Samuel Gawith Full Virginia READY RUBBED (Loose)

• Loose Packaged to order
• Mature, hot-pressed straight Virginia
• Broken Flake
• Pipe Tobacco

Samuel Gawith’s Full Virginia Ready Rubbed is the broken-flake version of the celebrated Full Virginia Flake. The same mature Virginia tobaccos are hot pressed until the leaf darkens and its natural character becomes deeper and fuller, then the flakes are broken into irregular strands and pieces before packing. The photograph tells the tale rather well: this is certainly no ribbon mixture.

That broken-flake preparation takes much of the work out of loading a bowl. Give the larger pieces a gentle tease apart, allow a little drying time when needed, and pack with a lighter hand than you might use for a fine ribbon. The tobacco will expand as it burns, and cramming it in like a suitcase on the last day of a holiday merely creates extra work for everyone concerned.

Full Virginia Ready Rubbed contains Virginia tobacco with no declared added flavouring. Expect the tobacco itself to lead the proceedings: natural sweetness, tangy dark fruit, earth, wood and touches of citrus and spice. The pressed leaf burns at a measured pace and develops further depth when smoked slowly. Charge through it like a man late for the bus and Virginia will remind you that it has teeth.