G. L. Pease Cairo

To me Cairo tastes like... a great car stereo system without any woofers.

The treble is great.

Hints of screeming banshees piercing the night with their seductive voices.

Pease Cairo is another masterful blend in this increasingly astounding line of tobaccos. The tin I'm currently smoking was two years old when opened. The Virginia tobaccos glistened with tiny sugar crystals. This blend has rewarded me handsomely every time I've called on it.

I rated this as an "occassional" smoke not because of quality - which is excellent. I rate it as such because it requires one's full attention to truly enjoy. It demands a moment where one puts down the book, turns off the PC monitor, isn't in the car, isn't doing yard work, where one just sits quietly and smokes. Thus, it is a luxury best sampled infrequently like a vintage champagne.

The tin aroma of this tobacco is unusual, and initially one might think it cased with something. On opening, one becomes aware of an intensely citrusy, fruity, bubble-gummy aroma. Let the tin sit open for a bit, and the aroma becomes more subtle - you discern that it comes not from fruit flavoring but from prime, bright, lemony Virginia tobacco combined with the sweet spiciness of Oriental and Perique.

The tobacco packs well, and on lighting is nothing like bubble-gum. It is bright in flavor, and ever so slightly spicy. Never overwhelming or bite-y, it settles into a flavor profile not unlike a good, buttery, oaky Chardonnay. It's fruity and sweet due to the Virginias, the Perique adds a bit of tingle to the tongue, and the Oriental tobaccos provide a sweet spice flavor and aroma that melds perfectly. It's simultaneously sweet, tart, toasty, and spicy. Room aroma is tolerable to non-smokers.

Cairo is a pleasant change in that it offers the combination of Virigina and Oriental tobaccos without the usual addition of Latakia. I recommend that any pipe smokers should try this blend at least once, giving it the attention it deserves, if only for the experience.

An exceptional tobacco in terms of aroma strength and body. Basically a blend of Orientals and Virginias with the addition of Perique. All seem to me to be of excellent quality. It is lit with a match, burns regularly. Perhaps a little fast for small pipes, I recommend a group 4 at least for a smoke of half an hour or so. Only flaw, or virtue, it gives withdrawal symptoms after a short time.

Prep: Moisture is perfect Notes: Hints of cinnamon from the oriental, citrus from the Virginias as well some darker fruit notes. The Perique’s pepperiness isn’t always evident but the raisin character that Perique is known for, does keep around. Flavorful yet light. Worth trying for the Virginia lover. It may be simply due to trying this blend in the Fall but it does come off as a “Fall” blend for me, possibly in light to the cinnamon notes.

Smokes wonderfully in a poker, like my Ashton 220. Has a lot of similarity to We Three Kings without the topping of that blend. And I think it speaks of the natural flavors of WTK. The Virginas and Orientals are well balanced. 8.8/10 https://youtu.be/S1Ou9X3rmHQ

Fragrant and spicy. All the classic oriental flavors ranging from spicy to sour. Can burn hot if you are not careful. My only criticism is I wish it had a touch more sweetness. A pinch more red or dark virginia would make this an easy 5 star for me.

I bought this blend after reading some of the reviews and I have to say its an interesting one. The most experience I have with Orientals is in English and Balkan blends so I thought that a Virginia base might give me a different take on the flavors it can offer.

The tin is really plain, and to be honest, it's the kind of one I tend to skip by in my local. Opening up there is a nice yellow-light brown ribbon. The tin smells like citrus, hay, fermented Red Virginia, and tangy sour Orientals. It comes at a reasonable dryness, and is easy to pack and light.

When you light up, you taste citrusy, hay like bright Virginias. Bready, fermented Red Virginias. The Orientals here are tangy, herbal, and woody. There is Perique in this blend and it offers a little spice and fruit. Overall it has a mellow flavor.

The taste I give a mild-medium. It's not overpowering in any sense of the word but it just fails sort of a standard medium body. The strength is a mild-medium. Good for working in the yard on a hot day. For me this doesn't hold much to keep me interested, but for Oriental/ Turkish smokers this might be ideal.

Tin note is all Virginia. Hay, fresh grass and a slight sour from the orientals. The smoke is Sweet hay, a bit of nuttiness, some earth. Just a very faint pepper. Fresh tin, orientals are not really a showcase. Moisture level on tin opening is dry. Almost too dry which results in a fast, hot burn rate. Needed rehydrated to be enjoyable. After a year of age in the tin, the orientals have come forward a lot and Virginia’s have mellowed. Again some rehydration benefits the smoking mechanics greatly. In fact the dry condition is why I couldn’t fully recommend.

5 month pipe smoker coming from cigars. I tried this 2 months ago and thought meh. First had a bowl of Pirate Kake tonight and thought, why not? Let’s give it another shot. A great antithesis. Whereas Pirate Kake is smoky, savory, salty and tangy, this is quite the opposite. Apples vs Oranges. This is pleasantly sweet, with tiny bit of tang, and delicious. I get honey and hay, with a bit of Oriental. Perique, i struggle with other than the peppery tinge. I’m still developing my palate, but starting to get it. Very nice.

G.L Pease Cairo

The smoke starts very light. Plumb and raisin flavors are initially detectable from the Virginia and perique. There is a clean white pepper sting on the retro-hale. Sweetness from the Virginia’s mixed with a little baking spice from the orientals come through for a very mellow first half of the bowl.

Onto the second half , the flavors become more complex and the strength increases from mild to medium plus. Orientals really start to own the show, turning the smoke into a woody and spicy experience. Now flavors of graham cracker and orange peel come to the forefront.

After this point , the flavor all of a sudden became very ashy. I was worried thinking that Cairo was bottoming out. So I removed the full ash cap and re lit - luckily this completely solved the problem and I continued on with this wonderful smoke.

The finish is reminiscent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch , or if you haven’t had it , cinnamon sugar graham crackers and is definitely the highlight of Cairo! If I could skip the whole process and go right to the finish on this blend , I would every time. A solid 3.5 - I’ll need a couple more bowls to decide if I can bump it up to 4 stars.

- Jan