Peterson University Flake

I bought this about a week ago and have been smoking it on and off since. I picked it up at the ‘brick and mortar’ where our unofficial pipe club is held outside. Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a very strong berry (plum as noted on website) smell which was very sweet and fairly strong. This is a nice chewing gum size flake which I normally fold and stuff or on occasion will lightly rub out. Upon smoking the plum topping is somewhat muted and basically all I detect is a slight sweetness that to me neither adds nor detracts from the smoke. A well-rounded smoke of Virginia and Burley. Not much more for me to add other than my one dig which I have mentioned from time to time. I really, really, really, really, hate square flake tobacco in a round tin. Probably for most not even an issue but I hate to see the real tin art disappear and replaced with a generic round tin with a paper label stuck on it. Of course, don’t let this stop you from trying it after all with over 400 reviews this is a classic.

Can't add much to what the other reviewers have said really other than to reiterate that this is a very nice VABur (more of a BurVA to my thinking) that is worth your time. The plum topping is well done, not over powering. I know it will turn some off, but it really doesn't get in the way of the tobacco taste. It accents it nearly perfectly to my way of thinking and is present throughout the smoke, pleasantly sweet and fruity.

The blend tastes equally well folded and stuffed or rubbed out. This is the first flake I've had any luck folding and stuffing. Maybe that's a characteristic of the blend or maybe I'm finally getting the hang of it, don't know.

Nicotine in this is on the strong side. It won't overwhelm you unless you have a low tolerance, but you will notice it.

For me this flake is simply OK. I had no trouble finishing the tin and there were some "in the Zone" smokes, but am not sure if it is a keeper. Perhaps it's the way it seems to sit on the fence bordering aros and strong flakes? Otherwise I found it pretty well-behaved. Somewhat recommended.

Update, 21 Aug 2020: At some point after my original review, I bought another tin of this baccy, and after a few smokes it went into storage. I went off pipe smoking for a while but recently got back into it. The Uni Flake was looking good after a few years in the airtight jar, so I tried something completely new to me, i.e. cube cutting. The flakes had dried to a beef jerky leatheriness and cubing was easy. Result: fabulous smoke. I'm a cube cut convert! And am also upgrading my review to 3 stars. I'm not sure why I resisted cube cutting plugs and flakes for so long. Maybe it was that, having begun piping in the late 60's, there wasn't as much info out there on technique, etc. It was flake or ready rubbed and that was it, end of story. I was stuck in my ways and reluctant to try something new. I think as well that I now "get it" about the benefits of ageing tobacco, more than I did a few years ago. The Uni Flake certainly seems to have benefited from a few years in the jar. That said, I recall it was pretty good when fresh, and aired for a while before sparking up. Thanks to all you pipe brothers 'n' sisters for banging on about cube cutting, fold & stuff, etc, and dragging me kicking and screaming into the light.

Opening the tin you can smell first the mild plum flavoring, then you can also detect the scent of the VA, the Burley plays in the background. Moisture is quite ok, I rub the flakes out and let them dry a bit (around 30 mins), also to reduce the plum flavor, as I am not a big fan of aromatics... Flakes are easy to rub, quite easily you can load and light. With a bit of drying the smoke is fresh and quite easy to keep lit. From the first puffings you can quickly taste grass, figs, earth, wood and the plum topping, but fortunately this is not that strong and does not cover the tobaccos taste. The more you go through the bowl the more you can taste also the burley, which provides some robustness to the smoke, but never to much, and never with harsh notes. Good and honest all day smoke, never tiring, with a medium N load, satisfying; not in my top list but definitely to keep in my rotation to enjoy from time to time.

The tin note is a mild berry topping which comes through in the first quarter of the smoke, but thereafter fades away.

I consider this a Virginia blend, it contains some Burley but it's well in the background and unlike many Virginia blends, University Flake lacks any unpleasant cleaning chemical after taste.

I feel that this is going to become my Royal Yacht replacement. It's not the same mind, but it has similar qualities and depth of flavour: Not complex, just very good.

Too moist from the tin so I rub out a few flakes at a time and leave the tobacco on a piece of paper for an hour or two. A top notch Virginia which should be part of anyone's rotation.

My experience with the plum of Royal Yacht left me pensive about trying University Flake which I had read also had some sort of a plum casing. I'm glad I finally broke down and tried it.

University Flake definitely has a plummy note in the background, though what really comes out is a dark fruit type of flavour you associate with richer and darker tobaccos. In a way, one might consider it having a cigar like quality, but I am not a cigar smoker so I'll leave it to others if that's the case.

The blend is strong in taste, though not strong in nicotine in my opinion. It doesn't leave you with that nicotine "buzz" that something like Nightcap or 1792 does -- though it's not entirely absent either.

So if you're after a deep, rich tobacco flavour but without the heavy buzz, this would be a good choice.

Tin note is that of the grassy virginias and blueberries. Some sweet stewed fruit (plums) and the virginias are the main attraction. Smokes enjoyably warm and is well blended with some roundness. Burley pokes its head up every once in awhile and lends some body to the blend just enough that you know it's there. I Find it enjoyable, Tastes like a moist blueberry muffin at times. And some spice on the retrohale. Not my usual type of smoke but for what its trying to do I'd give it 3.5 stars. The flakes break apart easily and after a little drying time packed well. No burn issues and minimal relights can get hot though touches on soapy at moments but doesn't ever get unenjoyable. The flavoring I find medium BC it's apparent in every puff but not obnoxiously.

This is a really great tobacco. the VA/Bur is just right, the topping is delicious and perfectly done. Not too little, not too much. Chemistry is just right, not weak or overpowering, just right to relax and "take the edge off".

The problem I have with this flake is not so much the fault of the flake but my impatience and reluctance to spend the time to properly prepare the tobacco for the pipe. It is wet in the tin and substantial drying time is needed to get the required moisture for optimal burn. When I try to rub it out it just ends up a mess everywhere and when I cut it a get a bunch of dense cubes that wont stay lit for long. It's just my technique or lack of. I'll have to try rubbing out the entire tin and drying it all before smoking. I got to make this tobacco work because I like everything else about it.

If University flake came ready rubbed it would definitely be a four star favorite for me.

This is a good tobacco that I could see one enjoying as an all day smoke. It didn't knock my socks off, but was good enough to earn three stars.

The flake is a beautiful dark flake that is quite moist, but easy to rub out. Smells of earth, leather and berries from the tin.

It was quite moist and definitely needed some drying time. I tried a few bowls straight from the tin as well as letting a few flakes sit out for over 24 hours to dry. It was difficult to keep lit when smoking directly out of the tin, but the dried out flakes were easy enough to get lit and remained so during the smoke.

I would describe the flavors coming from the following components percentage-wise, as such: 60% dark burley, 30% Virginia, 20% berry/plum topping. The burley's are rich, smokey, a bit nutty, and robust. The virginias are present but more subdued that I expected. The flavoring is noticeable, however, not overpowering and do a good job to round out the strength of the smoke. This flake has a kick to it, but not as strong as Irish flake. I would say that this flake reminds me of Irish flake, but a bit less strong, more well rounded, and a step or two up on sweetness. There are notes of earth, leather, and savory spice that play off of the sweet virginia and berry flavors. Quite an enjoyable smoke. It reminds me of Classic Burley Kake, in the sense that, one can just load the pipe, smoke, and enjoy without thinking too hard about the tobacco. Some blends are contemplative and take your full attention to discern and enjoy each of the nuances....at least in my experience. This is one that you can just fire away, sit back, and enjoy the delicious, and moderately strong, smoke.

Great job Peterson!!!