Tobaccos Just For Him - Shortcut To Mushrooms (Middle Earth Pipeweed)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2009-07-04		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

A really unique tobacco as I don't see many cased Latakia blends on the market. The Latakia presence is light, but certainly can be tasted. Lots of sweetened Black Cavendish in this wide cut blend that makes lighting a bit of a task. Still, once going well it will remain let (if the smoker lets it dry out for about a half hour before loading).

One of the sweetest Latakia blends I've ever smoked. Not naturally sweet, but I didn't mind the sauce (whatever it is), at all.

26 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2013-06-06		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

For smokers of English or black cavendish blends, this is both fish and fowl. You'll certainly get the vanilla BC taste along with light, smoky, woody sweet Cyprian latakia notes, and of course, the mushrooms. The mushroom taste isn't very strong, but you notice it in a sort-of earthy, sweet way. While it is creamy and smooth with some sweetness, it burns slowly and not well after the half way point. I'm not a fast puffer, never been a wet smoker, but the goop at the end of the smoke really affects the enjoyment of the smoke. It must be the PG, because even when I dried out the tobacco before smoking, I still got a moist bowl at the bottom. Needs a lot of relights. Has very little nicotine. Won't bite or get harsh. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. Not quite an all day smoke.

-JimInks

20 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Animus Furandi (6)	2014-06-20		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I've tried all of JustForHim's Middle Earth Pipeweed blends, and frankly, I find them all great. The very premise of a line of Tolkien-inspired tobacco blends strikes most as a bit of a kitschy novelty, but being a snob isn't worth it if it causes you to miss out on something great. Embracing your inner geek especially pays off with Shortcut to Mushrooms, which is pretty easily the best blend of the entire line. It has become a staple of my cellar, and one of my favorite blends.

The bag note is mouthwatering, and gives you some idea of what you have to look forward to: Some nice, smokey Latakia and some sort of vanilla casing. Virginias aren't mentioned in any descriptions I've read, but I swear I can see and smell hints of it. To say that this is a sweet, dark, and earthy blend would be a defensible summary. It wouldn't do the stuff justice, though, because so many flavors fade in and out, as though it were the handiwork of some Middle Earth wizard. The black cavendish and latakia paired with the casing play a lot of games together. At times, it's easy to understand where the name came from, because you'll taste something earthy and somewhat bitter, reminiscent of mushrooms. Sometimes you'll get a sweet and bitter taste reminiscent of coffee. In its finest moments, the flavor reminds me of kettle corn. A remarkable flavor, thick clouds of delicious white smoke, a room note that won't offend most, and an easy burn down to a fine, salt and pepper ash put Shortcut to Mushrooms on the very short list of aromatics I find enjoyable. It's a perfect companion for a nice, sunny day outside. I highly recommend this to aromatic smokers looking to branch out, or to people like me who don't mind the occasional vanilla aromatic, but would prefer not to feel as though they stuffed a cupcake into their bowl.

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Right Reverend (36)	2013-04-25		Mild	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I very much enjoyed this. I like Latakia but was looking for something that wouldn't drive the women in my life away (wife and daughter). This fit the bill nicely. The room note started sweet but settled down toward a friendly campfire/earthy smell that we all found pleasant (since we like camping anyway). The taste is hard to describe: a bit of vanilla Latakia with earthy under tones, autumnish. I think the mushroom some are tasting is the background earthy/musty (but not unpleasant) note... And frankly mushrooms taste earthy musty. I suppose other blends that are earthy in taste, if called mushroom in the name, would get others to note it.

It did burn down to a white ash and it burned very cool with no tongue bite. So cool in fact that I decided to try and abuse it, myself, and the pipe. So I puffed two bowls of this really hard and fast and I could not get it to bite, not even nip, and it would only came up to a medium warm on my bowl... Fantastic! Since I do absent-mindedly find myself puffing away pretty hard.

This is well on the way of becoming the standard in my pipe.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	AfternoonPipe (5)	2014-06-25		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Like many aromatics, rather damp when it first arrives, but well worth the wait to let it dry out a bit. This is an unusual aromatic, in a very good way. I find many aromatics to be lacking in flavour, most of the perceived flavour actually coming from the aroma, or from being very heavily cased. Whereas this tobacco has a phenomenal flavour... it literally tastes like a very high quality fresh wild mushroom soup, or even sautéed mushrooms of the kind you'd put atop a piece of steak. Not so surprising because it actually has bits of mushrooms in it. It is an aromatic for those who prefer something more earthy and meaty than saccharine sweet. I could smoke this every day. It does not bite, even with some vigorous pulling. Especially through my churchwarden the smoke stays very cool. (I didn't actually intend on using the churchwarden because of the whole Lord of the Rings reference thing... it was more based on what I expected from the tobacco.) Another unusual quality to it as an aromatic is that it has a decent amount of nicotine, a very pleasant strength, akin to that of Cornell and Diehl Autumn Evening. A few friends of mine who have tried it now smoke this almost exclusively. I have certainly gone through well over a pound and will continue to keep it in my rotation.

Pipe Used: Stanwell Hans Christian Andersen

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Just for Him website

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	xnihilo (3)	2013-06-20		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

If there could only be one, this would be it. It satisfies the English craving with a side note of an aromatic. Such great liturgical, contemplative overtones (there are those who understand), and a room note that has everyone's attention and approval. So far I have dedicated two Stanwells and a Peterson to this wonderful blend. Order plenty.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Italian_Piper (4)	2019-02-24		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

So let me start like this...I live in Germany and I traded a few Germains tobacco with a guy down in Chicago. He sent me a generous sample of this out this world baccy with the C&D's and some GL Pease tins ! Me as a latakia lover fell in love instantly cause this delivered my craving for latakia and added a sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth too! This tobacco unites an aromatic with latakia in a really special way. The taste is out of this world! Period!!! Now I got a serious problem! It is easier to find 500 bucks under a rock while taking out your dog for a walk than finding this baccy in Europe and secondly it's been discontinued! So if you read this desperate message go ahead and DM me on insta (@the_cigar_parloir) if you are in for a intercontinental trade!

Pipe Used: Cobs, yellow bole, briars

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: Traded on Instagram

Similar Blends: Nothing within this galaxy!.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bearded Piper 09 (5)	2017-09-12		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

Great tobacco, room note is extremely pleasant, taste is very unique it's damp on first arrival (letting it sit out wouldn't hurt) the Latakia is very subtle but defiantly there. The black cavendish adds a mild sweetness and the topping is very mushroomy it taste like carmelized smoked mushrooms is the best way I can describe it. Even the wifey tried it! After your done smoking it leaves the room smelling like smoked mushrooms. It Burns evenly and leaves no dross in the bowl. Quality tobacco. Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Missouri meerschaum ozark trail hardwood

Age When Smoked: One week

Purchased From: Justforhim.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2015-02-19		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Ah the combination of sautéed and strained Oyster, Shitake and button mushroom topping really makes the fine Latakia taste shine through. For a little zip add a pinch of Vauen's Black Pepper blend and the hint of spice will really bring out the sweetness of the mushroom casing. Perhaps the best in it's genre, surely on the same plane as Mcranie's Hells Gate both being outstanding Latakia semi aromatics. Well Done and very original which is so refreshing!!!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-10-30		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I was so impressed with all the rave four star reviews that I was tempted to order a pound. I'm glad I ordered the sampler!

While I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of this blend, I will order no more because there are so many others I prefer made with superior quality tobaccos that do not contain all the chemicals to make this one of the wettest and stickiest tobaccos out there.

I concur with Captain Enormous' review.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-21		Mild	Medium	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

A true 4 star blend should be a rare thing. I don't think this is one of them.

Let me temper the rave reviews that have come before this one. . .

This is a smokeshop mixture and seems to use the usual humectant-soaked blending tobaccos (McCleland? Lane maybe?). It's an outstanding blend, so good it nearly transcends it's B-grade ingredients. It seems to be a Latakia/Cavendish mix. Which means it's smokey and earthy and (not overly) sweet.

This is worth a try for anyone. Pay the $10, get the whole Middle Earth sampler. Even if you don't love any of the blends, it's a pleasure working your way through them.

For me, I was never able to lose the feeling that I wasn't smoking really quality leaf. And that's a shame, because I like this stuff. I wish there was a version out there by a blender that had access to better ingredients.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	strongirish (249)	2009-01-03		Very Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I am smoking this in my Jansan as I type and my feeling is WOW! This is a great tasting blend and the least tongue bite of any Latakia English type tobacco I have ever had. It is simply delicious with just touch of sweetness and the great smoky taste of Latakia. Has an unusual slightly sour tang to the palate, which is a good thing with this blend. Smells a little sour in the pouch as well and I love the room note though not sure my wife will. I had to relight one time right out of the pouch on the day I recieved it. This could easily become one of my staples. I don't get the mushroom taste or the butter taste mentioned by others but it is rich and creamy without kocking your palate all to hell like some of the heavy Latakia blends.And as usual, the folks at Just for Him were great to work with and this is a well done smoke. I highly recommend all to try this, I may go up a star if it keeps performing for me.

