Saved By The Bell

Flavors and smells as dense and sweet as pudding with a slight spice. A great smoke for anyone.

Great blend! Bought this based on a review. Very pleased with it. Going to be purchasing more.

Absolute favorite

Very nice every time you open up the can you can smell the beautiful aroma. It’s very unique. Also unlike others that all smell the same you get a lot for your money. Also you don’t need to put so much in your pipe. Take it easy try it don’t take my word for it, you’ve gone back for more

I am no pipe tobacco expert - my introduction to this world was in 2014 or so when a friend turned me on to Frog Morton's Cellar, which blew me away with its dank, sweet, lovely darkness. A few years later when I discovered this great website, I was disheartened to learn that FM had been closed down. The helpful support folks here recommended Bengal Slices as the best alternative. While I enjoyed Bengal Slices well enough, it was missing that special something. I then moved onto Dunhill Nightcap, which was and is an amazing smoke but without the rich sweetness of FM and with a pretty strong, unpleasant morning aftertaste. Neither of those tobaccos, however, compare to Plum Pudding when it comes to matching the memory I have of Frog Morton's. I have finally found something to fill that void and I can't imagine not having this one available either (please, Plum Pudding folks, don't make that come to pass). What I like best about this smoke is that it has the dark, sweet taste, once it gets going it's wonderful (takes awhile, though), and while it has a little bit of a sour, funky aftertaste, I can barely taste it the next morning, unlike Bengal Slices or Nightcap. It's truly the perfect blend for someone like me and I'm honestly a bit embarrassed I didn't discover it before now. I'm hooked and it will be my go-to for years to come.

A wonderful relationship with this beautiful smoke.

Nice and enjoyable

Excellent, elegant mix.

Delightful smoke. Definitely has some uncommon tobaccos in the mix, so a different smoking experience. Significantly higher price than most other mixtures, so will not be my regular pipe full, but worth it for the occasional treat.

Very nice! This was my first departure away from aromatics (bored)! Read some reviews, watched YouTube and had to buy a tin! When I opened the tin and stuck my nose in ( at first I was shocked because I was getting cow manure and grass) But when I lit a bowl I fell in love with this amazing tobacco! Tastes smokey, earthy, spicy, grass, and a little sweetness! I would compare this to smoking a premium handrolled cigar! One of my favorite cigars is the Rocky Patel Sungrown Maduro, this tin smelled similar!

I am one of the very few original Bengal Slices smokers still puffing away. To set the record straight I am going on 91 years old and have been smoking a pipe for about 75 years. Drug store tobaccos like Sir Walter, Half and Half were the smoke of the day but I switched over to Sugar Barrel during my college years. And then out came Bengal Slices and I was hooked! It became my favorite Latakia blend and for years I alternated between it and Sugar Barrel...my aromatic favorite...and after years of smoking pleasure they both disappeared!! I was crushed! I never did find a Sugar Barrel substitute that matched the original in my opinion but when Fusilier hit the market I immediately bought a can and was very pleased. BUT when Pipes and Cigars got the original Bengal Slices recipe and except it being in a round can instead of the old square can it was, for my taste, the Bengal Slices that I remembered from days gone by! I don't try to describe all of the flavors in tobacco like the younger smokers do but after many years of smoking a pipe I know what I like and Bengal Slices still work for me. Now...if you can get a hold of the "original" Sugar Barrel recipe I can spend the rest of my years a very happy man!!

Different flavor that the White, but just as good.

This is a treat. I have one or two bowls per week. But when I'm craving this sort of kitchen sink complexity, nothing beats it (though C&D's Star of the East is kind of in the same zone). The crumble cake is easy to deal with but you have to be careful not to rub it out too much. And definitely don't eat it. You'll want to, but don't.

Definitely one of my top 10

This has become my go to .

Both are very good. I really like the Bengal Slices better.

Excellent pipe mixture. I sometimes use it alone in my pipe, but other times I mix it with Bengal Slices. Plum Pudding, despite the name, is a fine, balanced smoke, not too sweet, with little or no bite and a pleasing aroma.

Finally found one I really like. This will be a fav.

Very good flavor. I will buy again

Very nice flavor. Has a deep taste with a mild sweetness.

Very Sweet

Plum pudding is a thick, rich, smoky blend that pleases your whole mouth. I am a newer pipe smoker and saw this blend reviewed everywhere. I knew I had to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did. I know the newer barrel aged and special reserve are getting all the hype, but this original deserves a 5 star on its own. For me I had to sip to get all the nuances. I like a full bodied smoke and this blend provides. I can get a bowl hot trying to make smoke from a lighter blend so this one held me in check. I love it.

I was very pleased with this blend, it has an amazing flavor & room note. I highly recommend this blend!!!

I bought a tin of Bengal Slices in a P&C battle. I am a newer pipe smoker and am trying everything as fast as I can! This has a pleasant tin odor. It was easy for me to light and keep lit. I picked out the Orientals right away and they stayed the forward taste for me. The Virginia's are easier to taste and are more prevalent if you sip at it. If you puff hard this will get hot quick, as I learned. This is a wonderful smoke if you take your time. Lots of full smoke and great flavor. I'll be keeping some on hand.

I have to go with Bengal slices as my pick for the battle, liked them both But for fun tried Maltese falcon in as well and that is the best of the three! Variety is the spice of life as they say

Fun battle but clear winner for me. Plum pudding is an excellent smoke. I didn't age it or dry it just smoked and enjoyed it. I know this version is taking a back seat to the barrel aged but this stuff is great. Smooth, tasty, and full enough smoke to keep from choo-chooing. The Bengal slices are good but a lighter bitier smoke. Not as rich and full. It had a weedy taste the first quarter of the bowl but got better. The Orientals were the most forward taste for me. I liked it but up against plum pudding it swung an missed for me.

