Solani 639: Tropical Mango Flake

Got more of a coconut taste out this rather than mango. I love mango, and bought it for that reason. Contrary to some other reviewers, I found that it did bite, and burned hot. It's not a great blend. Very so so. Plus, it's not strong enough for my taste.

This is a very good aromatic for non aromatic smokers. I have been trying to find an aromatic that I enjoy or can at least tolerate because my wife loves the smell of aromatics and hates the smell of everything I smoke. I don't like the taste of most aromatics but this is one of the better ones I have had. Don't be confused, this is definitely an aromatic and has plenty of sweetness but you still get some natural tobacco flavor. The burley really stands out and is very similar in flavor to Solani aged burley flake, not the typical burley you find in most aromatics. You will obviously taste the black cavendish but the virginia helps add natural tobacco sweetness and flavor so you don't just taste cavendish. The mango topping is subtle and after the initial light it really only shows up on the after taste which I really appreciate. It allows you to taste the tobacco then gives you the flavoring after. The chemically aftertaste that I usually find in aromatics is very minimal on this which is another reason why I like this blend. It smokes slow and is not overly goopy. I also appreciate the fact that it comes as a flake. It allows the flavors to meld and tastes much more rich and full than most other aromatics I have tried. Interestingly enough it also ages well. Just like aged virginias the natural sweetness and complexity builds and it has a nice deep bready flavor. Like a dessert pastry. However the mango flavor completely disappears and natural sweetness is all that is left. If you are a non aromatic smoker in search of an aromatic you can tolerate give this a chance.

The good: 1) the packaging is quite attractive 2) the flakes are nicely cut, layered, & stacked in the tin 3) the tobacco is neatly wrapped 4) the tin note is delicious 5) the aroma of the lighted tobacco is slightly sweet.

The bad: 1) this stuff is expensive 2) the tobacco is rather moist & a little difficult to get a char light 3) the taste is rather bland.

Conclusion: I'll dry this out a little to see if things improve. I'll even attempt to mingle this baccy with something like CB Gold or straight burley to see if I can make it more palatable to my liking. I typically like to fold, roll, and stuff my flakes ... maybe this stuff will be more enjoyable if I rub it out. Bottom line ... in my opinion there are many more delicious Aromatics available straight from the tin (e.g. Cult BRM, all of Boswell & Gatlinburlier Aro blends, CB Royal, CB Red Sky, etc...). I'm just really not inclined to go overboard to make this stuff work for me ... especially what you have to pay for this stuff ... but I said that already! Didn't I?

by far smoked it few times Nothing particularly special Mildly sweet mouthfeel 2/4 taste 2/4 room note 2/4 strength 2/4 . Nice quality flakes lits very well. I taste the very mild sweet virginia and the nutty burley but no mango whatsoever the passion fruit is there but extremely mild

In the tin, one finds two rows of dark, sodden flakes that smell just like the listed ingredients, along with super-sweet orange and a kind of “artificial” scent that usually spells doom for edibles and aromatic tobaccos, alike. The flakes are so crumbly that I never did try to fold and stuff them; rather, I went ahead and spindled them to splinters. The splinters lit and smoked down OK at tin moisture, and the topping tasted its strongest this way, staying well above the tasty VA/Bur/Cav through the whole smoke. The drier I got it, the lighter the topping, relative to the tobaccos, but it remains an aromatic. To me, the sweet orange and mango topping actually smells (and tastes) better when I smoke it than it does in the tin, albeit this blend is monochromatic, to the point of monotony, before I finish a bowl. Smoking it dry lessens the intensity of the topping without diminishing the tobacco. The deep-ish VAs are smooth, rich and nutty, likewise the Burleys. The Cav adds a nice, chewy quality. Strength is mild. Tastes run to medium. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is… I’ll get to that.

Solani 639, Tropical Mango Flake smells pretty good in the tin, and it smells and tastes good when I smoke it, too. For this (apart from the whole) I can understand the high ratings, and for a minute there I was ready to rack it up, myself. Unfortunately, TMF also oils my mouth (PG?), whether I smoke it wet or dry, and this is something I just can’t abide. All in all, 2 stars from me, meaning, others might well like it (if they’re immune to mouth oiling), but I’m done with it soon after I started. FWIW, for something similar (but not the same), also better, I recommend Savinelli’s Brunello Flake or Peterson's Founder's Choice.