Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bob's Chocolate Flake

Much like RCUSElder above, I am a big fan of Latakia who is branching out into the world of Virginias. I also like the occasional aromatic as well, and when I am in the mood for an aromatic, as often as not, it?s chocolate & vanilla. Bob?s Chocolate Flake sounded like a dream come true.

Based on the reviews here and from friends, I went ahead and bought BCF in bulk, actually a bit more than I normally would with an untried tobacco. I figured this one couldn?t miss. The flakes are huge! More like slabs.

I found the bag aroma to be fairly non-distinctive, but I wasn?t worried ? I bought it to smoke after all. The moisture was a bit much, so I dried it out some. I rubbed it out most of the way and loaded up. The moment of truth ? I was about to sample the ?best of all worlds? tobacco. Flame met leaf, and the first impression I got of BCF was?. Soap. I persevered. Maybe it?ll fade, maybe it?s just the BCF combining with what I smoked in this pipe last. I held on to the hope.

As the bowl progressed, I caught subtle nuances of chocolate, and from time to time, a nice sweet Virginia flavor peeked out around the soap. I even detected Latakia now and then. The soap remained. I smoked several bowls, always in the same pipe, hoping the pipe and tobacco would finally come together and banish the soap. It never happened. I tried drying it more. I tried drying it less. I tried different pipes. Nothing worked.

I guess BCF just isn?t for me. It?s a shame too? it has depth, it has character, it has tons of potential. Unfortunately the potential isn?t realized. To my taste, the soap is just too much.

Oh, and by the way, the admonitions of other reviewers of BCF flavoring the pipe should not be taken lightly. It is tenacious, to say the least.

This is another interesting tobacco from Gawith and Co. This flake is an excellent aromatic in that the flavoring is expertly done, while still allowing for the taste of quality tobacco to come out. I especially liked the use of Latakia in this blend. So why not a higher rating? Just like Glengarry flake, I found the flavorings to just not be my bag. They simply don't do it for me on a personal level. Don't get me wrong, this is a quality tobacco and well worth the price, but if you don't really like the flavoring it just won't work. The burning qualities are excellent by the way, although it will bite if provoked. Everyone should try this at least once, just to see if the flavoring is to their taste. If it is, they just hit a home run!

Bought a old tins a few months ago, cross checked it was almost 4 years. Just decide to smoke it today. Nice smell after opened the tins, the tobacco are still moist. Don’t get fouled by the name of Chocolate, it is barely noticeable. Burns easily and you can tell the lakeland scent is there on every puff, as the smokes evolves , the burly are become more and more visiblt, the earthy / woody latakia also noticeable on every puff. Leave a nice and slightly sweet note.

A bit disappointed by this one. Where is the chocolate? Lakeland taste is pleasant for me thus it wasn't a complete waste.

Room note have been compromised since my wife thinks of it as "reminds of cigarettes". However I will review this note after allowing it to sit a couple of months sitting in the cellar.

This was my first Gawith, Hoggarth Tin. Bob's Chocolate was nothing to brag about. I opened the Tin to find the smell of musty Figs, and a hint of Coco or Vanilla. But, I don't let the Tin stop me from a good trial. The flakes needed some rubbing and drying time before loading into my medium Turkish Meerschaum. Lighting was then easy and it burned well.

OH LORD, on the first light the perfume chemical smell hit me in the face. It reminded me of Drugstore #59. The perfume faded with the heat of the match. However, it returned again in full force with the first few re-lights. I object to perfume in my backy!

After suffering those harsh moments of initial burn off, I found the flavor to be pleasant. Unfortunately, the Latakia was totally lost (I like Latakia). I detected a hint of chocolate. But, something unidentifiable is in this blend. It is a mystery to me what is in this tobacco blend that is providing a mellow sweetness worthy of two stars.

Bob's Chocolate is weak in vitamin N properties. Yet, after the perfume burned off, I found the sweetness enjoyable. The ladies will like the aroma room note.

Considering my deep vitamin N seeking puffs, it had no Tung bite. It was cool burning and long lasting. Yes, after a rest and relight, I enjoyed the last half of the bowel.

I will finish this Tin without regret. But, I will not purchase Bob's Chocolate again.

POSITION: 20+ year smoker. I normally like Full English, Virginia, Latakia, some uncased cav blends. I smoke 3–6 pipes a day. No tobacco sales.

Long thin flakes, a bit wet. Smell in the bag is not chocolate but some cocoa-ish artificial smell.

Got about 50gr bulk, put it in a jar for about 3 months and tried for the first time today.

Rubbed out and loaded a medium sized bent apple. Lights easy, doesn't need many relights, doesn't burn hot or wet. Bites if puffed hard.

I don't get the chocolate, I don't get the latakia. What I get is a musty taste and smell in addition to what must be the lakeland people talk about. I must add this is my first venture into the lakelands and probably the last; for quiet a while at least.

Wife approves the room note though, that's something right?

I got this one in last night and just got around to trying this evening. I have to say it wasn't really what I was expecting. The tobacco tastes very good under the strange flavoring and aroma. If smoked patiently there is certainly a light chocolate undertone, but I was distracted from the flavor by the scent of this thing. A pipe smoker can never really appreciate the room note of his own pipe, but upon returning to the room there was a sweet, pleasant aroma in the air. What I smell while smoking is quite different. I read musty somewhere? I would agree. There is kind of an odd Play-Doh quality to it? A very floral incense smell also. Not sure what I think about this one just yet. Probably won't make the favorites list.

I have tried a few bowls of this now and I'm not getting it. Not tasting or smelling any chocolate. It does have a musty, moldy quality to it. Other than that, I don't get much more from it. I've tried it packed tight, loose, rubbed out, not rubbed out.....just not getting this one.

This isn't what I was expecting. Believe it or not, I don't taste chocolate very much. It actually tastes like play-doh more than chocolate. It's a good tobacco, with the burning characteristics of flakes. As far as burning and smoking characteristics, its a 4 star. Flavor, which is important in an aero, it just not doing it for me. It's VERY VERY light chocolate but more play-doh. Flavor takes it down to 2 star.

It's O.K. but I much prefer Two Friends English Chocolate. I wish I had just ordered a second tin of English Chocolate. This is one that will be going to a buddy.