Everything I heard was true. An excellent pipe tobacco.

good taste

One of my first tobacco brands aside from a bulk aromatic that I am still enjoying on occasion, this blend delivers a great blend for my new, still learning palette. This blend delivers the sweetness one might crave after a good meal and would pair ever so well with a glass of bourbon. The special reserve variant of this blend is well worth cellaring. I find this blend to have a rich, smooth character with smokey notes worthy of reminiscent moods and light introspection, but prepare to allow yourself to be distracted by each puff as the flavors roll around and mingle with a pleasant room note.

Not crazy about the "Plum Pudding" but I guess it's personal preference.

This is outstanding!! My go to blend, Russ you help bring back a classic. I just ordered the barrel aged can’t wait to try it.

The anise topping is absolutely amazing. It's not overpowering but does get increasingly noticeable throughout the session. This blend is the predecessor to Balkan sorbanie (and caked) but Balkan sorbanie can't hold a candle to this in my opinion. Slowly becoming my favorite evening blend!

Love the flavor profile. I bought this with white knight and white knight is preferred by a small margin. It definitely has a unique top note that enhanced the flavor and smell of the Balkan style without diminishing it. I was concerned that the top note might take away from the flavors, and it did not at all. Great on a little puffer with a small bowl.

If not for the smooth charming tone of my peterson, I may not have taken to this blend. Fortuitous for the latter it had such a platform for representation. Just kidding, it’s pretty good.

I'm not a pipe tobacco aficionado, just a simple older guy who recently started smoking a pipe for one of those simple pleasures in life. This tobacco is pretty good from the first lighting of the tobacco to the bottom of the bowl; pretty consistent taste; no tongue bite for me. It definitely has a floral note with my taste buds, and I like it tremendously.

I like this , I usually smoke aromatics but this in nice . I will buy more.

One of my favorite tins tobacco very smooth had to order another tin didn’t want to tan out

I bought the white version too. They are very similar but this one is a little more full but still not harsh. I love peppery flavor too.

can't go wrong with this If you like latakia. I keep it for just once a day an end of the day smoke because I want to savor it!

after it drys a little its a very good blend definitely will continue to get this

Woow Oh My Word, is the only expression I have to say, this pipe tobacco is darn near flawless, it scores above 90% on all points

I received Bengal slices along with Plum Pudding and after several bowls each I can say I love them both. I began this pipe smoking journey a year ago and I’m still trying to determine what I do or don’t like. I’m moody, sometimes I feel like aromatic and sometimes I want pure tobacco. I smoke what I like when I want to. Since I’m new to this and have no Tudor I jumped off the cliff and just started learning about what I like. The anise top note is not that strong, however if you’re up for a little adventure, pair this with a sniffer of Ouzo and see what happens- wow! Not for everyone but fun to try. This tobacco is sure to satisfy. I like to leave it in big chunks and smoke it in a Savinelli Trevi 320KS. Enjoy!

You’re doing yourself a disservice by not experiencing the magic that is plum pudding. Even if you’re not into English blends and are stuck on sweet aromatics I dare you to give it a shot. Probably my favorite tobacco. I save it for those special moments when I just really want to cherish what’s in my pipe. Combine this with a Savinelli and experience a moment of pure bliss. A lot going on in this blend but it smokes true the whole way through never losing itself. Haven’t found a blend yet personally that’s been the same from start to finish. Love it.

This is far and away one of my favorite blends and some days my absolute favorite. For an English blend with the amount of latakia this has the top note(anise) not only goes excellent with the flavor but makes it have one of the best room notes. A highly recommended blend

I'm still a bit of a newbie, just venturing into the appreciation of pipe tobaccos. I love these Bengal Slices. It's a delicious smoke, and super interesting tobacco.

I'm relatively new to pipe smoking, but I have studied up quite a bit and had the pleasure of trying a fair number of tobaccos at this point. When I cracked this tin (one of my first non-aromatics) my stomach almost turned at the sour musty smell. Couldn't put my finger on it. But, I don't know why, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The smell was becoming more intriguing. I finally packed a bowl, and as I began to smoke it, the smell was still unpleasant, but oh man am I glad I gave it a chance. This is one of the fullest most comforting smokes I've ever enjoyed, and it was perfect sitting around a campfire under the stars after dinner. I'm finding that I've quickly come to love English stlye (well, Bulkan) Latakia blends, almost to the point of craving it. I now also enjoy the tin note, which still shocks me. It is campfirey like people say after you become accustomed to it.

Have just finished my first bowl after wanting to try this for a good while. Received a tin for Christmas and I couldn’t be happier. This lives up to the many positive reviews I’ve read. I will be making this a part of my daily routine. Thank you.

very very good...I like bourbon barrel aged better, but this is a staple in every piper's rotation

I am very particular when it comes to my pipe tobacco and this blend is among my favorites. This is a good, hearty, rich English blend that is a delight to smoke. My wife loves the aroma. This is definitely a blend that I will continue to buy

One of my new favs.

Great taste and I like the pungent smell..

Real flavorful and smooth to boot. I enjoy this in the late afternoon.

This tobacco is incredible. I'm a newer pipe smoker (3 years), but, so far, this has to be one of my favorites. There are just so many different things going on, but it all comes together in a very tasty way. After I got the cake sufficiently crumbled apart, it burned nicely and required only a few relights. It's very cool on the draw too.

A pleasant surprise. Not what I expected....better.

A really magnificent blend. Rich, mellow, with a hint of something in its flavor that I can never quite define but which definitely adds to Bengal's overall character. This is a tobacco that you can smoke all day, or save for special nights. Very little bite, and no harshness. I order it over and over.

I've only smoked three bowls of the Bengal Slices so far but I've enjoyed each bowl more than the previous and the first one was great. Still forming my opinion but I'm looking forward to the next chance I get to enjoy Bengal slices.

Once you crumble the cakes, it’s a great smoke. Very surprising at first, what a wonderful smoke, definitely full body taste.

First tobacco I've ever bought. I am very pleased with this. Really good flavor, stays lit, nice nicotine strength. Will buy again.

