HU Tobacco Zulu

The richly smoky, woody, earthy, musty, leathery, incense-like, sweet Cyprian Latakia is the major player (formerly, it was Syrian used in the blend), though this is not a one dimensional lat-bomb. Smooth and creamy with tasty spice, raisins, figs, and slight hint of plum from the perique that underscores the experience. The background players are woody, earthy, herbal, lightly spicy, sour and nutty dark fired Kentucky, and dry, woody, earthy, herbal, vegetative, very slightly sour Oriental Djebel. There's also room for a slight nutty, brown sugar sweetness from the burley. The black Virginia provides a little fermented sugary, tangy dark fruit note in the background. The strength is a step past the center of medium to strong, while the taste is full. The nic-hit is medium. Not a harsh spot to be found, and it won't bite. it does sport a few very small rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very bold, deeply rich, sweet and more savory, campfire flavor that translates to the pleasantly long lingering after taste. Leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a strong room note. Not an all day smoke, I recommend a wide bowl for the total experience of what this has to offer.

-JimInks

This is a seriously good pipe tobacco. Perhaps one of the finest and most memorable I've ever tried in 20+ years of pipe smoking. The tin yields deep, rich aromas of woodsmoke (Latakia) and rich dark spice. But on smoking it's evident that this is far, far, more than just a Latakia dominated blend. The Latakia is Syrian (dryer, more savoury, and in my view classier), rather than the sweeter more pungant Cypriot version. The smoke itself is a challenge to describe principally because it is so multi-faceted and complex.

Imagine the best quality, highest Cocoa content, luxury, extravagently expensive chocolate you've ever tried. Imagine sucking it to let it melt in your mouth, feel it coat the tongue in smooth mouth filling flavour. Then take away the chocolate taste, and replace it with (in ever changing order); toasted hazlenuts, the smell of the best quality antique leather of the quality that can't be purchased nowadays, dark, dry, spice, a hint of candied orange/cranberry, mouth drying tannins from a quality Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the long lingering aftertaste from the same wine. Do that and you'll be close to Zulu.

It's not one to puff on while rushing about. Smoke it slow. Sitting down with nothing to do. Infront of something magnificient; a spring day (like today), a roaring fireplace, or a mountain or sea view, and you will be experiencing one of life's greatest pleasures.

It's another winner from HU-Tobacco. I haven't tried them all yet (but I probably will) but I haven't had one from Hans that is not at the very peak of the blenders art. Moisture is always perfect. No dottle. No artificial anything. Just the best tobacco done to perfection.

I've had the opportunity to taste this mixture after months that I had received,ando so I smoked it on the dry side. Zulu does not look like anything that I've tried:it's reminiscent of the good old days mixes and strike me in a very positive way. I felt something more than old in this mix:she is ancient, archetypal,recalling hints of old precious woods and tribal life. I have not been able to distinguish all the ingredients declared,and this could be due to the fact that the mixture has had time to mingle as well as being, as usual, well-measured by its creator. I would add that in addition to being for me so interesting and hypnotic, this tobacco is strong, but incredibly smooth. I've smoked it in an old Dunhill group 4. A special tobacco to be reserved for after dinner.

Today's offerings of latakia-blends seem almost endless, therefore it is pleasing to find something outside the "mainstream".

Zulu is a Latakia dominated blend, however always pleasant and full in taste, with creamy and earthy taste notes. Possibly this is, besides the balancing Burley and Orient, attributed to the Kentucky and Perique, which add to the spicyness of this marvelous blend. Further down the bowl, Zulu shows its full play of tastes and its particular strength, however never overwhelming. A true treat for the Latakia lover, seeking for something outside the mainstream.

Especially recommended along with a good dark stout beer... heavenly...

The proprietor of HU-Tobacco, Hans Wiedemann, has recently introduced a new line of tobacco's blended in co-operation with the Italian pipe maker Foundation by Musico. Being the big fan I am of his blends, I ordered them all and this is my review of "the Zulu". From the description, you'll notice that there are no virginia's in this blend and his website states that the Latakia percentage is 58%. Yet this does not taste like a Latakia bomb as it is well-balanced by the Burley's and Djebel. Louisiana Perique gives this blend more body and spices up the Syrian variety of Latakia which he uses. Together, it gives a creamy rich smoke which is salty, peaty, slightly sweet and spicy. Burning well in a medium sized pipe, this is another creatively conceived blend that has no peers at the moment. I love it!

