I always recommend Escudo for a first time smoker. Yes I know it is a flake and flakes are alleged to be tough for a beginner but the reality is the extra time it may take to smoke a flake is worth it as the flavor of Escudo is worth the extra time. Escudo was the blend that made me fall in love with smoking a pipe. I had been a 20 year cigar smoker and a 25 year cigarette smoker when I picked up the pipe. Escudo was a revelation and it was not the first blend I tried. I don't know how much longer I would have stayed with the pipe if I had not tried Escudo.
When people recommend drug store pouches I believe you are setting up people to fail. These blends have little to no flavor, the ribbon cut makes them a hot smoker and the only thing they have going for them is a decent room note which should not matter to a first time smoker.
Flakes smoke cooler than any other cut of tobacco. If a new smokers goes online to learn how to cube cut a flake, I believe they are giving themselves a better shot at sticking with the pipe. Another blend I recommend to a new smoker is Dunhill Flake. I would recommend Fribourg & Tryer Cut Virginia Plug first, but that blend is difficult to find. Both Escudo and Dunhill Flake are easy to get. Dunhill Flake has some really nice caramel notes and is a naturally sweet tasting blend.
I also recommend people start with a good briar pipe and not a cob. I always tell people that again you will have a much better shot at enjoying pipe smoking if you have a good pipe that smokes cool and dry. Savinelli is the brand I always recommend as it is the most consistent brand for under 100.00. You can pay 60-75 bucks for a really good pipe that will make the tobacco you choose taste great. After all that is the reason we smoke a pipe, to taste really good tobacco. Smoking a cheap drug store blend with a cob is almost a guarantee to make people give up the pipe quickly. My first pipe was a Sav and I still smoke it from time to time 20 years later.
Hopefully this makes sense to some new smokers we have here on the site. If there is anyone who needs help with learning how to cube cut flakes, please get in touch with me. If you need a recommendation for a pipe, please get in touch. Pipe smoking is not a cheap hobby. If you balk at a 75.00 pipe then you really should re think even getting started with pipes and tobacco.