This tobacco is just wonderful. Very complex flavor and aroma. The room note is like that of licorice but it has a mouth feel of milk chocolate. Perfect after dinner pipe tobacco. It's such a wonderful blend. Definitely up there on the desert island blend list.

New to the pipe! Haven’t tried many tobaccos yet and don’t know if I will I love this.

A very smooth and pleasant smoke . This blend has had a place in rotation for years now. There are many so called updates or variations on this blend but in my opinion they got it right the first time .

Gift for a friend - gift arrived on time as was correct. He liked it! Thanks

I was not sure what to expect ,Having gone thru one tin I will be reordering, the room note is good and have no real complaints from anyone.

Plum Pudding has a bit of a bite compared to my favorite Crooner. My wife, however, like the nice aroma of it. I like it for a change of pace occasionally but not for a steady diet. It burns fairly well and the Perique does give it a nice balance.

Okay I am going to say it, despite the cursing and hatred involved, but I prefer Bengal Slices to the Plum Pudding. Don't get me wrong, plum pudding is a fine smoke, but the Latakia blending is so well balanced that the flavors become muted. When I smoke an English I like the woodsy leathery flavors of the blend to overwhelm the palate on the draw and the oriental notes to come through on the exhale. I am a fan of Count Pulaski from Sutliff and the Bengal reminds me of that.

just received this and am smoking it right now its amazing kind of a unique semi sweet flavor give it a try

My favorite at the moment. In my opinion it has a new leather boot and smokey campfire aroma

Outstanding..fine pipe Tobbaco..a must have..fine Latakia taste

Nice stronger blend with a great aroma. Reminds me of a true plumb pudding.

I love this tobacco. It seems to change flavor and aroma constantly as you smoke. Truly a beautiful experience.

I got Bengal Slices and Plum Pudding to test both and for me Bengal Slices ashes out on top. Both are fantastic and worth a try!

Okay, I suppose. But not my cup of tea.

Absolutely love this blend. I have had the honor of visiting many countries during my tours of duty serving our great nation. I Har the opertunity to but real Cuban Cohiba cigars and enjoy them with my friends. This blend and strength reminded me so much of Cohiba cigars that it is my new favorite mixture. The amount receive was more then enough to enjoy in the sample pack and I plan on buying a much larger amount on my next purchase.

Cant beat this deal. Thanks P&C

Wow. Smooth and tasty. incense like but balance english flavors. I really like it. One time smoke for me tho

Excellent !!!

One of my favorite tobaccos

Plum pudding is just yummy. Super smooth and mellow. This may be my new favorite.

Bengal Slices is an excellent Latakia blend. Very smooth, no bit; very nice leather smell.

I feel like this edition did not live up to the original tobacco...

Must be rubbed out properly. Fantastic notes, pleasant. Consistent burn with minimal relighting. One of my favorites.

My go to evening smoke

New pipe smoker here and avid book reader and fan of old libraries (will circle back to this). I was smoking aromatics to start with and my local tobacco store (well in Phoenix, everwhere is vape) only had a few selections one of which was Cult Blood Red Moon. The store owner had very little knowledge of pipe tobacco and his supply was limited. So I took CBRM home packed my $25 starter pipe kit from amazon and was floored on how good CBRM was. I quickly jumped onto google and found Pipes and Cigars.com from which I then found out CBRM is one of the highest rated, if not THEE highest rated aromatic, I was shocked! I was so fortunate to stumble upon CBRM to introduce me into the piping world. Fast forward a month and I decided to dabble into english blends, and did some research and concluded Plum Pudding would be my next tobacco. I was uncertain how I would receive this and was not sure I would like it or not. At first puff, I again was floored. I am a huge fan of old rustic libraries and books. When you open an old book, the aged quality of paper really grabs you, this tobacco reminded me of just this! CBRM got replaced as my daily go-to. When I sit on my porch and open my book to read, I have a good full pipe of Seattles Plum Pudding and transported to an old english library with decades old books aged to wonderment. I ordered the Barrel Aged version and it is coming today. 5/5 stars easy!

excellent

really amazing

really like it bengal slices its very simalr to plum pudding but the anise licorice and less raisin plum flavor makes it different. i love it

As good as it gets, as far as I’m concerned. One of my two favorites right now (the other being Peterson Nightcap). Mid bowl, all those amazing tin notes show up (for me anyhow), and it’s really something special. It’s really just an amazing all around smoking experience unlike any other I’ve had so far.

Definitely one of my top 5 blends. The anise topping fades into the background quickly, leaving a rich yet accessible latakia/oriental smoke. Just enough cavendish to add a bit of creaminess to help round out the wonderful oriental funkiness and latakia smokiness.

Wonderful Latakia based tobacco. Not overpowering, pleasant aroma. Just a pleasure to smoke - not to hot. I will be ordering several more!! This is a MUST try!

I understand the hype. I really like the sour plum like taste in this and the heavy latakia hit. I will be purchasing again

This is perhaps one of the best mixtures ever and is by far my favorite tobacco to smoke! I was an aromatics only before I tried this beautifully balanced blend! If you are a Latakia fan and enjoy a smoky BBQ flavor and a party of many tobaccos in one bowl, this is for you!

I've never tried an English type tobacco. Well I thought I'd try this one. Plumb pudding is quite popular in England, so I tried this one. The first time I tried it I kinda thought, what the hell do I have here. Ah yes, the flavor grows on you quite fast. I do enjoy a bowel of this from time to time. The only thing is it will leave a ghost flavor. The ghost isn't too bad, a couple bowels of my go to tobacco scares that ghost away. I just took one of my Peterson pipes and dedicated it to this tobacco. I believe I'll be keeping some plumb pudding on hand. It's only right to smoke a Great Britain style tobacco, with a pipe made there. This is just another good tobacco from Sutliff. Give Ole Plum Pudding a try, you just may like it. I've smoked a pipe better than 40 years. This old dude says give the Plum Pudding its fair shot. It's right smooth, I haven't felt any bite and it's right taste

Can't beat the price or the experience that both blends offer. Nice steady, cool burn and flavor to match. I think the Bengal is a bit better. Mississippi River still takes the trophy.

