Tabac de la Semois: La Brumeuse 3.5oz Pipe Tobacco

Product Number: 003-666-0001

Long the secret of the Ardennes' misty valleys, Semois remained unheard of to most outside Belgium until a writer for the New York Times received some as a gift, leading in turn to an article on this distinctive regional leaf. Earthy, floral and cool, many who've now had the chance to try it often find themselves grasping in vain for a well-known tobacco to compare it to: "cigar-like tin note, but not like a cigar," "alternate-universe Oriental," etc. The simple truth is, Semois is Semois; a straight, all-natural Burley grown under unique conditions.

In the traditional style, Vincent Manil packs and ships this leaf quite dry; while there might be a temptation to bring the tobacco to a higher humidity if you aren't familiar with it, Semois smokes well (and many would argue, best) as received, and tightly packed. (As others have noted, the dryness also means you're getting more leaf, and less water, for the packaged weight.)

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Customer Reviews
Overall Rating:
4.6
53 reviews
Different, Interesting, and a Wonderful Burley...for a Change.
January 10, 2025
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Just received two 3.5 oz of this, and had my first bowl....and then some hours later; another bowl of it. As in the product description, and some reviews, I will not attempt to add moisture to it. And I also packed the bowl on the tight side and tamped a bit more firmly when smoking. But you will know how much is needed to control heat and burn. I did notice the licorice notes, mentioned by others, when I opened the packs to add to a jar. However, I did not notice it (the licorice) when smoking. This has a really great room-note...it's mild to smoke, and isn't as strong of a Nic' buzz as they have it rated here. If you are into Burley, or want to try a different yet excellent tasting Burley than those you may have had before, then try this one. The price may keep you from this one becoming your daily; I did nearly give it a 4★or 4.5★ for the $/oz price alone. But I decided to rate just the tobacco; for it's sake alone. I suggest you try this in a number of your pipes and find which of them delivers the best taste, for you, when paired together. I've found I enjoy it more in two of my briars, and both have a small diameter bowl; 0.66 inch and 0.79 inch. But in a large-diameter pipe bowl, the tastes become more muted...and it all changes. The best way to describe it, at its best, is; it's like having a sip of Gin and a puff of a good cigar...with the taste of gin still lingering....Read More
Strong but not all that...update
September 30, 2024
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
OK, like most pipe smokers, I wondered about this one for years, so I had to try it. Reading mark d's review helped a lot otherwise I would have tossed it. It is very dry, burns quick so I was tempted to rehydrate it before the next bowl...still not sure about that. You're going to have to really pack it down to prevent that. I use a new Falcon bowl on new tobacco and I'm glad I did on this one. I'm sure it will ghost but because it was a new bowl I have to give it a couple more shots to be fair, but first opinion is I will not buy it again. By the way, my wife didn't like the room note, so if you give this a try be careful of outside opinions. I'll finish the batch, but maybe only once or twice a week. Up date: after smoking this in about ten bowls, that's it for me...this is probably more for those of you who appreciate English or Balkann tobaccos. For me it has a very strong metallic taste so the mouth feels is a turn off for my tastes, but I could see the appeal for some....Read More
Outstanding
December 31, 2023
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Toasty and warm on the nose with a deeply complex floral finish, at times reminiscent of black licorice. Perfectly balanced flavor, never overwhelming.
Easier to smoke than I was lead to believe
April 02, 2023
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
I was both intrigued and intimidated by the description and sone of these reviews of this blend. Thankfully my curiosity outweighed the hesitance to try it. Firstly- it really ya easier to pack and smoke than sone may lead one to believe. It smokes down faster than I’m used to from other blends I’ve tried and I’ve found that just blowing a bit of moisture back into the packed bowl before lighting actually does help a bit despite the warnings, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to rehydrate the entire block at all. It has a very unique scent in the package and in the before before lighting- dry, hay-like with a slightly acrid, ammonia-line hint. Now I don’t mean to detract from this blend with that matter adjective but it is present. It smokes wonderfully right out of the block . The room note is a combination of straw, hay, and frankly of a gentle variety of marijuana! My wife said it smelled like pot right away! You get those flavors right away on the first inhale. Then other nice summery tobacco notes come through. It’s a clean and pleasant smoke that I keep coming back to. If I work my way through this block I can see myself getting more. I’ve not had any other blends quite like this one and I’ve tried a fairly expansive number and variety of blends- both aromatic and non-aromatic- over my many years of pipe smoking. There are other very specific tasting notes to be experienced in this blend but I recommend that any one who reads this actual review of a tobacco try it for themselves. I don’t think you will be disappointed. Pack it gently, not too densely but not too lightly, give it a charing light, then ramp it slightly and it should stay lit nicely throughout your smoke. This is a very nice blend....Read More
