New to pipesmoking; no taste

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jaddori

Lurker
Nov 28, 2011
4
0
Hi!

I'm new to pipe smoking, but really want to get into it. The problem I'm having is that when I smoke some tobacco I can't really taste anything. It doesn't taste good nor bad, just nothing.

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks

 

withnail

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 30, 2011
737
1
United Kingdom
Details!
What tobacco are you smoking?
What kind of pipe are you using?

Yep - those are the important details +1
Do you have any issues with your sense of smell or taste with other things, such as coffee or beer?

 

bogie

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 10, 2010
207
4
you know when i first started I thought the same thing. I couldnt taste anything either. However i learned to not smoke the pipe just for the sake of smoking a pipe. I took it slow, learned to "sip" the pipe and pay attention to the smoke as it rolled around over my tongue.
Now i just take my time and relax, and in doing so i find the flavours come out more and make the pipe itself more enjoyable.
May not be the same in your case, im sure others with way more experience than I can give better ideas.

 

jaddori

Lurker
Nov 28, 2011
4
0
I have an "Old Friend"-pipe and currently I'm smoking some Stanwell Melange.
and no, I have no problem with my sense of smell or taste.

 

sincityjeff

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 3, 2011
147
1
It will come. It takes some time to get the palet going. Also, if the tobacco is wet it will some times not taste like anything. let it dry a little.

 

loneredtree

Part of the Furniture Now
May 27, 2011
569
183
Sierra Foothills
The Tobacco reviews say this."Soft and mellow with a pleasing aroma and a delicate taste." It may be that the taste is too delicate for your pallet at his time. Look for a more flavorful tobac. FWW,I find that I do not taste much with aromatics.

 

spartan

Lifer
Aug 14, 2011
2,963
7
It will also help your smoking experience if you learn to blow a little smoke through your nose after sipping it from the pipe.
This doesn't require you to inhale.
I don't know alot about the tobacco you are smoking but aromatics of low quality will often taste like nothing or bad tobacco. They will smell great but just sort of lack in the taste dept. This doesn't apply to all; it's just a guess as to your situation.
You might want to try some non aromatic tobaccos, Balkans, Latakia blends, Perique blends.

 

jchaplick

Lifer
May 8, 2011
1,702
10
Yeah, keep going, It takes a couple smokes, maybe try and get a corn cob, and a couple other blends, try all three types, a Virginia a aromatic and an english, It should help you find what styles you like and then you can go from there
Welcome, and good luck

 

withnail

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 30, 2011
737
1
United Kingdom
As mentioned above an English Blend certainly packs in more than it's fair share of flavour. And taking it slow helps. Remember, when pipe smoking was first introduced into Europe, people talked about "drinking" their pipe, rather than smoking. It's good to keep that in mind as a gentle "sip" is the best way to get the most from any blend.
Also - as you try new blends, keep some basic notes on what you like or don't. That way you'll soon learn which tobaccos in a blend you really like and can search out other blends that use them.
I find, when smoking aromatics that a short or full bent pipe helps bring out the flavour as it keeps the bowl closer to the nose.

 

bigvan

Lifer
Mar 22, 2011
2,192
14
I'm not too familiar with that blend but I looked it up and see that it has burley (which is mostly tastelss), cavendish (smells good, but doesn't always have much taste), virginia (should be some sweetness there) and orientals (which have GOBS of flavor), so you should have tasted SOMETHING.
Perhaps you smoked it too quickly and burned through the flavor? If an average sized bowl took you less than 45 minutes to smoke, you went too fast.
Stay with it, though.

 

jchaplick

Lifer
May 8, 2011
1,702
10
My first virginia tht i fell in love with was Orlik Golden Sliced, its not too strong in the nicotine department, has a good flavor, very much like hay and citrus, with some sugary notes.
Macbarens club blend is also interesting, has a kind of vinegary taste.
I am fairly new to pipe as well, a little over a year in, and orlik is still my favorite.
I would seriously give it a try
When you try a blend, smoke it at least 5 or 6 times before you give up on it.

 

spartan

Lifer
Aug 14, 2011
2,963
7
If you're like me...
You'll smoke Dunhill's Nightcap about 3 times and then you will THROW IT ON THE GROUND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYL5H46QnQ

 

nemrod

Can't Leave
Apr 28, 2011
337
1
Sweden
Don't trust the system, MAN! Did you smoke the Nightcap in a Peterson by any chance? :P
OnT: I had the same issue when I first started. I think it has both to do with technique and because you're not used to it (making assumptions that you're not a cigar smoker etc). As a general rule, smoke slower, pack lighter and take the smoke to the back of your mouth and possibly up out your nose and you'll probably be able to taste it better.

 

jaddori

Lurker
Nov 28, 2011
4
0
The weird things is that I had this wonderful smoke a few weeks ago; rich flavour, plenty of aroma and almost no moisture. But never since. So I guess you're right, must be the technique.

 

judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,470
39,057
Detroit
In case it is the tobacco, could anyone suggest a good Virginia?
:D

McCranie's Red Ribbon

Rattray Hal o' the Wynd

Sam Gawaith Best Brown Flake

Hartwell Signature
These are 4 of my faves. YMMV. :puffy:

 

aussielass

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 18, 2011
513
1
I'm having a devil of a time getting my head around smoking a pipe because I find I pretty much can't taste anything, certainly aren't getting the nicotine I need and it tastes worse and worse as I get to the end of the bowl regardless of what baccy I'm using and drawing on like there's no tomorrow.
Hell, I even forget I'm smoking a pipe and start looking around for my cigarellos because I'm having nicotine pangs. Then I suddenly remember I'm currently smoking and get totally disheatened. I do the drawback to try and get nicotine, but still nothing - in fact doing the drawback with a pipe is weird, the smoke goes into the lungs (you can feel it) but on exhaling, absolutely nothing comes out, unlike a cigarette or cigar - this has also been noted by my smoking friends who've tried my pipe when they've inhaled heavily.
I started smoking the pipe, not so I could "taste" different baccies, rather, I wanted it to fully replace the nicotine I was getting via inhaling small cigars - thus far it's a total fail all round. More cigars punctuated by frustrating bouts with the pipe. I may have to give it away as a failed experiment, but that's ok too.

 

smokey422

Can't Leave
Nov 20, 2011
335
0
My favorite VA (actually it is technically a VA/Per since it has some Perique) is Peretti's Park Square. Another really good VA/Per is Hearth and Home's Anniversary Kake, a Russ Ouellette blend.
I have read Greg Pease's advice to new smokers and he thinks they should try stronger tobaccos to pick up more on the flavors. I think this is pretty good advice so it might be worth a try. You might want to try other types of blends, too, in case you haven't.
Smokey

 
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