This is a delicious blend. It is a little low on nicotine for my taste but the flavor is delicious. I wish it came it a 3oz Tin!

Great tin smell...nice smoking

All of this tobacco are ones I have used in the past.

My favorite English blend, by far.

Both are great! Let:s call it a draw...

Very tasty and delicious

Excellent flavor

A buddy bought this for me to try out so I decided to come on here and give my 2 cents on the matter and if i must choose 1 its plum pudding but they are both great all of my other buddy's say it smells like an old smoke house i say they taste great very nice combo and will be buying both again very soon

Thanks P&C for the deal! After smoking each, same pipe and pack, I favor the Plum. Reasons? Taste, mouthfeel. Plum is delicious. I don’t know how they do it but 1st 1/2 of bowl is actually tangy. Not sweet. But definitely hits the back of you he with almost a citrus flavor. 2nd 1/2 is pepper and leather. More nutty. Bengal is excellent too! Must not my 1st choice. Much more mellow and consistent. I found myself puffing for more flavor. The Lat is prominent, and I found it to be more English. Very very good. Both are great, dry and cool in the pipe, each with its own satisfying notes. I he real winner? Me, for getting a great deal on two excellent tins. Thanks again!

Not really what I expected, its a good blend, will try again later and take more time with it.

Seeing the slices in the can and how no matter how one stuffs their bowl, the 'mix' of this tobacco will come through. I find that, believe it or not, it tastes better in one of my Missouri Meerschaums. About halfway down, it really starts to shine and the sweetness comes through almost like a main dish. The 'English' of it though, is *always* there, so that no matter where you are, the bowl has a wonderful state and I would bet that non-smokers might not complain about it either. This is going to become one of my 'horde' tobaccos, heh, it's just that good.

Both incredible tobaccos, and I'm glad to have tried them side by side. I do prefer the Plum Pudding over the Slices, though mostly for the topping added to Slices. They smoke similarly, with Pudding being barely sweeter and Slices having a slight bit more complexity. I look forward to trying the White version of Slices to see if that compares more similarly to Plum Pudding.

I am new to pipe smoking, so take this review as you will. I find this tobacco to be very pleasant, and plan on keeping this in my rotation. for the first third of the bowl, when sipping, I first get a nice hint of a cross between anise and molasses. To me the finish is of a light leather. I find this to be a smooth tobacco and have not experienced any tongue bite as of yet, however I do focus on slow small sips of my tobacco and exhaling though the pipe more often then not. I have three other english blends, and I like them all, and really can not compare them since they are each their own experience. I bought this one in a bundle when I bought plumb pudding and figured for an extra $5, why not? I do not regret the purchase and am glad I have another good tobacco in my collection.

Very good blend, a subtle twist on the English blend. I like to switch between 965 and Plum Pudding. This allows my palate to better appreciate both.

Both are great, but I must say Plum Pudding is my favorite. I am one of those who cannot tell you why, just that it is the way it is.

I don’t know that English/Balkan blends are going to be my favorites, though I am relatively new to piping. Maybe my palate will develop into liking more. This has a lot of raves though so I of course had to try. From what I can tell it is a great blend, however I could not give the 5 star based on my likes as they stand. I am looking forward to trying the barrel aged version as well down the road, as I am cellaring that one for a time.

Amazingly good smoke. Extremely smooth. I will definitely be buying more of this.

The best I have smoked so far.

Bengal Slices, no contest. Plum Pudding was a disappointment. Never had either one before and based on the reviews I expected a closer contest. Plum Pudding is weak and boring. Bengal Slices is not the best but has a much better flavor.

This is a really smooth,tasty,warm tobacco,very easy on the pallet, lights well good amount of smoke, it floats me away to the smokers realm of oneness.Light up and drift away.

One of my favorite smokes it’s sweet, smoky, meaty, and the oriental provide a beautiful incense spice like cloves or allspice. People talk about this being a lat bomb, but I smoke a lot of lat so yo me this is the depth of flavor from a ballkan done perfectly

A continual pipe smoker for ages ! Stareted with the old favorites like Granger, Half & Half and Prince Albert . ALL good blends . But lately I began trying out some different ones , and there are many that are worth trying ! But after everything is said and done my nearing 80 palate has definately settled on the Seattle Pipe Club ---PLUM PUDDING ! t has all the delights anyone could expect in the well established tobacco blend ! It took me by surprise , but it is now my # 1 go to daily delight . Try it folks , and you WILL agree.

This mixture is amazing. It needs little drying time, burns great and is such a fun blend. It has tangy notes, little mushroom/ meaty notes from the Perique and in crumble cake form has nuance with each smoke. One of my new favorites in the rotation

One of the best

Bengal slices have a great texture and I like to blend them with other tobaccos as well.

First time smoking a tobacco of this type. I’m generally an aromatic smoker, but I do enjoy non-aromatics from time to time. This mixture hits me with just the right amount of tobacco flavor that I’d expect from a good cigar. Overall I was pleased with this tobacco, and I look forward to more enjoyment from it in months to come.

It became instantly clear why this one is such a big hit in my first bowl, like with the Bengals blend the Cavendish won me over.

I love love love the smell of this one when it burns. I'm a cavendish anything fan anyway but the anise oriental kick is so next level.

Both of these fall just barely outside of what I would normally purchase or reach to try but they get enough good press to eliminate any worry of buyer's regret after smoking. I started with Plum Pudding and found it to be an enjoyable smoke, after a handful of bowls I moved on to others in my stash and eventually got back to Bengal Slices. The smell in the tin isn't my favorite at all, it reminds me of old candy where Plum Pudding has a fruit smell that is very enjoyable. After the first 20 minutes of a bowl of Bengal Slices I was already sure it was the winner in this battle since there was no memory of a "wow" while smoking Plum Pudding but couldn't be sure until after a few more smokes and then revisiting Plum Pudding. Sure enough, the last two bowls were good but didn't compare. There's a richness to Bengal Slices that Plum Pudding doesn't have. Both are good blends that obviously earned their reputation but the Slices are what I'll restock down the road

There isn’t a Seattle Pipe club blend I don’t like, but Plum Pudding really shines.

