What Do You Do With The Blends You Dont Like

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rdoss16

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 2, 2019
144
208
As someone fairly new to the hobby/lifestyle i try and do my research and read reviews/descriptions of tobaccos before purchasing. However ive found that blends that i thought i was going to LOVE turned out to be awful or just not my speed. I know the advice is "jar it up and come back to it later. you might like it then" and ive done that. But aside from that what do you all do with blends you know you just will never love?
 

alaskanpiper

Enabler in Chief
May 23, 2019
9,348
42,247
Alaska
yes, I sit on them and try them again in a few months. Sometimes they will change a shocking amount with a little time in the jar.

If it still isn't good, I'll just wait longer. After a couple years I'll probably try to start blending them with something else, or with eachother, to see if I can stumble on something worth smoking.
 

haparnold

Lifer
Aug 9, 2018
1,561
2,389
Colorado Springs, CO
Usually I give them away, either in person or to people on here. Life's too short to smoke tobacco you don't like.

I will say that much like JayTex, it's rare for me to find a non-aromatic blend I hate. It's more of a happy-to-glad proposition, so for me the decision is more whether I want to buy more or not, rather than whether to finish a tin.
 

jaytex1969

Lifer
Jun 6, 2017
9,517
50,591
Here
The only two blends I've been unable to smoke both contained "kitchen spices" (cinnamon and ginger). I know right away that they would never be for me, so I gave them away.

I mostly buy nonaromatics and rarely have a problem. I now have some aros from trading that my not be at the top of my list, so I will cellar or trade as seems best at the time.


4495
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
First, buy in small quantities with any blend you haven't tried, and for all new pipe smokers, since your tastes will change. Buying large quantities, even of blends you enjoy, may put you off them because you can always have all you want. I have rescued a few tins where the Lat went flat or something else was disappointing, by adding another condiment or blend. With small quantities, this usually works out fine, and gives you a layperson's short course in mixing if not blending. If it is a blend you think others really do enjoy, you can take it to a pipe shop where there's smoking or a pipe club and let others share it while you smoke something you like better. Don't take something that may be generally disliked or others may follow your example. I'd give any jarred blends at least a year before trying them again; they may improve, or your tastes may change, or both. When buying tobacco, make sure you understand if it is aromatic or non-aromatic, and in aromatic what the flavorings are. Know the constituent tobaccos, the cut, and the base versus the condiment tobaccos. Know if you like Virginia, Latakia, Perique, burley, Oriental, and so on. I'd give any blend three or more bowls before you decide you don't like it; blends can unfold once you learn them.
 

mityahicks

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 18, 2018
616
3,310
If I think there is no chance of the blend growing on me or getting better with age I try and smoke it down quickly to get rid of.

I have never hated a blend though, so it is usually still enjoyable. It is usually aros. I have thrown stuff away before, but don't think I'd do that now.
 
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Dusk

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 8, 2019
141
497
Undah Da Sea
I usually cut it with something mild or layer it under an aromatic. This usually works out for the better and is an interesting smoke for me to pick out what I like about tobaccos.
 
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litup

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 16, 2015
722
2,206
Sacramento, CA
Before giving up on a blend I had high hopes for, I'd also try it in pipes with different sized and shaped chambers. I might also experiment with different packing methods and drying times. If I still can't make it work, I'd follow pretty much all the advice given above. Tobacco changes with age . . . and so do our tastes.
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
Giving a blend or single leaf away to someone who likes it is always a good plan. Unlike didi', I wouldn't march myself through tins I don't like. I'd either age it or give it away. A pipe is supposed to be one of life's pleasures, and I wouldn't stray too far from that concept. I think some folks put it on the garden since tobacco is supposed to be have insecticide properties, or at least acts as mulch.
 

Patrick_Green

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 25, 2019
182
681
30
Texas
I had two blends I hated at first. Rather than jarring, I let a bowl of each sit out on a towel for a couple hours and dehydrated them. They were definitely better after that. Still not my favorite. I also mixed 2 of them together... Bad idea. Dont do that lol.
 
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