Esoterica Penzance, a krumble kake made by J.F. Germain & Son, is undoubtedly one of the most popular pipe tobaccos in production. If you needed any proof, just sit down in front of your computer and try to find some at any of the myriad online tobacconists. It’s no easy task, but several weeks ago I set out to do just that, and believe it or not I found some. A little bit. And then I bought it.
Described as “a wonderful complex secret recipe of the finest Virginia, choice Turkish and Orientals and Cyprian Latakia, all hand blended together, hard pressed and broad cut into thick flakes,” Penzance is every bit as impressive as I expected it to be, and so I set out to find more, but not just for me. So with other’s in mind, I’ve found a few online retailers who still have some on their shelves and others who are making every attempt to restock it in the face of difficulty.
Without further ado, you can purchase 2oz tins of Esoterica Penzance here:
Pipe Tobacco Place (10 tins available)
McCranie’s (several tins still available)
And though Iwan Ries & Co of Chicago is currently out of Penzance, you can request they email you when it becomes available, which will hopefully result in you obtaining some before it’s all gone again.