One of my favorite blends, the rich Latakia really shines.

This smoke is a wonderful experience. Im not so good at pulling out exact flavors but dang this stuff is enjoyable. I tend to stay away from aeromatics and and some english blends are gross to me. This is a well balanced experience with rich smoke that is not too hot, at times I experienced a sweetness and at other times during a retrohale I had a quite pleasant vinegar/ ammonia sensation. I know it sounds crazy! It was a unique sensation but to me it wasnt repulsive but rather quite plesant. I will definitely add this to my cellar.

Love this tobacco!

My order came fast and the excise issue seems to have been resolved.

I like this

As a Plum Pudding smoker I was intrigued by Bengal Slices. I broke off a chunk and broke it into pieces, Peter it dry for a few hours and it lights up well. I noticed this needs drying time because it gets wet and it can be hard to stay lit otherwise. Unless I’m breaking it apart wrong. The taste is similar to plum pudding but there’s something more mysterious that I can’t pinpoint. Overall this tobacco is great and will be part of my permanent rotation!

Perfectly balanced blend. Great flavors. One of my new favorites.

Excellent

plum pudding and bengal slices like this both

Let me start of by saying that I agree with the fact that both blends are great in their own way. These 2 are oriental forward english blends (balkan type - think Penzance, Balkan o.s.m or Star of the east/ Quiet Nights). I find the Plum Pudding more appealing (imo) as I find it to be a bit more consistent in terms of its flavors being well blended. The Bengal Slices are similar, but with the flavors popping out individually from time to time but with the anise/liquorice top not ever present but nowhere near overbearing (think War Horse Bar). I am biased towards the Plum Pudding and compare other "balkan" blends to it (even Penzance, I know ) however I do also keep Bengal Slices stocked regularly as well. Hope this helps, ymmv and to each his own. The battle deal is a good price point to be willing to try both if you've never had either... don't miss out on 2 great blends!

One of the most complex and tasteful blends I have ever had, smooth and no bite.

Very good. Very mellow. In the larger, 2.5 inch depth bowl i packed, the latakia showed up first, then the oriental about half way down, with the rest of it sort of providing background jazz the whole way. I thought it was very tame until i got to the bottom of the bowl, where it pretty much backhand slapped me across the face. I can't say it takes my top spot, but good job here.

I absolutely love this stuff and could smoke it all day long. I had heard so much about it and finally decided to give it a try. It's definitely a most excellent tobacco and I would totally stock my seller full of it except the price point is a little painful for that.

When I first purchased this blend I liked it but it is pricy and have not reordered due the two ounce tin price. I did not find this blend to be an all day smoke but I did smoke on occasions. Having less than an ounce left in the tin I added Lane 1-Q at a ratio of one part Plum Pudding with one part Lane I-Q. Now I find this can be an all day smoke for me. Mixing these two blends I now have a more desirable combined price point for my new blend. It has a great room note with a new taint of vanilla. The Black Cavendish, Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental, Perique and Virginia along with the Lane 1-Q have a great balance with no dottle, no tongue bite and will burn nicely to a white ash with very few relights. It works for me and you might enjoy it also.

Both packed with flavor and smoke well. I would say out of the 2, Plum Pudding suits my tastes better. That being said I consistantly reach for both of these in my cabinet, and will buy more of both.

Purchased as part of a Battle of the Blends w/ Plum Pudding. While I much prefer Plum Pudding, they are very similar and I will gladly finish the tin. Not sure if I would reorder, but my tastes shift with with my mood and this is growing on me with each bowl. Definitely worth trying.

Out of the two the plum pudding I would have to say is the best. I'm new to pipe smoking but plum pudding is a rich Smoky spicy smooth tobacco. It quickly became my number one tobacco.

Great stuff that has earned a top spot in my rotation.

I liked it better then Plum Pudding.

Pretty good. No significant tongue bite. Smokes pretty smooth and painless. Has kind of a peppery taste. I like it, but I wouldn't steal it out of your fridge.

Also just right

A very nice oriental forward (balkan) type English blend with a great top note of anise/licorice. The top note is not overbearing, all the tobacco leaf comes through nicely. If you enjoy Plum Pudding or Quiet Nights, you may want to give this one a try...

I would give 4.5 stars if allowed. This blend is a match made in heaven. If you like Latakia do not hesitate to purchase this tobacco; you will not be disappointed. Rich in flavor but no one tobacco is overpowering, however you will definitely notice the Latakia. There is a slight salty after taste from time to time. If your looking for something different (in a good way) give it a try!

Great taste, burns evenly and well, but has a pretty good nicotine hit...sometimes too much for me. I like it, though.

I like the overall flavor of the Bengal Slices. A lot of TLC went into this blend and very versatile overall. I personally could wake up and smoke this one as opposed to Plum Pudding for evenings only. Complex, robust yet mellow. Smell and room note are there. Would be interested in the other versions of this as well.

If you like Bengal Slices but need double the punch, go with plum pudding. Very complex, flavor grows on you but more of a summer spicy barbeque blend to me. Quality and flavor are there. Probably not a regular smoke for me but I can appreciate it for what it is.

I wasn't planning on even packing my pipe when my shipment came in today. I got a lot of different tobaccos and as I was putting them all away, I was smelling each one. The second I smelled Bengal slices, I changed my mind about packing my pipe. I HAD to taste it and I was NOT disappointed. This stuff is everything I'm looking for in a blend and I can't wait to try it after it ages for a while. This is my new favorite blend!

Good, but my wife didn't like the room note lol

Great blend and bold complex taste. Burns cool and lights well just after tracking the tin. It’s in my top three favorites.

Excellent flavor. Easy smoking tobacco.

