Peterson University Flake

Summary: a nice Burley-led flake with the sweetness of Virginia that is drenched in plum extremity that smells worse than it tastes.

I love flakes but they take some effort to learn to smoke, or at least did for me. This blend pairs strongish Burley with sweet Virginia for a pleasant smoke that leaves the room smelling like blueberry cigarettes a little bit, but delivers a mild but firm flavor that would be perfect for reading textbooks late into the night, hence the name. The new formulation dials back the strength and increases the sweetness, making this a great introductory flake for those who want to explore this cut.

I am new to pipe smoking and this is my first review. University Flake has a well balanced and bodied tobacco flavour with the flavouring coming through gently on occasion as sour plum with a hint of liquorice, leaving that note and a bit of nuttiness as an aftertaste. A bit of sweetness (from the virginia I presume) rounds the flavour off nicely, and the flavour is very consistent. To pack, I just fold a flake in half long ways, then fold it over and round it out a bit with my fingers and shove it straight into the cob with a bit of tamping to keep it in the bowl. Takes a bit (like a dozen matches) to light, and I just use a lighter (blasphemy!) as it is easier. Once it gets going it smokes rather well and sometimes at night I have a bowl of Early Morning Pipe, then pack the University flake and smoke until it gets the first real tamp (a dozen lights later!). I then finish the bowl in the morning with no fuss :). Doesn't bite (or, hasn't bitten me) and is really pleasant for that second half of the bowl when it gets going and I get lost in thought. Next I want to try Petersons Nightcap, and am considering getting another cob just to puff University Flake, although I do like how it seems to subtle it's way into a bowl of EMP (maybe my imagination). Nic hit is a good level for me, enough to feel but not third eye inducing. I do recommend having a feed first though. I tried a few flakes before this one, and I like the flake tobaccos as they are so easy to stuff into the pipe (I am competent at packing ribbon, just lazy), although the need for many lights to get going can be a bit of a bummer. I have tried drying it out, but don't think ahead to do it more often. Sometimes the bowl bubbles, but a pipe cleaner fixes this no worries. As most pipe tobaccos are over a hundred dollarydoos in Aus, I haven't had the luxury of smashing more than a couple of tins or ageing any, but so far really enjoy this smoke and think that it will be a mainstay of mine. Probably between this, the EMP and maybe the Nightcap for something a bit stronger I may be content with my smoking life. The way I stuff it kind of makes a burn straight down the middle of the bowl, leaving the edges charred but not burnt. When this happens the goodness really starts because then I lightly tap the pipe on an ashtray to remove the ash from the middle, use a nail to pry the edges and tamp them back in and usually need only one or two more lights after that. Room note is pleasant, my wife tolerates it, but I don't think that a non-smoker would like it very much. Hope this was helpful. Peace. Edit; Now when I buy a tin, I lay out all the flakes and dry them all out overnight (when the humidity is low), then put them back into the tin. The quality of smoke is enhanced so much, and re-lights becomes a thing of the past 🙂

I had smoked this about a decade ago and it had left a very good impression. It did not become part of my rotation, and I had not tried it again until recently. I cracked this tin several weeks ago thinking “back to school” is the perfect time for uni flake. It just feels suited for the season. These flakes are 2 mm thick and very neatly cut. The tobaccos are hard pressed and near black until rubbed out wherein some of the orange VA becomes evident. I was fortunate to have a nice frosting of sugar crystals adorning each flake. The nicotine hit is just past medium, notable if the smoker is aggressive, which is possible as this blend just doesn’t bite. There is a sweet and slightly sour plum aroma in the tin. When I smoked this years ago, I remember it having more of a distinctly plum taste. This time around it is more like a generic berry taste. This topping is well done however, and comes across mostly in the snork. It also works to enhance some of the natural sweetness of the Virginia leaf. There is some toastiness on the char light, and delicious notes of toast pop up throughout the bowl. I am not sure that I will cellar this one particularly deep, but I will be sure to keep a tin or two on hand for the occasional delicious change of pace.

