Navy cut tobacco

Navy Flake, Navy cut, Navy tobacco is a Burley leaf pipe tobacco. In colonial times sailors twisted tobacco into a roll and "tied it tightly, often moistening the leaves with rum, molasses, or spice solutions." Stored in this way the flavors melded. To smoke it a slice was cut, known as a "twist" or "curly". Eventually all twisted tobacco, and then pressed tobacco, became known as "Navy" "because of the convenience for sailors and outdoorsmen who favored its compact size "and long-lasting, slow-burning qualities."^[1] Navy Flake tobacco is pressed into bricks and sliced into broad flakes. ^[2]

References

1. http://www.smokemag.com/0399/pipes/maven.htm Archived December 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
2. http://www.tobacconistuniversity.org/tobacco-college/pipe-cuts1.asp Archived February 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.