Edit on Jan 17th 2011 This blend is so consistantly good that I am raising it to a four star blend. It performs wonderfully and I alway enjoy it!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tookish (1)	2018-07-25		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I must say, this is my all time favorite blend -Ever. The sweet notes of black cavendish play well with the latakia in a perfect harmony. It is almost as if Frog Morton found his mushrooms. I puff faster than most, but this blend has never bitten me once. In addition to the perfect meld of black cavendish to latakia you taste the mushrooms. It isn't an overpowering flavor and I can only really taste the mushrooms when I push the smoke through my nostrils. Absolutely delicious! I've tried all the middle earth series and like most other reviews Shortcut to Mushrooms is my favorite. I have been aging this tobacco since 2014 and it only gets better with Age. I've purchased SEVERAL pounds for my cellar. Shortcut to Mushrooms is not only an All Day Smoke- It is an All Day Everyday Smoke. Hats off to Just For Him, Hats Off.

Pipe Used: Vauen Auenland Hugg, Erik Nording Freehand

Age When Smoked: Fresh, and Aged 4 years

Purchased From: Just For Him

Similar Blends: If Frog Morton had Mushrooms.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jvnshr (23)	2016-07-27		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Smoking Just For Him Shortcut To Mushrooms is like eating fresh picked mushrooms right out of oven. Somewhat Recommended to the lovers of Aromatics and Highly Recommended to the hobbits of Middle Earth.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Preacher PipeWeed (5)	2014-09-25		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

By far my favorite in the Lord of the Rings series by justforhim.com (though I have not tried Old Toby). When I first tried this tobacco, I didn't like it, though at that point I was almost purely an aromatic smoker. The presence of Latakia in the blend almost had a soapy taste to me. I stored it in a mason jar, determined to give it away or eventually throw it out. However, that fact that I am cheap and didn't want to waste tobacco drove back to this blend. By the fourth bowl, I was hooked and this has become a refreshing alternative to my main tobacco blends. Not something I would smoke daily, but getting into this once or twice a week has become something to look forward to. I even have a dedicated MM corn cob for this tobacco, ensuring that I get a pure Shortcut to Mushrooms experience each time.

The customer service (i.e. shipping) was excellent. I've ordered from justforhim.com three times now, each time I get very quick order verification notices and receive my package within 2 or 3 days.

Pipe Used: MM Corn cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: justforhim.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Georgije (2)	2014-02-16		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

At first smoke I was very surprised with this blend. Not too strong latakia, but still very tasty. Overall, tobacco is not very strong and is really easy to smoke. Room note is excellent, got my few friends trying out pipe smoking only because of the smell. P.S. my recommendation is to be patient and leave tobacco be for a few days.

Age When Smoked: As soon as package arrived

Purchased From: Just for him, online

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	blindmansleeps (4)	2014-01-19		Medium	Mild to Medium	Full	Very Pleasant

I will be honest and say that my initial interest in this blend was based in my interesting in Tolkien's Middle Earth. And yes, I was anticipating a calm, retrospective nostalgia as I smoked this in my all-wooden Churchwarden.

I expected a pretty good tobacco, suspecting that the raving reviews were from those whose opinion of the tobacco were sourced more in the name of the blend rather than the blend itself. But from the very first puff, I knew that this blend wasn't fooling around. It's simply damned good.

The thick Latakia smokiness, while in the foreground of the taste, accentuates the sweet Cavendish. I eat a lot of mushrooms, and I can taste a hint of mushrooms, for sure. (Note: if the only mushroom you've had is a baby bella on a pizza, it won't be reminiscent. But if you've had wilder mushroom, like shitake or sulfer-shelf, or even a smoked bello cap, you'll definitely recognize the flavor.) I can't tell if it's just the interesting combination of Cavendish and Latakia, but I do taste a hint of some berry. Can't quite put my finger on it.

I initially was expecting a pretty good smoke in my churchwarden. Instead, I experienced a deeply meditative flavor in a pipe built for relaxation, while reading a bit of Emerson's poetry. And a gentle niccy-buzz.

This blend will be in my collection until they stop making it.

Pipe Used: Flogglewerks Churchwarden -- Hobbit Hole Pipe

Purchased From: Just For Him Online

Similar Blends: Unique. Very unique..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Legionnaire (26)	2017-11-25		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

One of former tobacconist Bob Schafer’s more popular concoctions. Ingredients known only to a select few create a very unique crossover blend. The careful blending of these components creates a one of a kind flavor like no other. If you’re in the mood for an aromatic Latakia blend, this one is a must try. Burns well and not particularly goopy. If I were to have to find a downside to this tobacco, I’d say it can be a tad too sweet due to some of the components and perhaps a bit bitey.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: N/A

Purchased From: www.justforhim.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kantbegoing (2)	2017-04-28		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Has a strong aroma out of the package. Kinda smells like a cigar. I consider frog Mortans cellar the worst smelling tobacco I have smoked thus far. I prefer aromatics. This is border line a cross between an English and an aromatic. It burns well out the package. No drying required. Aroma out the packe is not my favorite but not the worst. Just a normal average blend for me.

Pipe Used: Luca Vanetti

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: Just for him

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pauliepipes (5)	2017-03-09		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Very pleasing; even flavored smoke; not very complex; Very mild; no bite whatsoever; a very creamy pleasant smoke. I taste Cavendish, Latakia, and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla bean, with an earthy after note. I am not a mushroom fan so it is safe to say I like this much more that I do mushoorms. If there are actually mushrooms in this, which I doubt, then maybe I like this variety of mushroom, which ever one it is. Even though this smoke is very even, by this I mean not complex I just like the taste very much.

I did not get much moisture at all bowl and my experience has been very positive. There is a sweet cinnamon note that touches the tip of my tonge that I just love.

Pipe Used: Several

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Just for Him

Similar Blends: No similarities. Unique to me..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corvus (36)	2016-02-27		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The smoking and appreciation of pipe tobacco can be a sober and serious affair, but at its core it is a hobby of relaxation and enjoyment of the moment. As such, this may be the most fun I've had with a blend. It's certainly one of the weirdest, but also worth a recommendation.

I'll admit it, I'm a serious Tolkien reader, and this is an absurdly targeted blend to such a piper; I was powerless to the charms of the name and the company description. But to the leaf: this is an audacious blend concocted from possibly the two most widely separated leaves on the tobacco spectrum. The pairing of black Cavendish and Latakia is unique, but it works. The BC is mild and exudes the typical caramel and vanilla tones, enhanced of course, but they play so well against the base of the Latakia which is mildly smoky but full of exotic incense. Most of the time the BC dominates, or the two leaves struggle, but occasionally they combine to produce the tangy, beefy, and earthy taste of mushrooms. Is this a case of matrixing, the identification of a pattern in the background of random noise aided by suggestion? Perhaps, but I taste it all the same.

Another part of this blend that was so fun was the volume, mouth feel, and opacity of the smoke. Billows of white creamy smoke, perfect for the art of blowing smoke rings, and simply showing off. I'll be honest, this is achieved with a lot of additives and this stuff is goopy, but if a blend is going to be heavy in this regard it might as well be to the point where it is physically impressive and achieves something in the smoke beside moisture.

This is not a subtle smoke and is of no great quality, but it is fun. It's the work of an imaginative blender pairing unlike components, somehow delivers on the suggestion of toadstools, is mild, and makes an obscene amount of smoke. Give it a try.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Autumn joy (47)	2015-02-19		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Alright this is one I just couldn't resist being a Tolkien fan. That being said I was skeptical of this pipe weed series and just really thought no way is this good total toy gimmick right?! Well I can totally stick my foot in my mouth sometimes and this is one of them. Shortcut to mushrooms is a simple blend of Latakia and black cavandish... Why didn't I think of this first? Just for him did a great job on this blend absolutely delicious smoke great room note and I just find myself wanting more of this blend. The lat once again gives it an English feel but the black cavendish comes through for the aromatic feel. I would recommend this highly to anyone! But if you get some you better share with me! Also as I smoke more and more of this blend I think its more an aromatic I think the black Cavendish has some type of topping on it but just havent pin pointed what.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Just for him

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SergeantMark (1)	2014-10-21		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is a difficult review and my impressions are based on only one bowl, smoked in two sittings. But my impression is so strong, that I decided to go ahead and post it. TASTE: This tastes like nothing I've ever smoked. As other have said this is NOT an Engllish. it IS an aromatic with Latakia. It is mild, but rich, with a mix of earthy mushroom flavor mixed with a caramel-toasted marsh-mellow taste, that manages to not be cloyingly sweet. It is interesting, compelling, different and leaves you wanting more. I really like it. BODY: It has a heavy creamy, oily smoke in the mouth. The BURN: Here is where I have a problem. The first bowl lit easily, required only a couple of relights, and burned cool. THEN I LEFT HALF A BOWL IN THE PIPE OVER NIGHT. After half a bowl sat in the pipe over night IT WOULD NOT BURN. The previous session was a delight. Relighting this second half was nothing but frustration! I finally gave up. The WORST PART is that this COMPLETELY gummed up one of my favorite pipes and it is now severely ghosted. This is really frustrating because I really do like the flavor of this tobacco. It is really unique. RECOMMENDATION: 1) Dry it out a bit, first. 2) Use a cob, or a pipe that you do not intend to smoke anything else in. 3) Make sure you smoke the WHOLE BOWL, because left in the pipe, it becomes a gooey mess that WILL NOT BURN!

