What's a Morta with you?
- Thread starter uperepik
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
I ordered a cheap Morta and was mortified over its construction, so I sent it back. It was made in an Eastern European country.
There are some around here who are quite familiar with that wood, and hope they see this thread. Some Morta wood is pretty light, IRRC.
There are some around here who are quite familiar with that wood, and hope they see this thread. Some Morta wood is pretty light, IRRC.
The way I understand it (as I haven't one yet, but plan on getting one soon) is that morta can be smoked often without resting, much like a meerschaum, whereas with briar it's best to let the pipe rest for 24 hours at least between smokes. This is debatable but seems to be the popular view on briar. Like briar, it's heat resistant and therefore a great material for pipes. I'm not 100% certain, but I believe ghosting isn't as much an issue with morta as with briar.
Morta smokers chime in please.
Morta smokers chime in please.
Morta is fun. Very light and heat resistant. Some adds a flavor to the smoke, similar to how briar can. Generally does best when blasted as the patterns and grain lines are really appealing.
It'll get hotter to the touch than briar but the hotness does not transfer into the smoke unless you puff like a freight train.
It'll get hotter to the touch than briar but the hotness does not transfer into the smoke unless you puff like a freight train.
I've heard that they can add a flavor to the smoke, but I have not tried one, mainly because I have heard that. Is it more common that not that a Morta pipe would add a flavor? What does it taste like? Does it go away eventually if it is there?
:puffpipe:
:puffpipe:
I've had morta pipes that smoke fairly neutrally from the word go and I've had pipes that have added a strong flavour but it does seem to disappear. If a pipe adds a flavour then in my experience it slips nicely into the background with English blends where as it's very noticable with Virginia blends, however one of my best Virginia pipes added a overpowering flavour when I first bought it but it went after 20+ bowls.
As for what morta tastes like, I've heard salty, sea weedy or a creosote type flavour but to me it kind of reminds me of an artifical dark fruit flavour but without any sweetness what so ever, it's not unpleasant. Ever pipe is different but alot of mine seem to increase the bass notes found in blends.
I love morta, it's light, not as fussy as briar and very handsome. In my opinion the perfect pipe material.
As for what morta tastes like, I've heard salty, sea weedy or a creosote type flavour but to me it kind of reminds me of an artifical dark fruit flavour but without any sweetness what so ever, it's not unpleasant. Ever pipe is different but alot of mine seem to increase the bass notes found in blends.
I love morta, it's light, not as fussy as briar and very handsome. In my opinion the perfect pipe material.
I have a couple of morta pipes that were completely flavor neutral from the first bowl. I know morta color runs from gold down to jet black, this is supposed to be due to age with the darker stuff being the oldest. Both of mine are a dark gray, has anyone noticed if darker or lighter morta is more prone to impart a flavor?
I got this morta a couple of months ago. It was made by local carver Jason Zeiner of Bethlehem, Pa. It smokes like a dream; as do all of Jason's pipes.
It is extremely light weight. After smoking wipe out the chamber with a paper towel and it's good to go again.
It is extremely light weight. After smoking wipe out the chamber with a paper towel and it's good to go again.
The Morta I get is 5000 year old from ukraine. However, I have heard tastes can range form neutral to sweet depending on the minerals and proportions present in the swamp the morta came from. I have also heard that the brown or gold morta tends to smoke bitter for the first few bowls, but have no personal experience with anything but the grayish black age.
The morta I have made pipes from tends to be on the sweet side with a very small hint of oak. It is very pleasant and definitely a top notch competitor to briar, although it is quite a bit more costly and as the supply runs dry, that price will keep going up. I would suggest diving into purchasing a morta pipe sooner rather than later because the price will only go up.
Example, a decent sized morta block, crack free, that can make a nice sized pipe costs the pipe maker between $45 and $60. And that doesn't guarantee a successful pipe as there can be grain fissures similar to briar that aren't apparent until getting into the block, as with anything organic.
So a pipe maker with bad luck is now in for 90-120$ just in wood cost for a single pipe.
The morta I have made pipes from tends to be on the sweet side with a very small hint of oak. It is very pleasant and definitely a top notch competitor to briar, although it is quite a bit more costly and as the supply runs dry, that price will keep going up. I would suggest diving into purchasing a morta pipe sooner rather than later because the price will only go up.
Example, a decent sized morta block, crack free, that can make a nice sized pipe costs the pipe maker between $45 and $60. And that doesn't guarantee a successful pipe as there can be grain fissures similar to briar that aren't apparent until getting into the block, as with anything organic.
So a pipe maker with bad luck is now in for 90-120$ just in wood cost for a single pipe.
Yes, I'd like to know more about weight/mineral content.
And, as to imparting a taste, a small about of morta was in an area inhabited by dinosaurs. Not a problem by itself, except they relieved themselves regularly on those trees.....
And, as to imparting a taste, a small about of morta was in an area inhabited by dinosaurs. Not a problem by itself, except they relieved themselves regularly on those trees.....
Papipeguy, that is an awesome looking morta!
I have morta pipes. They are wonderful smokers. I don't host pictures anywhere but here so i have to dredge thru them to find pics.
Top of this gaggle is my Duca 3B Morta. Possibly my favorite pipe of all:
Top of this pair is another Duca Morta:
And finally a Davorin Morta, not lightweight, but no amount of material in that size could be. Smokes awesome!
I highly recommend getting a morta. Mimmo Provenzano makes reasonably priced Mortas. I am also hunting a Becker, but that won't be cheap.
I have morta pipes. They are wonderful smokers. I don't host pictures anywhere but here so i have to dredge thru them to find pics.
Top of this gaggle is my Duca 3B Morta. Possibly my favorite pipe of all:
Top of this pair is another Duca Morta:
And finally a Davorin Morta, not lightweight, but no amount of material in that size could be. Smokes awesome!
I highly recommend getting a morta. Mimmo Provenzano makes reasonably priced Mortas. I am also hunting a Becker, but that won't be cheap.
The darker the morta, the older. Much of the black stuff has been carbon dated to 5500 years old. I've heard the blonde stuff has a stronger flavor, but I only like the black, so I can offer no personal experience. If you can get one, Vermont Freehand puts out the Norsedog, and it's a lovely pipe. There is no advantage over briar, in my opinion. I'll be totally honest, briar is your main pipe, everything else is a treat to be used in between. That being said, the lightness of morta is nice. I find the flavor addition is very subtle, and most agree that it pairs well with English blends. I personally like them with a smooth Virginia flake, it adds a subtle note of earthiness that is like blending a Virginia, but it is barely there. Should you own one good morta pipe, yes. Will it replace the time honored briar, no. YMMV.
- Status