OCB Premium King Size Slim Papers Review

OCB have been making paper in France since 1918 — that's over a century of rolling experience. Their Premium line, in the iconic black pack, is the go-to choice across Europe for good reason. These are made from flax fibres rather than hemp or rice, which gives them a distinct feel and serious tear resistance.

Flax is Where It's At

Flax fibres are naturally long and strong, which means these papers are incredibly thin but almost impossible to tear during a tight roll. They hold their shape beautifully — perfect if you like to roll with a bit of authority. The burn is slow and even, and the Arabic gum line is 100% natural, harvested from African acacia trees. Sticks instantly with barely any moisture and holds strong through the whole session.

French Heritage on Full Display

There's a reason OCB has been around for over a century. The quality is consistent, the price is right at £5.65, and the black pack aesthetic is timeless. These burn slightly hotter than rice or hemp papers — something to note if you're especially flavour-sensitive — but the structural strength and slow burn more than make up for it.

Rolling With Flax: Hands-On Technique Tips

In our testing, flax rewards a firm, confident roll. Here's what works best: break your herb down evenly but not to dust, create a tidy boat in the crease, and distribute slightly more toward the lighting end for an even burn. Because these papers resist tearing so well, you can tuck tightly without fear of splitting — that tight tuck is what gives you the slow, straight burn line OCB is known for. Seal with minimal moisture on the Arabic gum; a light lick is plenty and holds fast. New to rolling? Our how to roll a joint guide covers the tuck, roll, and seal in detail.

OCB Premium vs RAW Classic: The Head-to-Head

The closest rival is the RAW Classic King Size — the hemp-paper benchmark most UK rollers know. Here's the honest split from our tray: RAW tastes slightly cleaner and burns a touch cooler, which flavour chasers tend to prefer. OCB Premium fights back with superior tear resistance — flax fibres are longer and tougher, so aggressive rollers and beginners split far fewer papers. The OCB gum line also grabs faster with less moisture. If you roll carefully and chase flavour, go RAW. If you roll firmly, roll outdoors, or are still learning, OCB at £5.65 is the more forgiving paper. Both rank highly in our best rolling papers UK roundup.

Who Should Skip Them

Honesty matters here. If you are highly flavour-sensitive and notice every hint of heat, ultra-thin rice papers will taste cleaner than flax. If you want an all-in-one pack with tips included, the OCB Ultimate combos or a pack of OCB Virgin cones make more sense than this tips-free pack. And if you exclusively smoke pre-rolls, skip papers entirely and browse our best pre-rolled cones UK picks. For everyone else who rolls king-size slims regularly, this black pack remains one of the safest buys in the category.

OCB Premium FAQ

Do flax papers taste different from hemp papers?
Slightly. Flax burns a touch hotter than hemp or rice, so the first pulls can taste a little warmer. Most rollers stop noticing after the opening third, and the slow, even burn more than compensates. Flavour purists who notice it should try rice papers instead.

Do these come with tips included?
No. This standard pack is papers only, unlike the OCB Ultimate combos. Keep a tip booklet or a pack of pre-rolled tips on the tray alongside them.

Are they worth £5.65?
Yes for regular rollers. You are paying for a century of French paper-making: consistent thinness, a gum line that seals first time, and tear resistance that wastes fewer papers per session. Beginners in particular save money by splitting fewer sheets.