Pipe Used: Hard Castle Bulldog

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Just For Him

Similar Blends: Nothing I've ever tried..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Canicus (9)	2013-11-06		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

This is a very unique blend, at least in my experience. I like Balkan/English style bleands, with Va/Pers a second, aro's a distant third.....this is not an english blend, at least in the traditional sense, but an aro spiced with latakia. The black cavendish latakia combo does lend an earthy/mushroom-esque quality to the smoke....it has the room note and sweetness of an aro with just enough latakia to keep it interesting and spicy...a very enjoyable crossover blend that could be an everyday smoke for the latakia lover and an intro to english for those who love aros....and it's certain;y a baccy that will be accepted by those who don't smoke as the room note is great.....

Well worth trying - and, as I said, might just become your number 1...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-08-07		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Ahh, Shortcut to Mushrooms, the better of the bunch.

A very cool, earthy and sometimes sweet smoke.

Very good on a late summer's evening.

There isn't much to add to the other reviews, this is good stuff.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2012-11-26		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is a real tough one to pin down. This is how I would describe it. This tobacco is an aromatic blend, sorta, or no wait kinda an English blend, sorta. Cant really pin this one down, but it is good.

This stuff is in the same category as sillems black. Its an aromenglish, or an englishmatic, or whatever you want to call it. This stuff is definitely out of the ordinary.

The taste is really good, at times almost savory vs sweet. I know the name originates from a Tolkein reference but in a way I can almost understand why they named it shortcut to mushrooms. There is a nice sauteed mushroom flavor there. This phenomenon could be all in my head due to the name, but it is good stuff.

My one complaint here is the burn. This stuff is a little goopy. I believe this is due to the cased black Cavendish. It is also a little sticky. Due to these factors this stuff doesn't burn very well, even when I dried it out. It requires a lot of relights for me. The good news is this tobacco doesn't seem to be negatively affected by the increased heat of a relight.

Definitely different and definitely worth a try.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Piper@TheGatesOfDawn (9)	2012-10-15		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

The first time I tried this, I thought I had inadvertently packed a bowl of E. Hoffman's Distinguished Gentleman. While the two are very similar, I find STM's flavor to be a bit more subdued. Shortcut to Mushrooms seems to be a bit more moist than DG as well, so a modicum of drying may be in order. Predictably, as someone who absolutely adores Distinguished Gentleman, I really like Shortcut to Mushrooms. The earthy flavor and sweet, smokey undertones blend wonderfully for a truly manly smoke. Which probably explains why my wife hates it. While the name may be a bit off-putting to some, rest assured that this tobacco tastes much better than any mushrooms you may have smoked.

Update 12/05/2013:
Maybe I really was smoking mushrooms when I wrote my original review; this is nothing like DG. In fact, maybe I should apologize for the comparison.
The more tobaccos I try, the better this gets. The flavor is unique and gives lie to the old expression "You can't have it both ways." STM has become both my favorite aromatic and English blend. This wonderful blend smokes surprisingly cool and dry and, like a faithful old hound, never bites regardless of how many times you step on it.
I just bought a pound and already wish I had bought more.

Pipe Used: Various Petersons, Savinellis, Stanwells

Age When Smoked: 48

Purchased From: JustForHim.com

Similar Blends: N/A.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2011-01-28		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I absolutely love this stuff, I was mostly smoking English when I first tried it and I was hooked! I swear I taste mushrooms when I smoke it, but maybe that's just because of the name... Anyhow it is a unique aromatic and the smoothest presentation of Latakia that I've smoked to date! Try this one, you won't regret it!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	hawky454 (107)	2010-12-03		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Had high hopes for this blend but it just doesn't do it for me. It taste like a very "young" tobacco as if it was blended the day I purchased it. The flavors are not well melded and at times the smoke can be harsh, just not a very good balance going on here. It just taste to me like the blender put together a mix of vanilla black Cavendish and Latakia and viola sold it as a Middle Earth blend. Not impressed in the least. I give it two stars because I think it would make a great blend for beginners looking to transition their way into Latakia blends.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	krg1000 (183)	2010-03-05		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Upon first lighting this fine blend up, I noticed it tastes something similar to Frog Morton by McClelland, which for me is hardly a bad thing. It burns down to a fine ash and leaves the pipe dry and not a gurgle to be found. It produces a nice amount of smoke and the Vitamin N is in the right portion for me. The room note (always a negative if the wife is on the floor gagging) seemed pleasant enough for me. I haven't really had any complaints about it, so it goes down as "pleasant." I definitely think this will be something to keep in stock. I recommend this very highly.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TonyC (13)	2010-02-26		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

STM is a nice, full-bodied blend, with a pleasant amount of Latakia added to what I gather is a VA base. It's got a slightly sweet flavoring (perhaps vanilla?), which when combined with the musty/smokiness of the Latakia, gives the blend a nice earthy note. Of course, there are several more subtle flavors that come thru, and although they tend to be difficult to single out, they add to the character of STM, making it one of the more pleasurable blends I've had the chance to enjoy.

I highly recommend this to English smokers who enjoy a side trip to the aromatics on occasion, as it's certainly not sickeningly sweet; or to those (like me) who are just starting to explore the English blends, as the rich - but not overpowering - Latakia is essential to STM without being so upfront that it turns you away.

I plan to keep this in the rotation for some time...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2010-02-21		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I am an English blend lover that likes to smoke an occasional aromatic. Since this blend offered some latakia and had such high reviews I thought it would be worth a try. STM did not disappoint. When it arrived STM was dark and rich looking in the bag, and it also appeared very moist and heavily cased. The pouch aroma was very sweet and strong in a way that often turns me off to many aromatics. After I let it sit for about 15 minutes prior to packing, I was greeted with a pleasant, somewhat sweet tobacco that wasn't as moist or cased as it appears. It isn't overly sweet and has a pleasant earthy taste. One of the things about Black Cavendish that I dislike is that for some reason my mouth feels "coated" afterward. That was not the case with STM, as it burns clean in my pipe and in my mouth! STM is one of the few aromatics that I can enjoy three or four bowls full throughout the day. It also has a unique taste that sets it apart from other blends. Recommended!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smokey45 (16)	2010-01-13		Mild	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

One might wonder "pipe tobacco & mushrooms, how can that be good?" TRUST ME, IT IS! If you've ever had sauted mushrooms, and enjoyed them, you will love this tobacco! It is by far the most unique pipe tobacco I've ever smoked. A great afternoon or after dinner tobacco, this wonderful aromatic is one worth checking out. It is smooth and creamy, and as others have noted, smokes very cool. Great tobacco for smoke rings!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (242)	2009-10-05		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I have been looking for a rotation partner with similar characteristics to pair with Sillem's Black, a sweet-cased Latakia/Black Cavendish which happens to be one of my favorites. Well, Shortcut To Mushrooms comes close, but decidedly in second place. Let me clarify the "mushroom" debate before delving into my review. I spoke with a very nice woman by the name of Chelsea at Just For Him and asked if STM was indeed blended with mushrooms. She checked for me and said that mushrooms are not used at all. They blend the tobacco components with vanillas. I am sure that the creaminess of Latakia cased with the creaminess of vanilla is what accounts for the unique flavor.

Now for the review. The blend is predominantly a coarse cut black cavendish with a dominant bag aroma of Vanilla-laced Latakia. It was very fresh and only minimally sticky, but this did not interfere with the packing or smoking at all. It lit with ease and smoked cool and dry to the bottom. Re-lights were infrequent. The amount of sweetly cased Latakia for me was sweeter in taste to that of Sillem's Black. The Black is cased with plum and vanilla. STM has a more definitive vanilla pouch aroma which translates as a very nice sweetness to the smoke; not cloying, but definitely sweeter than Sillem's Black. There may be some Kentucky in this as there was a spiciness I wouldn't necessarily say was from the Latakia. A bit heavier on the Latakia compared to Sillem's Black, and for me personally, it becomes tiring. Also, there was an ever present taste of PG that is not present in Sillem's Black. This PG taste, for me, detracts from having a totally positive smoking experience, and has remained present even after sufficient drying. This and its price are two major drawbacks. Lastly, STM has a tendency to nip at the tongue as does SB (I always experience this in blends with sufficient amounts of Latakia). Although I prefer Sillem's Black as a better produced crossover blend, STM may very well satisfy the aromatic and Latakia fans both. Overall, a very so-so blend and typical of a cheap tobacconist house blend that just doesn't do it for me. 2 stars and no more.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2009-08-24		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Great subtle aromatic. I don't know if I would taste the mushrooms if not for the name, and from the tongue-in-cheek reference to Farmer Maggot's mushroom garden in LOTR Chapter Four, would guess that there are none in here, and that the flavor comes from the blend. Great stuff though. I have some left from my 2 oz bag, since I really need a VA flake or blend for everyday. You can puff this continuously and blow Gandalf smoke rings all you like, and it will not roast your mouth.

