Tsuge Premium Pipe Tobacco First Days of Spring
(2.90)
First Days of Spring intriguingly blends Virginia and burleys with a dash of perique to add a dark fruit note and some spice. Speaking of fruit, the blend is lightly topped off with a splash of berry flavor. The taste and room note will change the way you think about aromatics.
With plum blossom scent, this sudden sun emerges along a mountain trail. - Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
Notes: "The Four Seasons" is a line of aromatic blends that are meant to capture the essence of the four distinct seasons in Japan. They were announced at 2014 IPCPR, and released in late 2014.
Details
| Brand | Tsuge Premium Pipe Tobacco |
| Series | The Four Seasons |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Drew Estate |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Fruit / Citrus |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.90 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2015 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I am somewhat new to aromatics. I only smoke a couple of pipes a week and suddenly found myself wanting something sweet a few months ago. A free 1.5 oz sample of Maple Street sat in my cellar 5 years then awakened my sweet tooth!
Style of Tobacco: I wrote my prelude because First Days of Spring does not smoke like an aromatic. It smokes like a light Virginia.
Scent: first crack of the tin brought a light combination plum fruit/plum blossom. The scent is yummy.
Tobacco look: light tan all the way to some black which must be the Cavendish. seems high quality. Pliable and Springy yet on the dry side, C&D-like that way. Packs easy into bowl.
Smoke: lots of easy smoke and no dottle. This one is a keeper. Smokes like a good Virginia. No Aro sweetness, only real tobacco flavor and Virginia sweetness. The scent does not completely make it's way into flavor but I could smell the blossoms on my fingers as I lift my pipe.
Tin Art: very nice! I was a little disappointed that the black on my tin is glossy and not Matte as depicted in all pictures I have seen. bummer. matte would have been a nice touch.
Summary: very nice. A very solid 3 stars and recommended for those wanting aromatic smell but natural tobacco taste and experience. I highly recommend keeping the tin open and near you while you smoke. little wafts of scent make this very enjoyable. Those Pipesters who enjoy lighter tobacco with natural taste, no syrup but a nice tin note which lingers on your fingers should pick up a tin!
Style of Tobacco: I wrote my prelude because First Days of Spring does not smoke like an aromatic. It smokes like a light Virginia.
Scent: first crack of the tin brought a light combination plum fruit/plum blossom. The scent is yummy.
Tobacco look: light tan all the way to some black which must be the Cavendish. seems high quality. Pliable and Springy yet on the dry side, C&D-like that way. Packs easy into bowl.
Smoke: lots of easy smoke and no dottle. This one is a keeper. Smokes like a good Virginia. No Aro sweetness, only real tobacco flavor and Virginia sweetness. The scent does not completely make it's way into flavor but I could smell the blossoms on my fingers as I lift my pipe.
Tin Art: very nice! I was a little disappointed that the black on my tin is glossy and not Matte as depicted in all pictures I have seen. bummer. matte would have been a nice touch.
Summary: very nice. A very solid 3 stars and recommended for those wanting aromatic smell but natural tobacco taste and experience. I highly recommend keeping the tin open and near you while you smoke. little wafts of scent make this very enjoyable. Those Pipesters who enjoy lighter tobacco with natural taste, no syrup but a nice tin note which lingers on your fingers should pick up a tin!
Pipe Used:
Wellington and Cob
PurchasedFrom:
Online seller (I live 3 hrs from civilization)
Age When Smoked:
Fresh like Spring!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2016 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I really enjoyed this blend. I shamefully purchased all four of the Tsuge seasons mainly because I was seduced by the beautiful tin art. They really are some of the nicest looking tins I have seen and, the fact they are made by Drew Estates, put my mind at ease that it would be quality leaf and well made. The latter point being of particular interest as these were all pretty much aromatic blends and I have really enjoyed my time with all the DE aros I have tried to date.
This blend is different and kind of defies categorization in either the Vaburper and aro genres. It really crosses a bridge and will offer a nice change of pace for the fan of either. The topping is a berry flavored topping that falls well short of "gooper" status. It is lightly applied as it should be. There is no sense in putting perique in a blend if you can't taste it. And taste it you will. The perique adds that nice pepper and dried fruit taste that plays well with the topping.
The fact that there is burley and perique also gives this blend some body, but it is a far cry from a stout C&D blend. It is really well done. I am giving it three stars for my personal tastes as it is just a change of pace blend for me, but I can see this being a four star blend to the right person.
I don't know whether I will buy more, but that is more due to the fact that I probably already have more than enough aros in my cellar to last my lifetime.
This blend is different and kind of defies categorization in either the Vaburper and aro genres. It really crosses a bridge and will offer a nice change of pace for the fan of either. The topping is a berry flavored topping that falls well short of "gooper" status. It is lightly applied as it should be. There is no sense in putting perique in a blend if you can't taste it. And taste it you will. The perique adds that nice pepper and dried fruit taste that plays well with the topping.
The fact that there is burley and perique also gives this blend some body, but it is a far cry from a stout C&D blend. It is really well done. I am giving it three stars for my personal tastes as it is just a change of pace blend for me, but I can see this being a four star blend to the right person.
I don't know whether I will buy more, but that is more due to the fact that I probably already have more than enough aros in my cellar to last my lifetime.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 06, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
It's not often you see an aromatic utilizing perique. I was not as thrilled with the flavoring of this blend as I was with the summer season blend. But it is still a well done, lightly topped blend. There seems to be a healthy helping of perique as evidenced by the nasal pinch and slightly sour, earthiness. Quite interesting! The topping provides higher, citrus sour notes that work in tandem with perique's natural bottom end sweetness and tartness. I'm giving 3 stars for quality and originality, but only 2 stars for my personal flavor preference...which isn't this particular topping.
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin undated
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2016 | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Tin note was delicate and almost flowery. Moisture content was spot on for me and packed well in the bowl. Initial taste was floral with a hint of fruit akin to smelling a fruit blossom where the whispers of what is to come can be sensed. About half-way down, after a relight, the plum really came through, not a syrupy fake flavor but closer to slicing the fresh fruit. Still perfectly gentle and cool burning with no bite. This was a perfect morning smoke for me and went nicely with a cup of Red Rose tea on the porch.
Pipe Used:
Briar
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 23, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Very pleasant blend of quality base tobaccos with a hint of berry-plum sweetness. No overdone casing or goo to speak of. Tingly spiciness on retrohale. A cedar-like taste lingers on the palate. Initial light took hold with no additional fuss all the way to the end.
Pipe Used:
Neerup Classic
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
No clue. Recently purchased.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 07, 2016 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
This is the last of the Tsuge "4 seasons" blends I've tried. After the Disappointment of Winter, this blend was much better. Nice aroma upon cracking the tin greets you. It was a little on the dry side, but not by much. Packs easy, lights right up and stays lit all the way to the bottom. Very light and mild. Taste of plums - every so subtly. The description says a berry flavor, but not like Peterson's Holiday Blend which has a big berry flavor. All in all an enjoyable break from the Englishes I've been having lately.
Pipe Used:
Peterson, Nording
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 mo
target="_blank"