Great if your into burley, toasty candy flavor, with not much of an after taste, but brilliantly composed and dually recognized, as a fashion statement to enthusiasts out there. Stands up well to the major leagues for sure.

One of the best I've tried. Really creative tobacco, with a nice aroma. Very unique and well balanced for me. Nice cavendish variety. Always will buy this blend, can't get enough of it!

Fantastic tobacco that instantly became one of my favorite blends. Indeed I can smoke this everyday and definitely getting more!

I figured when I received my first tin of Plum Pudding well over a year ago, it would be a dried fruit tasting, gross over exaggeration of flavor. Then I got it. OH WOW. Instead it is a journey through the depths of bbq and other smoking flavors that culminates in a perfect smoke for the newbie or the veteran smoker. This is a tobacco that I enjoy to smoke when I am firing up my charcoal grill and getting ready to throw some ribeyes on there. The flavors that I smell and taste are a perfect complement. Between this and the special reserve, YUM.

Wanted John Cotton but this is still good.

Delicious!

Sweetness..good. Great flavor

Good merchandise and great service

Only tried aromatics and flavors before this. Not what I expected.

Nice smokey and pleasant.

Very creamy smoke with wonderful flavor throughout. The perique is in perfect quantity to give a spicy finish to a great tasting Balkan blend. I will be purchasing again.

An smooth smoke, well balanced in flavor although sometimes the Oriental takes precedence over all very enjoyable.

Funky flavor, something off. Don't enjoy this one

Great flavor and easy to pack in a pipe it made a great combo with my corn cob pipe but the smell to me just smells like burned natural tobacco. But over all its a awesome smoke.

This is one of my favorites. Really good and cool smoke

My go to tobacco. A bit pricey, but worth it. Good, strong flavor with a sweetness. Especially good in the first half of the bowl. I highly recommend trying this.

I found this tobacco to be less of a Lat bomb than others have described. Slightly sour on the Oriental side but overall a smooth smoke when really dry.

Super!!!!!

Holy, high god of tobaccos, please don't make me choose between these. Both are exceptionally phenomenal. Bengal slices with it's delicious topping and similarity in softness and sweetness to Plum pudding. Plum pudding with it's deep, dark and deliciously soft smoke. I can't choose I just can't, I love these both and will be purchasing more of both in the future.

I wasn't impressed at all with these. Granted I purchased this to expand my growing collection knowing that I hate perique and orientals. I am sure lovers of perique and orientals will love these blends. They are not bad by any means... just not for me.

As a new pipe smoker, I was having a difficult time finding a blend that really stood out for me. I was contemplating if I would even continue with a pipe at all.....until I tried plum pudding. Wow, the flavor is outstanding. To me it’s a mixture of Smokey and sweet/sour with a little bit of a light bitterness in some spots. The flavors balance very well and I couldn’t enjoy it more.

over hyped smells funny

excellent smoke!!!

A lot of moving parts in this one. Takes patience and about 1/2-2/3rds of a bowl to reach full development. I recommend the slowest tempo you can possibly do using the breathe method. As you maintain a cool smoke, and a constant amount of smoke in your mouth without fully expelling, and an occasional retro-hale, all the different tobaccos will take a turn and eventually combine into something great. Smoke it too fast and you’ll have a bowl of peppercorns to deal with; and wonder why anyone would this smoke spicy manure with any pleasure. Cheers!

I LOVED it and ordered the 8 oz

Good, mellow smoke, especially if mixed with something like Cult Conspiracy, as I do. Burns a little hot near the bottom of the pipe. However, it makes a good, clean-burning smoke if crumbled and packed properly.

I love my English/Balkan/Scottish blend. PP has to be one of the best of the genre. Well balanced, flavorful, rich and engaging experience. Smokes best when allowed to dry. If you've not had this all the rave your read is spot on. This is one great blend!

The tobacco itself was fine. The method of packaging creates dry chunks of pressed tobacco, too big to crumble up and smoke without first breaking it down and re-hydrating it.

Amazing blend. I prefer something more aromatic and still liked this.

Definitely a favorite of mine. Great flavor

Delicious. Tastes almost likr plumes in chocolate smoked pudding. A must buy!

Latikia lovers that dont mibd pereque in the mix will love this. Like latikia try this anyway!!

I finally put my finger on the taste of this tobacco. It’s like smoking a bar of cheap soap. The taste is so pungent that half way through the bowl your mouth and throat are coated with a soapy film that even water won’t wash away. So if your the sort of person who likes drinking used bath water, this is the tobacco for you. Enjoy!

This tobacco was okay. It has a unique flavor that is hard to identify, which is ultimately too strong in the end. Bengal Slices is one that I’ll keep in the drawer and smoke occasionally. It’s certainly not in my regular rotation.

Really like this blend. Earthy,fruity,smoky

Amazing tin note. Smells slightly like red man and mosquite barbecue. Reminds me of lodge pole pineand sage brush burning together, mixed with a tangy sweet citrus note. Very stunning room note, and flavor. Smokes VERY cool and smooth in a missouri meech huck fin pipe. Sutliff voodoo has such a similar tin note, i believe it might be the spare trimmings. Sutliff fox and hound has a similar scent and flavor, with a very different balance, much more of the sharp virginia taste and less of the smoky accent is found in the fox and hound. Fox and hound always gives me moderate to severe tongue bite after half a bowl, feel like i could smoke bengal slices all day with no tongue bite

In the cellar

As always you guys delivered on time and really enjoyed the Plum Pudding Tobacco. Thank you.

Bengal Slices is the closest blend that you will find to the "unicorn" tobacco called Penzance. Same sweet lat taste and this is one that you can find. Get it while you can, before taxes make it unavailable. You won't regret it!

Wonderful aroma, great flavors (especially the Oriental tobaccos) and a nice burn. Bengal Slices are a classic for a reason!

I wasn't sure how I felt about this after the first pipe, but after a week or so, it's easily become a favorite. The flavor sticks with you after smoking and pairs well with other things.