Just smoked a big bowl of this after a long hiatus of 3 months or so. I have only two bowls or so left and will certainly get a few more ounces before too long. This tobacco's merits, and the Tolkien connection, have made it impossible for me not to write more. I think it has been confirmed by now that the mushroom taste comes from the light application of vanilla to a light complement of Latakia. But how did Just For Him get this blend so right? Forget mushrooms. I smoked a large bowl packed so tightly you would think it was done by a man smoking pipe tobacco for the first time, and indeed with most other blends this bowl would not have burned at all. But this smoked cleanly and even elegantly all the way to the bottom. This is the most forgiving tobacco I have ever smoked. I like to inhale once in a while, and with my usual Virginias get an inevitable trade-off of burning lungs and sinuses. This blend, however, is almost medicinal! I don't really have the desire to inhale this, though; just find pleasure in blowing it out of my nose from time to time.

This seems like a blend hobbits would like. If you want to know what hobbits would like, you need look no further than Tolkien himself, since he modeled hobbits on himself; the non-scholarly parts, the parts that liked to enjoy a pipe and a pint among good friends. In a biography of Tolkien which I once read, he was said to like Kentucky cured. Pretty general. On the web, I saw mentioned that he liked Erinmore and Capstan flakes. Unreliable. I would love to know for sure. If hobbits did smoke aromatics, and had access to vanilla, I'm sure they would use it just as judiciously as Just For Him has done here, in this beautiful "subtle aromatic." Hobbits were, as anyone who has read Tolkien knows, a rustic people. "They love peace and quiet, and good tilled earth."

Get this stuff while you can. The orcs are afoot, and who knows how long we will have the convenience of ordering pipeweed online and having it delivered to our door. This seems like an aromatic that cellars well, as my sample has not changed appreciably. (i.e. it has not improved like a good Virginia, but has not deteriorated either.)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Old Puffer (42)	2009-08-23		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Don't know why I waited so long to write this baccy up. Guess I was hoping that no one else would catch on as to how good it was. My current supply is 2 years old now and just gets better and better.

This baccy is hard to describe because it seems to be in a class all by itself. I 'think' it has some Virginia, but I wouldn't swear to it. It really seems to have mushrooms because the taste is so uniquely mushroomey. Latakia is there but it is so subtle that it just enhances the overall taste. I'm pretty certain that there is Burley present because at about 1/2 bowl, a Burley bitterness sneaks in but not enough to distract. Overall, the taste is rather bland except that it is so unique and pleasant that it absolutely holds my attention.

As received, this needed a few hours of drying out. It is slightly coarse but easy to pack. It lights easily with one false light and stays lit to the end leaving a very dark, dry ash. Never a hint of a bite but if leaned on, can smoke a bit hot. No bad after taste or odor, either in the pipe or the mouth.

This stuff is soooo good that I don't smoke it often, just to keep me from getting too familiar with it. It is right up at the top of my favorites and I consider a pipe full now and then to be a real special treat.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	samwell711r (9)	2009-02-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Allow me to say I am a late middle aged pipe smoker since college. Mostly a part time smoker. Weekends and holidays only. The wife has allergies,which curtails me some and I never enjoyed doing other things while smoking. So only when I could sit down and relax with a good book did I break out my favorite pipe. Now I am an unabashed aromatic lover. Not for me the soap tasting (at at least to me) English blends. Balkan Sobr. was the exception. BCA is my weed of choice. Still I wanted something a little different so I sent off for Shortcut to Mushrooms.

I liked the pouch smell. I wouldn't classify it as mushrooms myself, but I understand those that do. Very earthy. The first bowl was just ok. The second I didn't like at all. Maybe it was the accumalated residue of BCA. But I was determined to find out. Third bowl was a charm. This is good stuff. A very nice smokey (peat?) like taste with a light ghosting of the cavandish for sweetness but very light. Very tasty. Not at all what I expected. None of that soapish taste. Yesterday I smoked a bowl of BCA (always good) and yet couldn't wait to try another bowl of STM. Boys, it was worth the wait. A definate keeper.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoctorThoss (146)	2007-10-19		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Wow. I'd heard quite a lot about this blend and finally broke down and ordered up a small sample, which was followed the next week by a half-pound. This is without a doubt the most unique tobacco I've ever smoked. Not only does it actually taste somewhat like mushrooms, this improbable flavoring actually WORKS. Not only that, but it works in the presence of a decent amount of latakia, and I tend be to leery of latakia-heavy aromatics. I'd love to know what the component tobaccos are. Latakia and some kind of dark cavendish are obviously the backbone here, but I think there's also a bit of burley and most likely a decent amount of stoved Virginias as well (at least, I believe I'm tasting Va when I get past the first third of a bowl). It burns well and burns cool with little in the way of tongue bite. The room note is okay to me, but although this is an aromatic I still think this is one of those blends I'd avoid lighting up in a bar or restaurant (if, of course, you happen to live in one of those enlightened states where smoking is still allowed in such places). I doubt Tolkien would have approved, but this is highly recommended if you want to try something ... well, REALLY different.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kylepoet (18)	2006-05-17		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

So, this is why hobbits have a greedier passion for mushrooms than us "Big People." This is an extremely pleasant smoke, creamy, like fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter, finishing to a medium-rare steak covered in 'shrooms. This smoked wonderfully out of the bag, no drying out was needed. Great, fragrant billows of smoke, no bite, no burning, just a wonderful hour or so spent somewhere on Farmer Maggot's lands. The Latakia is enough for a magical taste, lending to an earthy, almost, but not quite sweet, blend. If you're looking for an introdusction to Latakia, this is for you. If Latakia is your primary interest, this blend will still make for a great change of pace. I enjoyed this with two or three pints of Sam Adams Black, and I'm sure it would compliment any ale, stout, or whatever your fancy. This was my first taste of a JFH blend, and I really can't wait to try the rest of their "pipeweeds" (yes, I ordered all of them).

Great folks at JFH. Willing to answer any and all questions about pipes, tobaccos, and smoking in general. They advertise pound quantities (and these Mushrooms might be worth it) but a quick call or email will help you get whatever you're looking for.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-02-29		Mild	Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well, they got the name right. This aromatic is incredibly direct. I can't quite put my finger on what has gone into this blend. When you open the bag, you are blasted with the small of fresh mushroom and perhaps a bit of mulch or soil. It is interesting enough in the bag, but when you light it you get a steady sweet mushroom taste. If you like mushrooms (and I don't) you may want to try this if for no other reason than it is very unique in its flavoring.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	McQueen (41)	2018-06-26		Very Mild	Medium	Full	Very Pleasant

STM is a fantastic aromatic blend. It smells incredible and tastes fantastic throughout the bowl. The Latakia is just a condiment and sits in the background. It packs easy and lights easy. It burns great for an aromatic (which is odd) with few relights. This is now the only blend I smoke during social occasions. Everybody loves the room note, and I can smoke a giant bowl with no worry about nicotine sickness.

Stop reading and go buy a couple ounces!!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wildrage (6)	2017-07-05		Medium	Strong	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

One of my favorite 'cross-over' blends. I must say that this blend does exercise my palate, and likewise, is not an all day smoke for me. If I could describe it, I would say that it's the result of combining Proper English (75%) with 1-Q (25%), or something similar. My only gripe is that it does leave a bit of moisture in my bowl.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PhantomWolf (41)	2017-04-21		Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

When I reviewed "Ruins of Isengard" I finished with the statement that I would have given it 3 stars if it had a bit less artificial flavouring and a bit more Latakia. This is just that- Cool-burning, delicious, great-smelling, and mild with enough Latakia to taste. I will be stalking up on this and will more than likely fill my travel pouch with it as my current all day smoke. The earthy Latakia and sweet Cavendish accompanied by whatever mild condiment they add, almost tastes like a patch of mushrooms in a cool dark forest. 3 1/2 stars.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum, Corn Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh from Bulk

Purchased From: JustForHim.com

Similar Blends: Just For Him - Ruins of Isengard (Middle Earth Pipeweed).

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Papillon6 (24)	2015-08-14		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Just got their MEB sample pack, I started with Treebeard then Shortcut to Mushrooms. It lit and stayed lit after the initial light/tamp/relight. This blend tasted like fresh dug dirty mushrooms. I mean this in a good way. As the name implies it is blended to remind you of it's charecter name from the section/chapter of the story when they take a shortcut through the forest and happen upon some fresh mushrooms. Again it had a slight sweetness build towards the end but this time it was more of a (Honey?) taste to it not Vanilla(like treebeard). It's strength was similar to Treebeard. It did however seem to burn a little hot but unlike Treebeard I had no gurgle and it bured even all the way down without problem, again I sip/puff quite often. A good blend to follow Treebeard with in my opinion if you are working your way through the sample pack.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie drinkless billiard style

Age When Smoked: Just opened from sample pack

Purchased From: Just For Him

Similar Blends: Treebeard but with a distinctly honey flavour that built towards the end. Treebeard which preceded it had a Vanilla flavour to it..

