Mad Hatter
04-16-2007, 11:05 PM
This was the tobacco that I first learned to scorch my tongue smoking. Three years ago I had a $15 meerschaum and a can of Balkan Flake that cost half of that. Sitting at the kitchen table I packed up a bowl following directions for packing I had found on the internet. The flake didn't take off immediately and it took me several tries to get it going but once it did that beautiful flavor of latakia filled my mouth and swirled in the air around me. I definitely felt the nicotene in that one and I thought dreamily of how horrible it must have been for my great-grandfather to have his pipe taken away in the nursing home after 80+ years of smoking. After quite some time my slow burning bowl of tabac was finished and after quite some time more I managed to get up from the table. Balkan flake is a good, thick smoke, with a distinct sweetness, not so noticable while smoking, that seems to cling to the back of your teeth for hours after your bowl is finished. Whether you rub out the dark slices or roll it and stuff it is entirely your choice but I rather prefer mine somewhere in between the two. Something just seems to be missing if you rub it out or grind it too much. It has a pleasant room note also as well as a good dose of nicotene. I highly recommend it to lovers of latakia and english medium strength tobaccos. In my experience it has a unique taste all its own