The Zulu... after reading the reviews on here that praise this tobacco, my expectations were quite high for this blend.... and they got fulfilled! It's a truly genuine blend, with few similarities to the Fayyum imo.

Beguiling tin note.. sour, fruity, smoky, tart and spicy with some sweetness to it. Perique and the Oriental (Djebel) harmonize very well to create a unique scent that appeals to me!

There's so much going on in here, really... wonderful, wonderful smoke! The Latakia is easily noticeable - no suprise it occupies 58% of the blend - and is smoothly smoky, woodsy, silky and creamy with a sweet touch. Its smokiness is enhanced by the earthy and woodsy dark fired Kentucky. The sweetness of the Latakia, Burleys and the Black Virginias (=cavendish-ed Virginias as my research told me) create a mild, yet everpresent sweetness with an unique aroma. The Burley also sports some nice nuttiness. The Oriental Djebel is decently sour, a little woodsy and ethereal. The interplay of the Perique and Turkish creates a very pleasant sour-sweet and fruity aroma that's very exciting to me.

Loads of flavours and characteristics: Woodsy-smoky,... earthy-nutty,... fruity-sour and sweet... peppery and spicy with a slight fermented touch to it. IN every puff you'll pick up a new note. This really shines in wide bowls, so you get all the components smoldering at the same time. If you just puff without minding it too much, you'll have a pleasant smoke... but when you delve into the world of the Zulu's flavours, you'll fall into a rabbit hole! You'll find more and more nuances and flavours to enjoy and love. So much depth, complexity and charme...wow! It's almost a shame to puff this mindlessly imho!

For me this is one of the best English-style smokes I had so far, yet even though its medium-strenght it's rather a "special treat" than an All-Day-Smoke to my preferance due to it's complexity and depth. Favorited and 4-stars, not a moment of hestitation!

**Update:** After half-a-tin I somehow couldn't connect to Zulu anymore.. it's still a 4-star worthy blend, but my personal rating is now only 3-stars, as this is a smoke I only like on occasions anymore.

|| Personal rating: 3-stars | Attempt of an 'obective rating' : 4-stars ||

A marvellous and unique blend! The overall taste is not unlike another HU tobacco, namely Fayyum (which I also love), also from the Foundation by musico line. But this one adds deeeeeelicious Burley and of course Perique (and leaves out the cavendish), the two of which give him a very deep taste and also a good amount of strength. JimInks and Cypressandstar have in fact pretty much said everything I would say, so I will keep it short and will only add the notion that to me its strength is the same as Dunhill's Nightcap's. Whether this ist strong, extra strong or, like for me, medium to strong, is for you to decide. I find comparisons between different tobaccos more helpful than to rate it based on a scale, because it's a very personal thing.

It's not often that I don't have much to say about a tobacco, however having smoked through a tin of Zulu I find myself really unable to talk a lot.

It seems that with Latakia blends I fail to notice any huge differences, I know whether I like it or not. This one I like, not enough to warrant thinking how I am going to go about obtaining a mountain of it, but enough to enjoy every bowl.

It is a strong Latakia blend, that much is obvious, I'd say the defining aspect of this blend for me was the spiciness. Sweetish, spicy, and incense-like with Latakia feeling like the supporting character despite clocking in at a whopping 58%. I guess this was the intension, and very successful too as this feels very well blended, and refined.

Zulu. This is very close to Nirvana in a bowl. My leaf is nearly two years old in a Ball jar, and the flavors and subtleties have integrated themselves into every puff. Even after this time, I have to air out and dry for about 20 min or so, to get the moisture level just right. I want to say the lovely Latakia is the main player here, but what I'm getting is a beautiful ensemble with the Kentucky, Perique, and the Oriental coming though every now and then in the middle. For me this sings with a good strong black espresso stovetop. So, Hans, when will we be able to buy this and your other miraculous blends in the US? I'm thinking the FDA has recently answered that question.....

This has become one of my top 5 favorite latakia blends. There is a very good variety of flavors which mix wonderfully from the wide assortment of tobaccos used here. The latakia is the major flavor here but the remaining ingredients provide a delicious ever changing addition which compliment the latakia beautifully. Every puff is a new and differing tone from the one before. I love this in a tobacco. This blend continuously mutates throughout the bowl occasionally repeating flavors and is never boring as some blends can be with their constant stability. It's like smoking a new and exciting blend bowl after bowl. This variability is this blends hallmark characteristic and why it appeals to me so much. If you like tobaccos that are not "predictable" in every puff this one will not disappoint.