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Major (3)	2014-03-29		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I've learned since smoking this tobacco that it is Just For Him's most popular tobacco purchased on line. I can see why. This is a VERY mild smoke with very wet earthy flavors. I have smoked a blend of black cav and latakia for many years but wanted to try something slightly different. STM did not disappoint. I can only describe it as "smoking a dry glass of water". Subtle flavor and very mild (did I mention it was very mild). Kind of a refreshing light smoke with an interesting aftertaste. Pick some up. i think you will enjoy it.

Pipe Used: churchwarden

Age When Smoked: Fresh--as soon as acquired

Purchased From: Just for Him

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipe-junky (10)	2013-02-08		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have been puffing on this blend for about 5 months off and on.When i first tried STM i thought it came a little moist but after about 3 months of opening and closing the jar it came into itself and smoked great. so letting this dry a little proved the way to go. i found a savinelli bulldog that makes this blend really bring out all the flavors that i heard about in the other reviews i have read.a mildly sweet hint with a smokey flavor that every once in a while will grace your palate with a hint of that miscellaneous mushroom taste.nicotine wise it won't crush you.The smoke is creamy and consistent . I'm gonna look for a taller deeper bowl to really see if i can prolong the goodness.3 1/2 stars for me .

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-01-31		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I enjoy my flake tobaccos but I also enjoy English blends for a change-of-pace. This tobacco is at the top of my English rotation. The latakia is noticeable and satisfying. This blend also satisfies my sweet tooth and is a good substitute for aromatics. This blend tastes great from the top of the bowl to the bottom. After a little drying, it packs great and stays lit. If you are looking for some kind of mushroom taste; forget it! I love this blend and highly recommend it.

Note to GlSal: If you are going to pan a tobacco, have the decency to state why!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-01-08		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Bob Schafer's most popular concoction. One of the few aromatics that I will smoke. Totally unique.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-12-09		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

oh, man. i'd been smoking cigarettes for over ten years, and decided i'd switch to the pipe. after a couple (misguided) ventures into aromatics, i was looking for something a little more natural.

perfect is the best way to describe this blend. it's well balanced. it's full but not chokingly overwhelming. it's smooth but not wafty. after so many years of slavery to the nicotine craving, i found myself craving this blend just for the taste, which is hard to describe. it's kind of like eating a smore over a campfire. very enjoyable. also, when i'd smoke it in the garage at work, the managers would come in to pause and inhale the smell.

just a terrible shame that just for him stopped accepting mastercard. i had to switch to sillem's black, which is similar but not on par with this blend, which is, so far, my favorite. if you can get it, get it. you wont be sorry.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-12-06		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Amazing customer service. Amazing tobacco. It's like an English/Aro hybrid.. Epic. To me it tastes like caramelized mushrooms.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-09-26		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Preface: This is my first ever review and my first ever English (Lat) blend.

Had my first bowl of STM tonight, here are my collective thoughts from opening to finishing:

Tin note/first impressions: Amazing...it has an earthy/smokiness to it which I'm assuming is from the Latakia, but upon taking in a huge whiff, I also picked up on almost a vanilla sweetness and a bit of spice. It was a bit wet so I let it sit for about 45 min prior to packing my bowl.

First light:

Took to my match with no issues, I did 2 charring lights and then the final light. As soon as the flame hit it, you could really smell the sweetness, the smoke was smooth and creamy and tasted very mild. I was a little disappointed on the taste, the tin note had such strong aroma I was expecting an umph of flavor, not that it was bad, just expected more. I tasted a bit of the vanilla sweetness picked up in the tin note, but not a whole lot of the earthy/smokey flavor that was so prominent. It was still there, just in the back ground.

First 1/2 For the people who say the room note is tolerable...idk what they were smelling, but to me the room note smelled a little like waffle cones baking (so quite pleasant). I even asked my wife what she thought of it (big critic) and she like it as well. The mild taste from the first light continued throughout the first half of the bowl. I must say though that when snorked I thoroughly enjoyed the earthy tang that I sensed. I just wish it was a bit more prominent without snorking.

Last 1/2

The last half seemed to have a little trouble burning, I think that this was due to user error in not letting it dry out all the way as the tobby seemed moist. A little more earthiness/smokiness came out towards the end. The whole bowl smoked cool with about 5 relights (most on the wet second half).

Conclusion All in all I'm looking forward to my next bowl of this, I would say though, I am slightly disappointed at the mildness of the flavor. I packed a pretty big bowl of this and it was almost a 2 hour smoke so I'm guessing this is low on vitamin N as I didn't get a head rush or anything after puffing for 2 hours. This would make a fine all day smoke imho.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-09-09		Mild	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

This thing is just so good it should be a highly highly recommended. This is a playful smoke. While smoking it I ended up asking myself: Is there really mushrooms in there? Earthy, Smoky, Perfect! A favorite!

Note: the only thing missing is Gandalf smoking by your side making sailing boats of smoke.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-07-30		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Haxan is spot on.

If you were to crunch through the kaleidoscope of colour that was the floor of an otherwise muted forest in October, you might suddenly catch a whiff of this tobacco, and turn to see a wizened old hobbit sitting on a knarled root, sipping it from his churchwarden, smiling at you warmly.

Earthiness, savoriness, and smokeyness, lace a cool, creamy billow of smooth, sweet, spicey, mild smoke. It burns at the bottom of the bowl very nicely, and leaves you content to share that root by your new friend, not saying a word.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-05-12		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Full	Tolerable

As a disclaimer, I'm somewhat new to pipe smoking. However, I've thrown myself into the hobby with my usual gusto and have tried blend after blend after blend in the last four months, and this blend tops them all. In other words: this is the best blend I've ever tasted. I happen to be lucky enough to live in Springfield, Missouri, where this fine tobacco shop opens its doors. I've sampled a lot of their blends, and while their quality is (usually) above tinned tobacco, Shortcut to Mushrooms is honestly a very special blend that rises above the hundred others I've smoked from popular tins and famous big-name retailers. I won't say much about flavor or room note or any of that; I've found pipe smoking to be highly subjective and personally interpretive, and I won't try to paint a picture of how you should smoke this. Just do yourself a favor and give it a try. Personally, it's the only tobacco I've considered good enough to buy a pure dedicated pipe to enjoy. There's a lot of praise on this site for blends from Boswell. And they ARE great--especially their aromatics. And I mean great, not just good. But one of their blends that gets a lot of reviews is "Northwoods." Let me tell you this: Northwoods is the idiot little brother of Shortcut to Mushrooms. If you read the reviews for Northwoods, keep in mind that Shortcut is the blend that Boswell intended Northwoods to be.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-03-04		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Have you ever taken a walk in the Autumn on a warm but crisp day? There is a sweet smell of decaying leaves and somebody burning a pile not to far away so you can smell in the air a smokey sweet earthy smell. This is Shortcut to mushrooms to me. All summed up.

I sense a hint of white sage when smoking this as well. There is a very stong feeling of the old forest, I feel like this tobacco takes a person where no tobacco has, we are reminded of all things primitive and free. A touch of the old world resides in this tobacco with it's unmistakeable earthy aroma.

Do not expect an over all sweetness to this tobacco, instead expect a bit of smokey, robust, earthy taste with just a hint of sweetness.

Of course some will not like it but others like myself will fall in love with it. This is one of my "go to" tobaccos, I hope they will always make it.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-12-03		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I got a sample from a friend for whom the smell was too strong. I hadn't smoked any English blends before, so when I tried this, I was expecting a taste as powerful as the smell.

Pros:

- No tongue bite at all

- Very pleasant taste

- Fuller flavor

- Smooth & creamy

- Burns well down to the bottom of the bowl.

Cons:

- My wife doesn't like the smell, so I have to choose between kisses and the tobacco.

Shortcut to Mushrooms is the perfect gateway into English blends.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-11-17		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

My sample pack arrived last night and this was the first I choose to smoke. I lit my lastest additon pipe for this a Design Berlin sandblast billiard , I must say I was very impressed with the blend. The earth tones were outstanding and the sweetness on the back end was pleasant. It went very well with one of my homebrewed California Common steam beers. Very pleasant overall. If the rest of these Middle Earth blends equal this one I have found some more go to tobaccos.

Update ... smoked the last of this and ordered more. This is by far one of my favorite blends. The more I smoke it the more complexities come out of the blend. I upgraded the room note on this as I really do like the way this smells. I can almost imagine sitting at the Gaffers in a room filled with this smoke....