This is an awesome smoke. Every Bowl seems to be better than the last but different.

I highly recommend Bengal slices, added to your rotation you will really enjoy it.

Top of my rotation

What a lovely experience. Smokey, piney and aromas I can’t quite pinpoint. Smokes like a fine Scotch tastes. Fantastic.

My absolute favorite pipe tobacco. It doesn't taste like plum pudding, but it tastes and smells great. This is what I think of when I think of pipe tobaco. Great aroma and highly recommended.

This is one of my two favorite tobaccos (so far). A nice and flavorful English/Latakia. Highly recommended.

This was our favorite tobacco that we purchased. We got a tip from the mud chop piper that this was a really good tobacco and we are not disappointed. You do need to break it up a little bit but it is a great blend and the balance is perfect 👌

Bengal Slices is the perfect lat bomb. The latakia is by far the main player in this blend; it is rich, smokey, and strong. There is a topping that remains consistent throughout the bowl, which to me tastes like the topping on Peterson’s University Flake. University Flake consists of extremely high-quality and well-balanced tobacco which does not require a topping, in my opinion. The topping doesn’t ruin that tobacco, but it just kind of hangs out and does its own thing. It’s like candy; you consume it for its own sake. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with candy, but I’m not a big fan of it. Bengal Slices is different, however. The topping serves to refresh the palate and prevents the latakia from becoming tiresome. I can smoke a large bowl of it slowly and enjoy every puff. I’ve tried countless blends, and this stuff easily makes my top 10 list of favorite tobaccos—perhaps even my top 3 list. It has become my solid favorite latakia blend (it beats my previous favorite, Squadron Leader, by a mile; it is on par with G.L. Pease’s Key Largo, but I consider that to be more of a cigar leaf blend as the cigar leaf comes through at least as much as the latakia). To make a long story short: Bengal Slices is wonderful, and I highly recommend it.

The Bengel slices were a nice treat, a great after dinner smoke but I got to say the Plum pudding makes for an excellent all day smoke.

good stuff. wife hates the aroma!

This stuff is way too expensive but way to good not to buy it. I smoke this when I need a break from my C & D blends. It's damn good.

I really liked this tobacco. I got it along with Plum Pudding and I think I prefer the Bengal Slices over PP. I'm not sure how to describe the flavor notes other than really great to me. I get a touch of the Anise. I'm just struggling to put a finger on the flavor notes. If you like things like Plum Pudding, Haunted Bookshop, Habana Daydream and the like - I would say you owe it to yourself to give this a try. I took mine out of the tin and put it in a mason jar for a couple weeks and I think that made it even better.

I like mixing with a less potent tobacco. It's not an every day for me, but I like straight virginia's

This plum pudding is a must have if your a aromatic smoker. This Cyprian Latakia is is one of those must have Tobaccos. Plum pudding was a big factor in changing the way I felt about Latakias, now I can’t get enough of it. This would a comfort smoke for any piper, new or experienced.

A classic blend from golden age of British colonialism. Splendid tobacco, much recommended to a lover of English blends.

This stuff has ruined me from any type of latakia blend. I can't try any others without comparing it to this one. I Love the cut, the tin note reminds me of beef jerky and the smoke is smooth as fresh paint. I always try to branch out but I keep coming back

This is definitely one of my top five blends and is in my rotation. This non-aromatic has so much flavor and things going on. All of the components are blended in such a way that non are overpowering. I like Latakia only when it is used to mellow out other tobaccos and in Plum Pudding it is a great asset. The nic-hit is less than medium and will not give your stomach the rumba. The room note is fine, but don't expect raves. Once the tobacco gets lit and stays lit, it has few relights. It doesn't burn hot or bite, but I smoke at a leisurely pace. It has a good aftertaste. This is such a nice smooth smoke that is a perfect lay back and relaxing experience. Plum Pudding may be my favorite smoke, but there are so many great tobacco blends to choose from. Whether you are a Aromatic or Non-aromatic smoker, you can't go wrong with this Balkan blend. Highly recommended.

Great! Never boring!

Very nicely balanced flavor. I'm not disappointed at all.

Big and bold with a peculiar tin note that reminds me of chewing tobacco. No bite. Some interesting sweetness mixed with the orientals and Latakia. Not a Virginia sweetness, more like a cavendish sweetness. Very enjoyable. Will buy again.

This blend comes in thick slices, feels a bit dry but smokes perfectly for me. Break it up roughly, and pack it loose, and get ready for an incredibly fine-tuned and balanced flavor of earthy, smoky, sweet, sour, a little hint of spice, with a deep body. For me the smoke leaves a very rich and pleasant aftertaste. This is my new favorite smoke.

I'm new to pipe smoking, having smoked aromatics and wanting to try something different, I bought both of these blends as a deal bundle after hearing good reviews on both tins. Both PP and BS are similar in how they taste but their are slight differences. In PP, their is a dry fruit top note and after lighting a few bowls, the flavor takes on many different layers of fruit, and has a slight peppery note (probably the perique?) In BS there is a anise, clove-ish top note but it is not very prevalent after lighting a bowl, the flavor like PP, tends to be complex and instead of taking on the dry fruitier notes like PP, there are slight citrus notes that play a part in the blend and a slight clove taste. Both blends crumble easily and are very enjoyable. I find are best smoked after a long day at work or before going to bed. The nicotine strength in both blends isn't too strong like others may be. However, it is mild and is balanced. The only cons I can find is that BS is slightly harder to keep lit but it may be due to me just still learning on smoking a pipe. I also advise that these blends shouldn't be smoked on quickly. Take your time smoking these blends, or you will risk getting an unpleasant aftertaste from burning out the tobacco too quickly. If you like finding and picking apart rich and complex tobacco blends or want to delve into something different from the usual, I'd highly reccomend checking out these two tobaccos. You really can't go wrong with either one.

Glad to find it again ! I enjoyed Bengal Slices 40 years ago !

My favorite blend. Perfect balance and strength. Just the right amount of kick, sweet, spicy, smokey and complex.

