HU Tobacco Fayyum
(3.50)
Fayyum presents itself as a near black blend comprising fire-cured Virginia and smoky Kentucky leaf, a generous measure of Cypriot latakia, and joined by black cavendish. Fayyum is rich and exquisitely balanced, likewise revealing distinct flavours. A true highlight for the connoisseur of a full-bodied natural English mixture!
Notes: Contains 65% Cyprian latakia. Syrian was originally used until the stock ran out. (They changed the name of the series from "Foundation by Musicó" to "African Line")
Details
| Brand | HU Tobacco |
| Series | African Line |
| Blended By | Hans Wiedemann |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Kentucky, Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Mixture |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable to Strong
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.50 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 16 of 16 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 09, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
i will skip the ''technical'' analysis, other, far more experienced pipe smokers are better poised to provide such. (i have been smoking pipes off and on for some 30 years but recently i turned exclusively to it, quitting cigarettes.) by and large i rediscover pipe smoking, trying different blends and types; for sure you can call me a vaper/oriental smoker with the occasional aromatic but nothing too sweet/floral/fruity.
my first experiences of english blends were kinda traumatic: whether it was gawith, rattray, dunhill, mcclelland, or you name it, it was the same smoked herring hitting both my nostrils off the tin and my palate. kept wondering how so many people raved about those blends, it was a mystery to me. i had to age a nightcap for almost 4years of which 1 out of the tin into a jar, before i begin to appreciate somehow this taste, on rainy days (only). seems english blend is for wintery, cold, humid weather.
fast forward to fayyum: being a staunch hu customer, i bought fayyum whimsically because of its ...name. had 2 tins idling in the cellar, and then one day with lots of trepidation i decided to open 1 getting ready for one more disappointment of sorts. well, got hooked on it from the tin note already. was sniffing with my nose literally buried in the tin, in total disbelief that i might ever like, and i mean LIKE an english blend. smoking it was totally zen. the contemplative thinking of not thinking of anything, except the pleasure. content, silent. much as i want, i dare not open the second tin before i replenish, which will happen in a month, on my next trip to köln/germany.
if you think that english blends "must" be on your roster because cosi fan tutti, or because english is your coming of (pipe) age, then fayyum is just the perfect choice, imho.
if tobacco blenders were awarded michelin stars like chefs, hans would easily earn two already.
my first experiences of english blends were kinda traumatic: whether it was gawith, rattray, dunhill, mcclelland, or you name it, it was the same smoked herring hitting both my nostrils off the tin and my palate. kept wondering how so many people raved about those blends, it was a mystery to me. i had to age a nightcap for almost 4years of which 1 out of the tin into a jar, before i begin to appreciate somehow this taste, on rainy days (only). seems english blend is for wintery, cold, humid weather.
fast forward to fayyum: being a staunch hu customer, i bought fayyum whimsically because of its ...name. had 2 tins idling in the cellar, and then one day with lots of trepidation i decided to open 1 getting ready for one more disappointment of sorts. well, got hooked on it from the tin note already. was sniffing with my nose literally buried in the tin, in total disbelief that i might ever like, and i mean LIKE an english blend. smoking it was totally zen. the contemplative thinking of not thinking of anything, except the pleasure. content, silent. much as i want, i dare not open the second tin before i replenish, which will happen in a month, on my next trip to köln/germany.
if you think that english blends "must" be on your roster because cosi fan tutti, or because english is your coming of (pipe) age, then fayyum is just the perfect choice, imho.
if tobacco blenders were awarded michelin stars like chefs, hans would easily earn two already.
Pipe Used:
meershaum, briar, corncob
PurchasedFrom:
hu tobacco
Age When Smoked:
3yrs from purchase
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 20, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
It took me a while to like this blend, my first 10-15 bowls were in the 2-star category as I felt it has too much Latakia.
The thing with Latakia for me is that past some point it tastes a bit too creosote and tarry which I don't like, and unfortunately this was the case with Fayyum. That is, until I let the tin air out for a few days, mixing it a couple of times per day to distribute the tobacco, and let it air and dry a bit. This seems to have fixed things and now it is a full-tasting, strong English, with powerful Latakia taste, and actually quite a bit of sweetness which I didn't expect to find.
Having smoked and really enjoyed HU Zulu, this is definitely heavier, smokier and with a different kind of spicyness from Zulu. Certainly a very well made blend but for my tastes Zulu hits the spot better, maybe it is the lack of oriental leaf and Perique.
The thing with Latakia for me is that past some point it tastes a bit too creosote and tarry which I don't like, and unfortunately this was the case with Fayyum. That is, until I let the tin air out for a few days, mixing it a couple of times per day to distribute the tobacco, and let it air and dry a bit. This seems to have fixed things and now it is a full-tasting, strong English, with powerful Latakia taste, and actually quite a bit of sweetness which I didn't expect to find.
Having smoked and really enjoyed HU Zulu, this is definitely heavier, smokier and with a different kind of spicyness from Zulu. Certainly a very well made blend but for my tastes Zulu hits the spot better, maybe it is the lack of oriental leaf and Perique.
PurchasedFrom:
Estervals pipe house
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
In my very first review I say that FBM's (foundation by Musicò, blended by Hans Wiesemann) tobaccos are to my taste from good to excellent, were just for the matter that you realize they are made by selected tobaccos with no extra stuff added. They burn very well for a longer time than many other ones, and surprisingly do not leave back (bitter) taste when you are at the smoking end (I mean you're alerted in very good advance when you'd better stop). I was in doubt which ones I ought to choose, eventually I decided to get them all (ten): low shipping costs and above all, the possibility to compare them and see which ones I like more. Fayyum is one I like(d) much: it's "sharp", complex (subtle), mildly spiced, and a valuable approach to the FBM/Hans Wiesemann blending style. Contents: Black Cavendish, Kentucky, Latakia, Virginia
Pipe Used:
Becker & Musicò, Charatan, Stanwell
PurchasedFrom:
HU-tobacco (Hans Wiesemann)
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 20, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Very good blend, but I suspect that with the switch from Syrian to Cyprian latakia something got lost...
Intense, very smoky, but maybe a tad unidimensional and heavy handed. It has a very mouth-drying quality, very Balkan-style. I like it, but I probably prefer Tigray and Tuarekh, which have more complexity.
Intense, very smoky, but maybe a tad unidimensional and heavy handed. It has a very mouth-drying quality, very Balkan-style. I like it, but I probably prefer Tigray and Tuarekh, which have more complexity.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 20, 2021 | Very Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Strong |
God help me. Fayyum is identical to the Kake but in a Rubbed - Out cut. It was as dry as its brother when I opened the tin. As with all the other HU I tried, it was a disappointment because of the overuse of humectants.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 22, 2017 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Strong |
A most disappointing blend, Fayyum promised a lot but did not deliver. An extremely dark blend, it was fairly dry upon opening due to its tinning technique. The tin aroma was thus rather subdued because of this, revealing a faint latakia and cavendish aroma. I could not make out the Kentucky at all. As for the smoking it has provided me with nothing but sheer frustration. Frustration at trying to light it, frustration at trying to keep it lit, frustration at trying to make out any taste out of this concoction. The result after a half - dozen pipefuls was a memorable episode of tongue bite. I even tried to blend it with some golden leaf to help a proper combustion - without negatively impacting on its taste - but the attempt was unsuccessful. I do not lack patience but Fayyum is, under these conditions, just not worth the purchase.
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