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-10-23		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is my standard "go-to" tobacco. I have tins and 4 oz bags of my other tobaccos, but literally have a pound of this on the shelf and in the rotation. When I first ordered the just for him LOTR sampler I was skeptical, and after the first few I tried, was pretty disappointed. Then I tried shortcut. The smell from the bag was a smokey latakia smell, with a hint of BBQ. I am a pretty new tobacco smoker, and find this to smoke very easy. It stays lit well, produces almost no tongue bite (even for heavy puffers like myself) and my girlfriend loves the room note.

The taste is hard for me to describe, but it is very smooth to me, with strong latakia notes, and a hint of something you just cant quite place. It's as mystical as the fair folk from Rivendel ;) to me the taste also seems to change as you progress through the bowl, which I haven't really experience with other tobaccos I've tried. Give it a go, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

DT

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-10-14		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Always have some STM open and cellared as whenever I'm not sure what I want to burn thats what I grab and am always glad I did. don't let the foolishness of the naming or mushroom jokes put you off, this is a truly highly enjoyable smoke. But put it in a big bowl as it seems to burn fast and is gone just about the time that your really into it.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fiorano (13)	2011-07-06		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is another good blend from Just for Him. This shares the characteristics they are now known to me for smoothness, thick smoke and creamy texture. my sample of this was good, soft and lighter in flavor. It did share the light Latakia used in Ruins of Isengard, but this is a bit sweeter and not as incense-like as Ruins is. nothing not to like, but a bit shy on the flavor it wants to take. yes the earthiness is felt and mushroom like quality but the sweetness peeks through and it does assert itself as in many blends. This is certainly more rich than Long bottom, Old Toby, and Tree- beard, this is not as distinct as ruins, my fave of the LOTR offerings. That said I will order a small bag to horde for contemplative mornings or evenings when i would be in the mood for this and my meerschaum.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-04-07		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I am reluctant to like this, but I do.

Has a really nice undertone that carries throughout the bowl, with a woodsy smell and taste that is very pleasant and slightly spicy.

This is not in my regular rotation, but I save it for the times I am able to pack a big bowl and spend some time with it.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-29		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Fantastic blend, the latakia is muted until the end of the smoke when it hits you like a freight train. Smooth and creamy taste, and a thick smoke that is always sure to turn heads. Great room note, wife loves when I smoke this blend.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	thefoolish (10)	2011-03-21		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

A fine blend. A shame to see it fall below a four star average.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-19		Extremely Mild	Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant to Tolerable

Rather than write a completely new review, I am re-posting my comments about this tobacco from my blog (see my profile).

"I've now tried Ruins of Isengard and Shortcut to Mushrooms from Just For Him. Service was very fast. Both tobaccos were incredibly fresh, as if mixed the day I ordered them. My initial impressions -- easy to light, lots of smoke, but not much flavor. I'll try them again.

Update: I dried out Shortcut to Mushrooms for several hours, put it away for a few days and tried again. I sipped it slowly, trying to taste the delicate flavors which eluded me last time. Again, the tobacco put out a lot of heavy, beautiful smoke -- almost like a 'stage' tobacco. The flavor was just a light sweetness mixed with the non-flavor of propylene glycol. Shortcut to Mushrooms and Ruins of Isengard are the wettest tobaccos I have ever tried, probably due to the newness or freshness of the blend. A shiny wetness forms around the rim of my pipes when I smoke them, and my clear corncob stem shows drops of clear liquid inside. Just as I did with the first two bowls, I tamped this one out early. The extinguished bowl smelled faintly of Hunt's Snack Pack pudding. Shortcut to Mushrooms is to pipe tobacco what Johnson and Johnson's No More Tears is to shampoo."

Update2: I let this stuff sit awhile. I wanted to pose and smoke my churchwarden in public, so I took this with me. It gave off an impressive smoke from start to finish. The mild sweet taste came through and was enjoyable. The tobacco was a little harsh at the back of my throat, perhaps due to lower-grade leaf or additives. The smoke is a fine, showy, billowy mist. I still cannot recommend Shortcut to Mushrooms, but I can somewhat recommend it for someone who likes very mild sweet aromatics and wants to look like Gandalf in public.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2011-02-11		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Mushrooms....yup, that's what you get. The description was quite literally accurate. A decent tobacco. But probably one I won't keep or smoke regularly. I finished off my bag that I bought out of interest and enthusiasm for LOTR. It's not bad, just not one my favorites. However, I will give this tobacco a high rating because of the unique flavor and the accuracy of said flavor....Amazing!

Pipe Used: Bent Billard

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Just For Him

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	babysinister (55)	2011-02-02		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very easy to light, and burns down to a clean white ash. A very earthy aroma in the bag and, early in the bowl, in the smoke itself. But after the first third of the bowl, you can taste the fine base tobacco. Thereafter, all the flavors alternate with each other, like earth and fire, then fire and earth. It's impressive how it goes from the mushroom opening to the pure tobacco taste that emerges around mid bowl, while always retaining that creamy smoothness. It vaguely reminds me of some other "Engilshoid" blend, like Morley's Best, or Epiphany, but it's too distinctive to assign it anything resembling an identical twin.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-01-26		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I just can't stop smoking this stuff! It's probably the most satisfying tobacco I've ever smoked: period! What it is is Latakia based, mixed with Black Cav. and a vanilla flavoring. An unorthodox English with flavoring.

The smoke is ample and this is the kind of baccy you can blow smoke rings with. It's white and thick. The taste has a smoothness to it, yet the Latakia is definitely present, providing an interesting spiciness without dominating the blend.

It smokes down to a fine white ash and smokes dry and cool. The interplay of the tobaccos gives it a flare for flavor in the spiciness. Add to that mixture the vanilla (probably the source of the mushroomy taste) and you get a wonderful smoke.

Some may poo-poo this blend for not being a proper English blend, but regardless of the mixing components, this blend works. It provides complexity of flavor, yet has nothing that overpowers the palate. This is a wonderful creation and one that I could sit back all day and smoke. That's saying something for me. I give this blend my highest recommendation of any tobacco I've ever smoked. This is the best of the best of the best for sheer pleasantness and quality of smoke.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-01-18		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This has to be my favorite tobacco to date. As an avid LOTR fan, I had to order the Middle Earth sampler pack from JFH. I thought that I would for sure love the Longbottom Leaf or Old Toby brands the best by their description, but it was Shortcut that really was dominant. Being new to pipe smoking, I started off with cheap bargain brands, such as Smoker's pride whiskey and Walgreens brand black Cavendish and peach. However, after moving close to a pipe shop, I began to sample their tobaccos, especially house blend Englishes and a few aromatics. However, after ordering Shortcut, i don't think I'll go back. The aroma out of the bag is very earthy and conjures up images of Sam tending Frodo's garden at Bag End. It lit very easily in my Stanwell majestic pipe and burned to a clean white ash. It starts with a very earthy taste that moves towards a pure tobacco taste about ten minutes into the bowl. As the bowl burns down, the earthy and tobacco flavors resurface in turns, creating an exquisite experience. Overall, it is a very relaxing smoke that will take you to Bagshot row and place you on Bilbo's porch, enjoying the sun rising over the water and Sandyman's mill with a cup of tea in hand and second breakfast already in the oven!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-10-11		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is one of my favorites in the LOTR sampler that i ordered. I will be ordering more. If you have any doubt i would recommend the sampler pack i think it give u like 6 types or so for like ten bucks so give it a try. This one is in my favorites for a reason.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-26		Mild	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

This tobacco was very easy to light. The first thing I taste is the latakia. At first it is a very strong smokey flavor. A few minutes into the bowl the smokey flavor subsides and I taste a creamy earthy flavor. This blend makes a good amount of smoke and smokes cool and dry. The smokey flavor begins to return. I can taste why this is called Shortcut to Mushrooms, it definitely has a very earthy mushroom like flavor, which can be appreciated whether you like mushrooms or not. The smoke smells like a mixture of Dirt and campfire, which is actually very nice. About 10 minutes into the bowl and the flavor hasn't changed much, it is largely dominated by a strong Latakia flavor. I would highly recommend this to anybody who enjoys latakia. If you do not like Latakia, this blend is definitely not for you. I do not taste the sweetness described in the description. Other than that the description is perfectly accurate. This blend could be described in one word. Latakia. Out of all the Middle-Earth blends, I have tried Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby and Shortcut to Mushrooms. Personally this is my 2nd favorite, I prefer Old Toby because of the Perique. This blend gets 4 stars because of the lovely Latakia flavor and because it is a nice dry, cool smoke. Probably not an all-day smoke, I could see getting tired of just tasting latakia. I do not taste any other tobacco in this. If you are new to English blends you might want to start with something a little less potent in flavor. Have not noticed any nicotine effect.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-19		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is one of the few blends that matches the description to a T. Not much else can be said, other than I will be buying more.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-05-26		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Wowzer. This was my second pipe tobacco ever and boy am I glad I found this blend so early on! I bought a cheap drugstore blend before this and was thinking that pipe smoking wasn't that much more enjoyable than a cigarette as far as flavor is concerned. This blend changed my idea of pipe smoking completely! It has such a unique flavor that kept me guessing and wanting to smoke more. I am almost done working my way through my first 2 oz bag and I will be ordering a much larger quantity in the future. I don't think I will ever truly tire of this smoke.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-20		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is my second into this series. I purchased it based on reviews here and to see if there are really mushrooms in it. I am still not sure about the mushrooms, but it is a nice easy smoking tobacco with a nice cool taste, packs easily and burns cool. I could definitely see smoking this out of a churchwarden trading stories across a camp fire. It is very nice.