Another win from Peterson.

I smoked after rubbing the flake straight from the tin. There is a heafty nicotine kick but a nice fruity flavor. I can smell the plum flavor out the tin, but when smoking it tastes like fruit. Very recommend. However not my favorite Peterson tobacco. Smooth smoke doesn't get to hot and stays lit.

Last week I tried Irish Flake for the first time, and was impressed by its strength and its naked tobacco taste. It also left me hankering for something with a little flavour added, while not sacrificing strength. University Flake is the perfect candidate.

The plum scent on opening the tin is subtle, but on lighting, the scent lingered constantly in my nose as I smoked. This is a very good tobacco. Strong enough, but not uncouth like Irish Flake, and with just the right amount of flavouring to add some dimension.

It kind of reminds me of what Clan should be - truly cool and slow-burning, with a wonderful fruitiness that doesn't destroy the tobacco taste. Plus strength.

I first saw a tin of UF in 1996, and it described itself then as "for the thinking man". I shall consider myself learned.

This is so good, I've had it before 10+ years ago and it was great then as it is now. Rich flavour with hint of blueberries, very cool burn and minimal moisture. Can be all day smoke if you can take it, otherwise, I only wish they kept those small square tins they used to sell it in.

A wonderful, full-flavored Va blend with a judiciously applied berry topping. Nicotine is sneaky with this one. Perfect flake that is easily prepared. I just smoked a bowl to the bottom with no relights. An all-day smoke, if you have the nicotine tolerance. I find little difference between this and Wallace Flake...mostly that this one is always available and Wallace Flake isn't. Ymmv, of course.

This is one of my regulars.

I like this. The very first time I smoked this tobacco I was watching the Stallone movie Lock Up. Hahaha good times. When I got a 1/3 way through the bowl I though this is how pipe tobacco is supposed to be. That was about ten years ago and everytime I smoke this tobacco I watch a kick ass movie to pair with this kick ass tobacco. If its not Stallone then its Arnold or Jackie Chan or Jean Claud V.D. I still buy this tobacco and still enjoy it just as much now. This stuff is always good, smells good, taste good, good enough to smoke at any time of the morning, day, evening or night. All around great tobacco. Never had any issues or negatives with it. This is awesome stuff and if you have a friend over you might end up doing karate in the garage.

Another Peterson bend in the road in the adventure that is pipe smoking.

After opening the tin I was quite surprised as I hadn't realised that this actually does come in flake form, as the name implies; before purchasing, I had only taken a quick casual look at the contents list and rating here at TobaccoReviews. Well, on to the experimenting then. I tried several methods and finally settled on tearing apart 2-4 strands at a time (this lasts MUCH longer than the pathetically small looking pile of thin flakes wrapped in paper inside the tin would lead one to believe) from the side of the flake and rolling those between forefinger and thumb onto a piece of paper to get a pile of ribbon that the pipe is easily packed with. Straight from the tin the flake is quite moist, but impatiently I decided to try for a bowl anyway. Not surprisingly, it took a few charring lights, but once it got going... Oh, boy! Just about the thickest, smoothest, wholesomest and most satisfying smoke ever, taking one back to the roots of what tobacco smoking is about. Not surprising when looking at the contents list though; burley and plum, balanced with good virginia, is just about the recipe that pushes all the right buttons for me. It's a little bit of work to get to smoke, but totally worth it.

A word of warning: Be VERY careful about drying out. This is a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type of blend in that it has the most dramatic change of character between moist and dried conditions that I have witnessed (and by "dried", I'm not even talking hours). Dry it out too much and it loses all of the smooth character, becoming bitter, sharp, harsh, almost unsmokeable. I consider this blend meant to be smoked rather moist and going through the necessary trouble to do so.

Instant favourite and will surely be buying again.