. The blend provides zero tongue bite from the top to the bottom of the bowl. Through the bowl, the flavors change slightly but without a lot of complexity. St. Ives smokes more like a refined English than any aromatic though oddly enough I find the room note to be more aromatic than English but only slightly so as both sides make their presences known. If you are looking for something different (or looking for something similar to Pembroke) give this a try. Simply wonderful!
Its amazing how a blend can change in 5 years and changed it has. I ordered an 8oz bag recently and St Ive's is no where to be found in this bag of St. Ives. Rather than the whimsical cross over blend of the past and in its place is an innocuous, bland replacement that carries none of the English or Aromatic qualities of its former self. The tobacco is good quality tobacco but its as if they forgot to blend in its soul. I'm changing my recommendation from Highly Recommended to not recommended with one caveat; its recommended as a blending agent for those bitey aromatics that sting. This makes a great blending tobacco since it has almost no taste of its own beyond dull tobacco. I've mixed it 50/50 successfully with one such blend and the results were great. The blend just tastes like a smoother version of the aromatic.
Review fr0m 8/28/05
Like Sceny, I have a hard time classifying this blend as it is a true cross over blend though if pressed, I would say it?s essentially an English with an Aromatic topping. Opening the pouch, a whiff reveals that familiar Esoterica aroma with a fruity note. It also has that typical Esoterica moistness, which some think is too much but I think is just right. Of all the Esoterica's I've tried, this is closest to Pembroke and if you like that, you'll probably like this. I happen to love Pembroke and this was a nice change of pace. It's is flavorful while at the same time being mellow and it's very much suited to an all day smoke. It has enough depth of taste to keep you satisfied without being heavy. The blend provides zero tongue bite from the top to the bottom of the bowl. Through the bowl, the flavors change slightly but without a lot of complexity. St. Ives smokes more like a refined English than any aromatic though oddly enough I find the room note to be more aromatic than English but only slightly so as both sides make their presences known. If you are looking for something different (or looking for something similar to Pembroke) give this a try. Simply wonderful!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I do not wish to insult those before me here who enjoy this blend, but I must have lost my mind overpaying for 4 ounces of this "to try". I should have purchased two or, better yet, begged a bowlful to try at the shop first. It's a hybrid to be sure and one that misses the mark for me. But then I'm a straight English lover to start with. As an aromatic goes, it is one. As an "English, it sort of fits that as well. But the two do not marry well for me. Almost immediately after lighting this became very distasteful. I was rewarded with what would be an unpleasant (for hours after) aftertaste while I was smoking. I tried four bowls, at different times of day to the same result. It also while I was smoking, and after, left an odd gummy feeling in my mouth similar to that imparted by cheap, cut filler imported cigars. The 'frugal Hellene' in me dictates that I waste nothing however I know I'll never touch this one again. What to do with remainder of my test purchase? I might soak it in water and use water as garden fungicide or insecticide.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 25, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is the WORST tobacco I've ever tried. It literally tastes like the butt-end of a Camel Blue cigarette. Horrible, I honestly find this blend to be an affront to pipe smokers if nothing else. Even though they call it a fruity aromatic, and the fruity smell does come through in the tin aroma, the actual flavour couldn't be further from that. No matter how much I tried I could not get any fruit flavour to come through, instead it just tastes like a cigarette, and possibly worst than that. Come to think of it I'd take some of the Brazilian rope-tobacco-based cigarettes any day over this trash. This is trash and I recommend you pass on trying it. There is literally nothing good that I can say about this blend.
Pipe Used:
Sara Eltang bent dublin
Age When Smoked:
4 Years
target="_blank"