Enjoy, Z

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-04		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I suppose the word is "buttery". This unique blend has an extraordinarily smooth, rounded taste, a lovely, light room note and the qualifications to be an all-day companion. Latakia, while essential, is way, way in the background. The black cavendish is smoother and less goopy than any I have smoked in 45 years. And, yes, there is a mysterious mushroom something about the whole thing. If "smokeability" is a fair test for pipe tobaccos, this one gets an A++. I just can't stop smoking it. Everything else is aging on the shelf. You'd think this stuff was made "Just For Him." Another remarkable blend somewhere in the same arena is "Bald Headed Teacher" by 4 Noggins. No matter what your tendencies--English or aromatic--you will love this. If you don't, send it to me.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-02-24		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

so I broke out the STM last night. Holy Latakia Batman! Really smooth stuff, yet big and bold on flavor, heavy on the smoke & really earthy in flavor. Yeah, I dug it. not something I would smoke on a regular basis. it's a great occasional though. After reading some others... I wonder if my bag was a little heavy on the Latakia. Not that I minded, it just seemed as if there was way more than a "hint" of latakia in there. Cheers!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-01-16		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This was a delicious tobacco! I didn't get the mushroom taste people have been telling me about, but it was a cool smoke and it had a delicious flavor, even though I'm having trouble detecting what it is! As I was smoking it passersby were asking what I was smoking, cause it apparently smelled so delicious! Very very good tobacco.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-12-18		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

One of the coolest smokes I have had so far. No bite at all. Very pleasant smoke. As a huge Tolkien fan, this Middle Earth inspired tobacco got me very curious and excited to try. One of my inspirations to start smoking a pipe, I have to admit, was after watching the Lord of The Rings movie a few years ago and reading the Hobbitt and Tolkein books. Very subtle aromatic with hints of Latakia and slightly sweet, but not too much. I felt like I could smoke it for hours. This will be in my rotation and I will be ordering more.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-11-16		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I started with 2oz of this tobacco based on the reviews that I read here on this site. I quickly went through that and ordered a pound. This has become one of my favorites to smoke. I have been known to smoke three or more pipes in a row of this sitting around the fire talking with friends.

The smell in the bag when you first get it is top flight. Kind of sweet, and a small hint of fruit which makes my mouth water in anticipation of getting a pipe full.

Gravity feed into the pipe and slightly tamp it down. After a charing light, I can smoke it to the bottom with no relights.

The flavor is mild, relatively sweet, with hints at vanilla and a creamy covering on the tongue that I absolutely love. My favorite part is mid pipe when the flavor seems to be a little more pronounced.

I get complements all the time at how well this smells, and my son says mmmm that smells good, so +1 for being pleasing to others your around.

I most definitely will keep this around.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeadMensPipes (38)	2009-11-15		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Ahhh. The aroma from the zip-lock sealed bag when this arrived was wonderful. It is a darker blend, and at first, seemed over moist. But I loaded it into a medium-sized Savinelli Canadian without rubbing it out or letting it dry. I was pleasantly surprised. It lit easily and smoked cool and dry - no bite whatsoever. Repeat: No Bite. The bowl never got hot or gurgled at all. No goop at the end. And, it doesn't taste like candy or "fruity." You can definitely taste the tobacco.

The pleasant pouch note carried into the smoke. Pleasant tobacco flavor almost all the way to the bottom of the bowl, although it does get slightly harsh at the bottom - my complaint with virtually all aromatics - and the latakia at the end of "Shortcut" does get a little "spicy." Try this one loading only half a bowl and it is pleasant to the end if you sip it.

I am not a big fan of aromatics, but sometimes you want a blend to smoke in mixed company. This may be it. Someone referred to it as "subtly aromatic" - that it is. A pleasant, earthy but slightly sweet room note, but still is unmistakably tobacco that should be enjoyed even by straight "English" purists. Despite the cute "tin description" above, I did not detect any "mushrooms" (I find it amusing that reviewers are commenting on whether this does or does not taste of mushrooms. The name of this tobacco is based upon a reference in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series - it has nothing to do with mushrooms being in this blend. LOL!). Not for everyday, my small supply should last awhile - but I will definitely order Shortcut again.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zulujerk (146)	2009-10-01		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Wow, you can really taste the mushrooms!

No, I'm sorry, that's not true. Despite the intriguing name and description, there are no mushrooms in Shortcut to Mushrooms. I had that verified by the person that filled my order. In the instructions/comments field while placing my request with JFM, I asked, and that was the reply on the subsequent statement. Oh well, another possible blending component goes out the window. Or wait, maybe this is an opportunity! (No..it's not. Restrain your imagination for a minute.)

Having struggled to work through Samuel Gawith's "Perfection," I find that this is one of the few successfully cased Latakia blends (alright, I've only tried two). Don't think that you'll find a huge percentage in StMs (like Perfection), but it's in there, along with a lot of sweetened Cavendish. The tobacco feels a bit sticky, smells great out of the pouch, and seems to burn well despite the casing.

The taste is pretty good for an aromatic, coming from a person who likes to criticize the category. It reminds me of 1Q with a slight smokiness produced by that pinch of Latakia. This is NOT a cased English. But that's ok. Two ounces will last me a long time.

Well done.

Four of Five (Rated against Aromatics).

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-08-21		Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smoked a bowl of this brand/blend in my MacQueen 'Ranger' and must say I was very delighted with the overall experience. Generally the pipe has smoked hot & wet. But with STM, it smoked cool all the way through. I'm a real fan of latakia, so that was a treat. The mushrooms, though, gave it a wonderful creamy earthiness which made me want to smoke all night long. I'll be back for more after this 4oz trial sized amount goes... up in smoke. ;)

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-07-17		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Shortcut to Mushrooms is the first aromatic with latakia in it that I've ever smoked. I like English blends, and I'll smoke an occasional aromatic because my wife likes the smell. Well, STM is an excellent tasting tobacco, and is acceptable to smoke outside, but my wife won't let me smoke it inside the house, I guess she just can't stand ANY latakia. Either way, it's great tobacco, and smells good outside.

STM smells earthy and yet sweet, maybe a little vanilla aroma. If you imagine what sweet mushrooms would smell like, I think STM smells kind of like that.

It's a little moist, so I'd recommend letting it dry on a plate for 30-60 minutes before smoking. The initial lighting can be a little challenging, but once it's lit, it stays lit and burns evenly. Surprisingly, it leaves no residual moisture in my cob...

The nicotine is there, but barely noticeable. Just enough to keep it from being weak.

I've smoked it in both a briar and a cob, and definitely prefer it in a cob, the cob seems to burn cooler, stay lit longer, and absorb the moisture better. But that just might be because of the Kaywoodie briar I smoked it in.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-05-27		Mild	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

I have not yet tried a very large number of different tobaccos thus far, but in my experiences this is one of my favorites. It is similar to FMOTT in it's earthy qualities. What separates them is that Shortcut to Mushrooms has a more prominent sweetness to it. The room note is definitely worth mentioning as I have received numerous comments from people asking what I am smoking, people seem to really enjoy the aroma of this tobacco. Not only does it smell nice but it tastes great as well.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-03-17		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Since I only live about 35 miles from this tobacconist, at one time I bought most of my pipeweed from them, but over time got to doing more shopping on the web and hadn't checked their site for a while.

This is one tobacco that caught my eye just by the name. Shortcut to Mushrooms?? Well I needed to order some blending components and decided to give the mushrooms a shot. I really have no idea if anyone would put mushrooms in a pipe blend,(would they?) so I really have no idea what's in the stuff other than a small amount of Latakia.

Well when the order arrived, this was the 1st bag I opened a filled a #4 Dunhill Cumberland about 3/4 full. The first couple of puffs only yielded the faint, but very noticeable taste of a creamy high quality Latakia. But when I got it fully lit there came forth a myriad of flavors, mostly sweet, but really difficult to identify. Mushrooms?? I didn't really care if the plentiful plumes of very tasty white smoke came from mushrooms or not because the more I smoked the tastier it got.

Seriously, even though this is not a stong blend by any means the one thing it was NOT lacking was flavor. Anyone who might have experimented with a heavy English Balken blend and found the Latakia to be a bit much should really give this blend a try. Even though the Latakia is there, it seemed to remain in the background, giving the other flavors ranging from chocolate to sweet molassas plenty of room.

I'm tryin' to find something derogatory to say but about it, but the only thing I can complain about was that it was a bit on the wet side when I recieved it, but I believe I can figure out how to fix that little problem. I will have to rate this blend 4 stars and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone, regardless of their smoking experience and tobacco preferances. If you're ever in Springfield, MO, stop in at Just For Him. Even though it's a large shop, they'll take good care of you.

fprefect

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-03-11		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'll start of by saying I do enjoy this tobacco; however, if you like heavily flavored (whether with artificial casing or spice tobaccos) this probably isn't for you. It may end up tasting a bit bland.

