Fribourg & Treyer Special Brown Flake – 50g tin

Fribourg & Treyer Special Brown Flake – 50g tin is a tobacco for anyone who loves the natural flavour of Virginia – but with a little maritime twist. The blend comes as a neatly cut flake in a 50g tin and impresses with a smooth burn, cool smoke and an aroma ranging from natural sweetness to dark, fruity depth. As soon as you open the tin, typical Virginia notes waft up to your nose: a ripe, dark sweetness (often reminiscent of raisins), accompanied by a hint of bread or toast – and over that, a subtle, ‘navy’-like top note, which many descriptions classify as slightly boozy or rum-like. It is precisely this combination that makes it so appealing: not perfumed, not overpowering – but elegant, warm and wonderfully cosy.

Virginia flake with a ‘navy’ character: slow-burning, well-rounded, aromatic

Special Brown Flake is often described as a Virginia flake in which the tobaccos blend harmoniously through the pressing and ageing process. In the pipe, this manifests as a pleasant, even burn and a silky-smooth smoking experience – particularly if you smoke slowly and allow the flake to breathe briefly before packing it. In terms of flavour, Virginia clearly takes centre stage: natural sweetness, slight ‘hay-and-bread’ notes and a dark, fruity depth. The top note is reminiscent of ‘naval rations’ – that is, a maritime rum/boozy note that acts more as a subtle accent and gives the tobacco a warm, slightly sweet finish. Depending on how it’s cut, you can control the experience: as a folded flake, it smokes for longer and more smoothly; when lightly rubbed out, it starts off more straightforwardly and is slightly livelier. The room note remains pleasant and rather subtle: tobly sweet with a delicate, spicy-warm finish.

Tasting notes and characteristics

Cut: Flake
Flavouring: Rum (subtle)
Aroma: tobacco-sweet
Type: Virginia Flake / Navy-style
Raw tobaccos: Virginia (small proportions of Kentucky and Turkish Havana are sometimes mentioned)