I have been smoking a pipe since my early twenties. I went through a short lived aromatic phase, before quickly discovering a deep love for English blends, which is what I have smoked for most of the last decade. Last fall I discovered Newminster Superior Navy Flake, and quickly realized I had been so close, yet so far from my perfect smoke. I like to use the fold and stuff method, rubbing out the leftover crumbs and drizzling them on top as a “kindling” of sorts. I find I can get a smooth, consistant, sippable burn with very rare need to tap or relight. Also, I feel like the way they press the bricks seems to preserve the natural oils in the tobacco in much the same way a twist does. That being said, I’m not a very big fan of Newminster/Tinderbox tobaccos in general, which leads me to believe that someone else probably does flake better. Any suggestions from the interwebs? Thanks 
If you are looking for a navy flake I like sam gawith navy flake and MacB navy flake. If you are looking to branch out from there then the sky’s the limit, tons of amazing flake/coin/plug cut.
@SandwhichIsles Thanks! I feel silly for it, but I had no idea SG did pipe tobacco too…
Troost slices but I dunno if they are international available. I Even use some good flakes folded as chew!
@Salmiak A preemptive search doesn’t show it as available domestically or for import. Shame. So many tobaccos I’m missing for lack of a passport.
I have a few dozen tins of +10 year old Rattray Marlin Flake, several pounds of Full Virginia Flake and Bob’s Chocolate Flake of the same vintage. Inquire within.
Flakes,Plugs,Ropes/Twists are my favorite types for the slow burn factor. Some require more attention than others. Samuel Gawith Flakes in bulk are the thickest and very moist,requiring extra drying time. 1792 is strong with a tonquin flavor, Full Virginia Flake is great,Best brown is right behind it,St.James is a VaPer flake,Navy is more pronounced than Newminster,Firedance is sweet aro with blackberry flavor. Balkan is well balanced,Chocolate is good but I like Gawith Hoggarth Bobs flake better.Sams flake is impossible to find. Gawith Hoggarth makes some great flakes also. Rum Flake, Dark Flake, Ennerdale,Glengarry, Louisiana Perique Flake. these are one s I tried. thickness varies some 1/8 to 1/16" also need time to air. MacBaren Have some ready rubbed broken flake. Golden Extra, Old Dark Fired, Virginia No1, Symphony, Scottish Mixture; I say course cut need a little dry time Also a Virginia Flake and a Vanilla Flake cut the same as Newminster Orlik golden sliced easy rubbed similar cut to newmister Erinmore Flake a small aro flake. fruity taste McCranie’s red ribbon virginia Peter Heinrich makes some tasty flake thin sliced Erik Peter’s 1931 Fribourg & Treyer Vintage Villiger 1888 After Dinner Flake Peterson University Flake also Irish Flake These have the same cut As the Newminster navy Flake.
If you have latent masochistic tendencies, sharpen your knife and delve into plugs; all of Greg Pease’s, Gold Brick by Wessex, Kendal Flake by SG and Mick McQuaid.
@basement_shaman Wow, that is quite the list! MacBaren makes the Scots in a flake? I love the blend! @chefdaniel check your email
@basement_shaman great list. Wish I could get that much tobacco past the wife.
@Hitsuzen no it’s a ready rub
Flakes are some of my favorite tobaccos. @basement_shaman has set out a good list. I would add Capstan Flake Blue, which is a navy flake as well, and it is a simple no nonsense set it and forget it blend that has tonquin bean in it but would be much milder than SG’s 1792. Love FVF, and Best Brown from SG too. Peterson’s Irish is very good, especially with a couple of years on it. You might also want to try a milder VA like Dan’s Hamborger Veermaster as well, which is a straight Golden/yellow VA flake just to find the range of what you might like. Flake is a stable in my cellar and I will be using it much more as the weather warms. Try a few and let us know what you like and did not like and I am sure that we can point you to some great flakes.
add to the list of good flakes Germain’s Brown Flake and Medium Flake, Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky or Heinrich’s DSK, Reiner’s Long Golden Flake. Solani’s 633: Virginia Flake with Perique, 656: Aged Burley Flake, 660: Silver Flake. All good.
Wow, looks like I have some research to do. Mmmmm, research
I forgot Esoterica Penzance and Stonehaven; Good luck they usually sell out world wide in about 5 minutes
I also have several 1 pound Penzance and a few tins if anyone’s interested. Ooops…8 oz foil pouches. Senior moment.
@chefdaniel so that’s where all the penzance goes… I suppose your watch cat uses it as its pillow.
@SandwhichIsles I told her not to spill the secret, mouthy little creep. :)) Actually I stopped hoarding it back in 2008. It ages like a charm and is a real gem after about 5 years. Tins age a little better, but not much.
Anyone had any experience with 4th Gen '31 flake?
@Hitsuzen Yes