nally, I was giving it a very light and quick rub and load my pipe with medium pressure, although I'm finding I like it more when I just load my pipe with zero manipulation of the tobacco. It takes a few lights to get it started but once it takes the flame, I had very few relights. Will you like this blend? If you are a big fan of dark fired tobaccos and enjoy some strength in both nicotine and body then I'm fairly certain you will enjoy Sansepolcro. As a lover of all types of dark fired I enjoyed this blend from the start, but I'm enjoying it more and more with each passing bowl. It seems like an acquired taste almost. I understand this is why people usually don't review tobaccos without smoking a tin first, as often a handful of bowls isn't enough to truly taste and understand a blend, and for me this rings true with Sansepolcro also. Finding that sweet spot for packing density and pipe used has opened up new flavors for me, and I now get the cloves aroma mentioned in the description, though mainly in the retrohale. The dark fired within shares many similarities with american DF, but it is indeed unique, and in my opinion maybe a little more mild and agreeable as an all day smoke (as I have been with this blend). The dark fired doesn't completely dominate the blend. Starting out you can really taste the rich virginia flavors, and just a hint of dark fired spice. As the bowl develops, that spice builds in strengt, ending with a crescendo of flavor and strength that I've come to quite enjoy. If you like medium/strong blends and dark fired then do yourself a favor and pick up a tin, or if you enjoy an occasional smoke that has spice and strength. However, if ur looking complexity this isn't it. Imo. There are subtleties to the spice but that's where it ends for me. Read Less