awesome!
December 19, 2022
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Package note of mildly sweet, earthy, and mild licorice. Tobacco is brown ribbon cut, a little on the dry side but soft, no prep needed. Burns fast with few relights. The strength is medium to strong, and nic is medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and very consistent, with complex notes of a very spicy cigar, very earthy, herbal tangy vegetative, bitter wood, mild sweet cocoa, very bready, floral, dry hay, a sweet nutty background note, and a peppery retro. Burley is leading with the "secrete leaf" (maybe Virginias?) supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great....Read More
This is a curious one, it acts like a blend, but has almost a single component. For a "straight shot" of flavor, it is worth a a try
July 22, 2022
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
I saw this blend, and upon a whim decided to give it a try. Opened the bag, and saw it was pretty dry and resisted the urge to re-hydrate. SO i read instructions, so what hahaha. "Tin" note for me is anise meets a Connecticut leafed cigar, or one that has a light wrapper. Smoking it, i took longer on my walk just to wrap my head around it. Initially it has a very tabacco taste, almost fruit flavor, almost herbal. Around half it became very much like a black tea with a spot of cream. Latter almost down to a third it gets peppery, like black and green peppercorns with some spiciness. I smoked this in a meerschaum , but while the bowl got hot, there was no tongue bite even while clenching nearly the entire time and using the breathe method, (didn't use a filter or keystones as is my usual). It went like a champ, I tamped it down pretty tight, and bowl was near full, it burned completely down in about 15 minutes ( I smoke bit fast I concede). It is to be noted that some blends, like those with Latakia can be a bit much in warmer weather, but in 92 degrees Fahrenheit, it was almost refreshing. I am writing this approaching half an hour later than when i tried it and still am sorting through my thoughts. In short it is very unique, the cigar / tea with cream/ pepper notes make it interesting but not overpowering. Strength for me is more in flavor than punch, initially the blend more in your face and then mellows out. Even if you don't particularly like burley, or stronger blends, at least try this once. It is one of those singular unique blends that are worth a gander....Read More
World's best pipe tobacco?
October 30, 2022
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
This pipe tobacco is unlike ANYTHING you've ever experienced. Distincly unique, the flavor and aroma are absolutely hypnotizing. Smoke slow to avoid overheating and you will be rewarded. And, retrohale this beautiful tobacco to unlock all of its qualities. Also note, given the dryness, 3.5 oz is a TON of tobacco. So, the value you get is outstanding....Read More
Very European
July 09, 2022
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Put more hair on my chest then Burt Reynolds
I love it!
April 28, 2022
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
This one took me several pipes and techniques to figure it out. Searching for the flavor that others here have described and I finally found it. This is strong stuff and despite being very very dry I had to do several re-lights due to the strength and not smoking too hard. It’s a fine smoke with earthy, nutty toasty flavor found in burley. I think it’s a re-order for me....Read More
Fascinating smoke
August 26, 2021
Product: Tabac de la Semois La Brumeuse 3.5oz
My first bowl of this didn't impress me much, burned hot, fast, and was pretty acrid tasting. It was half way through my second bowl that I went back and read some of the reviews here and found Marc d's review and a few tips that made all the difference. This tobacco, dry as it is, should be packed tight. When smoked it should be smoked slowly - sips and kisses . And it should be tamped down hard while smoking. The packing and tamping are counter intuitive , but will yield a smoke that tastes of all kinds of things. Toasted oats and marshmallows, herbal or floral, a twang of pine now and then when you draw harder - a little like Retsina - not for everyone but I like it. I'm looking forward to exploring this and perhaps the reserve cut as well.

Just in closing, technique with this tobacco is everything. Pack tight, tamp hard, and sip and kiss. Big rewards.
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