This is precisely why I enjoy this tobacco. What I love about this blend is that it provides me with a very neutral flavor if I just cannot put a finger on what I want to smoke. This cavendish is very mild in terms of its sweetness, and I do not receive an unpleasant aftertaste at all. I also get a hint of Latakia that gives this tobacco a very earth taste. I'm not much for heavy latakia myself, but this tobacco is very very good. I wouldn't recommend smoking this around anyone who is smoking an aromatic with a bright or fruity room note. I have, and I will say it will make your pipe taste very very bland. It lost all the earthly pleasantness and ended up tasting very bitter.

I give it 3 stars

PS- This one burns really cool so you don't have to worry about any nasty bite problems.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-02-25		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Shortcut to Mushrooms was the first tobacco to ever put me in the "zone." The first time I lot this up, I smiled and enjoyed the entire bowl from beginning to end. This has a sweet, smoky taste that you wouldn't expect, and I can definitely detect a hint of mushrooms at least in the room note (which is awesome). This is a cool, creamy smoke and has an awesome flavor from beginning to end.

STM is definitely one of my favorites now, and I recommend it to anyone to try!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-08-10		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I simply cant get enough of this wonderful stuff! I got it as a sample with a pipe purchase two years ago, and never looked back. I immediately ordered a pound, and then another. It has become an everyday smoke for me. I must metion that I am a "cross-over" blend lover. Aromatics dont have the depth, but english is just a bit too much.

Very rich and satisfying from the start of the bowl down to the bottom. I dont know what they top this with, but is truely does taste like mushrooms sauted in butter. The smoke is abundant and rich with a great room note. There is no bite with this blend, as can be said with pretty much all of the Just for Him blends. They obviously use very high quality tobaccos.

There is simply nothing else like this on the market! The only thing that remotely comes close is Frog Morton on the Bayou. This is the blend that I reach for most frequently in my rotation. Order up some...you will not be dissapointed!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-03-10		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Latakia is there ,but with a sweet after taste. Nice nicotine kick!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-11-23		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very unique and well behaved offering. Easy to load, light and burns slow and cool. STM has a Black Cavendish character with an aroma that is Buttery yet Earthy that combines with just enough Latakia to provide plumes of smoke and a very smooth experience.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-11-14		Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

If you are looking for a nice mild aromatic that won't clog up your pipe and yet has a fairly decent taste, this one should fit the bill. The room note passed the Significant Other test with flying colors. To my taste, this isn't an everyday tobacco, more like a every couple of weeks or more weed. It is a simple, undemanding blend that I tired of before finishing a 2 oz. sampler. Its redeeming features are that it doesn't bite and burns well after just the slightest drying time. I may try it again but right now, I don't think I will.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-08-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

This is a unique tobacco unlike any other I've tried. It actually has an aroma to it similar to mushrooms. When smoked, it has a rich, sweet taste combined with a good dose of latakia.

This is a tobacco different from any other blend. If you like latakia and also like the occasional aromatic, this is for you.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-02-06		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

I?m not a disciple of Tolkien, therefore the name, though quaint, means nothing to me. At first, I thought maybe they put mushroom essence in this thing. Not the strangest thing I ever heard of considering that the late Cellini of Chicago used to produce a chicken soup blend, if you can believe that. Be that as it may, this is a most pleasant crossover English, perfect before a meal when something less obtrusive is desired. The manufacturer has to be the same company that produces Wilke?s blends. The aromatic vanilla, slightly fruity Cavendish reminds me of Pipemaker?s Choice. Though not enough latakia for my tastes, this is a nice blend that doesn?t overpower with sweetness as it satisfyingly whets the palate.

Three of five stars

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-02-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Just for Him has to be one of the best kept secrets in the pipe smoking world.I found this while putzing around work on the computer. Their blends are so unique it is beyond description. 1st of all, I do not think there are any MUSHROOMS in this blend. 2nd - It is really good stuff. If you are a fan of the Wilke type cavendish you will love all the blends from JFH.They are masters of the Cross over English blend. This has a sweet, salty, earthy and smooth taste not found in any other tobacco I have smoked. The Experience was Frog Morton on the Town meets Pipe Maker's Choice from Wilke. A very full 4 stars for a crossover English. P.S. Although there is none in this blend, JFH can be heavy HANDED WHEN USING PERIQUE.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-01-21		Mild	Strong	Full	Pleasant

Very very unique. This blend is in a league all its own. Unknowingly, this blend was my first latakia blend, and to this day, very likely still my favorite. As mentioned several times already, it imparts a slightly sweet, creamy, and QUITE BUTTERY taste. It leaves a slightly salty seasoned taste in the mouth, which reminds me very much of the aftertaste of mushrooms sauteed in butter and rich seasonings. It's earthy, mild, absolutely delicious...This one is worth trying, at the very least. And...at least for this old pipe smoker...one worth having on hand any time an excursion into farmer Maggot's field strikes my fancy. If anything can embody the spirit of a story or place, this blend does. I've used the word "treat" to describe its taste...which is something I have yet to use on another blend. Fantastic.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-10-16		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Shortcut to Mushrooms, hummmmmm, lets me think. This is a very pleasant smoke. It's the type of smoke a fellow could sit down and creat a new plan to catch that Roadrunner with!

On the draw, it has a creamy note that others have mentioned, both smooth and mild but very present. I like that. No sharp edges to draw me away from the taste. On the exhale, a not too subtle, not to imposing sweet that lasts.

I found my perfect companion to this smoke in Sobe Green tea. The tea mixes with the lasting flavor, then clears it for a new draw, making for a complete cycle that is never dissapointing.

I bought a new meerschaum for this, and it took a few bowls for the pipe to get use to it. Once it did though it became very possibly my favorite to date. I am the type of person that will save the best for the right time and place. This is a once a week thing for me because I want to be able to enjoy it all to myself. Maybe buy a briar so I can take it fishing and forget about the roadrunner for a bit...

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-02-28		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Update: Mushroom gets pushed up to four stars...I keep gobbling this stuff up! I have placed an additional two orders since review...and ordered some for a "box pass" I'm involved in. Yummy yummy stuff!

Shortcut To Mushroom another blend from Just For Him and my favorite from the Middle Earth Pipeweed line. I enjoy Latakia most so this one fits my bill just fine. Special thanks to the blenders in dar Shire.

I am not yet experienced enough to know what is going on in this blend but it pretty yummy. Another reviewer compared it to Frog Morton On The Town, one of my favorites, and thats a good comparison. As far as it tasting like mushrooms...I can't tell and I hate mushrooms. This blend just has a smoky/earthy feel and taste to it and burns cool. Sometimes this blend can give me a nice nicotine fog, eyelids a little droopy - nice and not overdone.

So if you like thee ole Lata and want to smoke something with a gimiki name then fire some of this up!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-04-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Shortcut to Mushrooms is what I would call an English aromatic. There is some aromatic component to it, but I don?t believe it?s in the form of a topping. And as to it tasting like mushrooms, I find that it has an earthy taste with an underlying sweetness, much in the way mushrooms do. While it isn?t a copy, If you like Frog Morton on the Town, I think you?ll like this one.

The components list is a bit vague on this one. The Just For Him website says Latakia, which is true. It also says mushrooms. I don?t think we are meant to take this too seriously! I think Black Cavendish and possibly something like Basma are involved here.

The tobacco is a bit damp as it comes out of the bag, as I have found with other JFH blends. It?s not unsmokable, but it improves with a bit of drying. The burn is nice and even, all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Latakia is the first thing you taste, but the others come in pretty quickly and strike a good balance. The influence of the Latakia is there throughout, providing a full, cool, smokey experience. The flavors actually mingle a bit, so this one actually has some dimension to it.

Whether you try this one because of the name, or for the unusual flavor, or just because you are a Tolkien fan, you should try it. These reasons aside, this tobacco deserves a try on its own merits.

If you contact Just For Him directly, you can get a smaller quantity than the 1 pound bags they offer on the website.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-04-19		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant

This has to be without a doubt my favorite aromatic. In fact, it's my favorite Latakia blend period. Not too weak, not too strong, but just right. Upon opening the bag, the mildly sweet aroma of vanilla and a touch of latakia blend to create an aroma all it's own. Actually, it sort of does give off a scent that reminds one of mushrooms, but it's more of an earthy aroma brought about by one of the tobaccos used in the blend.

Although somewhat moist, it packs easily enough and burns evenly. It leaves no dottle in the pipe as it burns to a white ash. It leaves a ploom of thick brown and blue tinted smoke as you puff. The flavor doesn't disappoint and tastes mildly sweet and creamy on the tongue without a bite.

The latakia can be easily detected but in no way overpowering as it adds to the smoking experience.

I highly recommend this blend and would give it the highest marks.

Nobody has rated this review yet.