No. It doesn't have bits of real tiger in it. But it has the power and finesse of a Bengal Tiger. This has become one of my regular favorites thanks once again to the resurrection this blend got from R.O. -Again... It is the legend.

Nice sweet smoky blend for the Fall. Love that there’s no aftertaste when you’re done. A little goes a long way. Great after dinner smoke.

Very good !

Love it

I'm working on my 3rd tin of Plum Pudding and I still go back and forth on it. It'll always be in my rotation, don't get me wrong, but do I LOVE it? Some days I think "my god this is a truly sophisticated and incredible blend--totally worth the price." Other days it won't stay lit, the flavors are unruly and unbalanced, and I simply can't seem to figure out what I enjoyed about this blend in the first place. It's an ever-lasting gobstopper of smoking experience and I do recommend it to everyone at least once. See if it's right for you.

This is the best pipe tobacco I’ve ever smoked. I’m new at this and don’t know much about “complexity” or “blend”,I do know the amount is well above what I expected.

So much happening. Fine rooms of mahogany leather and deep cherried woods. Horse farms in the distance. Latakia oriental Baker Street sleuthing dreams.

I loved it. I didn't smell or tasted Plum but it is a dark fruity taste that made me a fan. Ordering more right now. https://youtu.be/FQ9IMS7gnnE

Both beautifully pressed tobaccos. I prefer the plum pudding throughout the day but the topnote in the bengal is perfectly balanced. As a new pipe smoker coming off RYO its been hard to establish a comfort zone while exploring many various styles. This was around my 10th pipe blend and i hope to revisit both of these soon.

It's packaged with unusually thick soft plug like slices. The flavor is smooth, sweet and mild. A superb blend. No shelf is complete without a few tins of Plum Pudding.

My very first time I have smoked Latakia and I have to tell you, it was way way better than I thought! Easy on the tongue, distinct flavor, and actually a bit more enjoyable than some of the aromatics that are out there...

Honestly, the first time I tried this I thought it tasted like body odor. I almost threw it away. Then I tried a bowl of Early Morning Pipe and I really liked it. It had a mellower version of that flavor. I decided to give plum pudding another try. I LOVE Plum Pudding now. I dont know what happened. I can't stop thinking about how much I love this flavor. My description of it sounds very negative, but it isn't. It really reminds me of body odor, bicycle inner tube and leather gloves. It doesn't sound good from my description but it has become probably my favorite taste ever. I feel like a jerk because I really love this blend and I know I'm not conveying that well. Give PP a shot and if you don't like it give it one more try. It took 2 bowls for me to fall in love with this, but I am hooked. I absolutley love it.

I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about until I finally gave it a try. I’m so glad I did. This is the most satisfying tobacco I’ve smoked in the last 6 months. It’s superb tobaccos are delicious, smoky, spicy all at the same time. I especially like the Latakia and oriental mix. Perfect blend that burns slow and nice. It’s aroma is so pleasing and addictive.

Bengal slices is sweet with a complex yet subtle sour note. It smells wonderful in the tin and even better when smoking. The room note is pleasant and distinctive. It’s a great tobacco to sip slowly. Sweetness is noticeable but balanced with the other notes of spice and raisin. Excellent. So glad I finally tried it.

Best stuff ever. This is the perfect smoke.

This aptly named blend recalls delicious flavors of spices like clove, nutmeg, and allspice, along with its sweet aroma of dried fruits.

Wow. I read a few reviews singing the praises of this tobacco and the way it was described, I had to try it. The first few puffs after the initial char light made me think, this is good, perhaps not exceptional. After relighting and all the way to the bottom of the bowl, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is truly a delicious, smooth, cool burning product. The smoke is rich and flavorful with absolutely no tongue bite. I'm hooked!

Not bad

I'm just coming back to "pipes"..Ive been trying several things but I didnt like this one.

Smoking flavor and in tin aroma I prefer plum pudding, however Bengal slices has a better room aroma, makes my room smell like a tobacco shop.

Amazing tobacco

Loved it.

Excellent

Great tobacco at fair prices.

This is nice burning, smooth smoke. Flavorful without any burn. One of my favorites.

Oh wow! This is quite possibly the finest blend I've ever smoked. It checked every box.

This is just aromatic enough and smooth enough to enjoy any time of the day, either straight or blended with something else 50/50, like Cult Conspiracy. The only problem with Bengal Slices is that I seem to go through a can about twice as fast as the other, looser blends. Not Bengal Slices' fault though; the company actually packs a couple of ounces MORE tobacco in the can than the 1.75 oz advertised. So buy two cans at a time and enjoy!

This has been the only tin I’ve bought twice. I taste something different every time I zen out with this. Great balance of flavors and tobacco types. I highly recommend.

Very smooth with a good balance of Latakia. Slightly smokier than Plumb Pudding. No tongue bite.

What can I say that has not been said of SPC Plumb Pudding. Everything about it is pure smoking bliss. Not an everyday smoke, but a treat when you get a break from all life throws at you. There is a reason this is held in such high regard, quality. Recommended.

Great mellow English that can be an all day smoke. Quality Lat that is not overpowering. Delivers a clean smooth and consistent flavor throughout. Pick some up, you will not be disappointed.

I am new to pipe smoking so when I opened plum pudding I was not expecting such a smoky tin note. When I begrudgingly loaded my first bowl and started to coax the first few flavors from my char light I almost had to check which tobacco I had loaded up. The smoke was not smoky, It was delicate and complex. There are so many flavors you taste individually and simultaneously. It was a very pleasant surprise. I could not wait to try Bengal Slices next and enjoyed it just as much. Bengal has a slight taste of Ouzo(Anise) in the smoke. If I had to choose a favorite the answer would be different each day. They are both GREAT!

liberating!!!

Had a friend tell me about this and purchased a few tins to try out. It's become one of my standbys that will always have a place on the tobacco shelf.

This blend is awesome, this was my second English blend and now it my favorite.