How Can People Taste Anything Without Retrohaling?

[Chasing Embers]

We are such pipe smoking badasses.

Smoke an estate pipe and prove it.

 

[brian64]

We are such pipe smoking badasses.

Umami wears combat boots.

 

[Irish Piper]

I've been trying to learn how to retrohale for the past couple of months and just can't seem to do it. For some reason the smoke refuses to move out of my mouth. I wish there was some way to see inside someone's mouth whilst they are doing it. I can only do it if I actually take the smoke into my lungs, which I don't like to do.

 

[brian64]

I've been trying to learn how to retrohale for the past couple of months and just can't seem to do it. For some reason the smoke refuses to move out of my mouth. I wish there was some way to see inside someone's mouth whilst they are doing it. I can only do it if I actually take the smoke into my lungs, which I don't like to do.

I've found that it helps to inhale air first before drawing on the pipe...then make sure your mouth is well closed before retrohaling. I find it more difficult to do while clenching because my lips aren't entirely sealed.

 

[olkofri]

Smoke an estate pipe and prove it.

I do it every time!!

All my pipes are pre-owned! Pre-owned by me!

?

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know but I never intentionally retrohale. It actually makes the experience gross. I taste what I am smoking even in a stiff wind, hell even if my nose is totally clogged up and I can't smell anything. Not sure why anyone needs to do anything to enhance their taste experience. Though sipping really helps a ton with flavor.

 

[sablebrush52]

Not sure why anyone needs to do anything to enhance their taste experience.

Because for many of us it works. I get a lot of flavors by mouth, but many, many more nuances come through when I snork. And it's not blowing the smoke out like a whale clearing its blow hole, it's a very gentle easing out so all of those receptors in my schnoz can pick up variations that out mouth isn't outfitted by nature to understand.
If you're happy with what you're doing, rock on. I like the extra dimensions to the blends that I get when I snork.
If you're an indoor smoker, you're picking it up anyway. I'm not.

 

[Kooky]

Because for many of us it works. I get a lot of flavors by mouth, but many, many more nuances come through when I snork. And it's not blowing the smoke out like a whale clearing its blow hole, it's a very gentle easing out so all of those receptors in my schnoz can pick up variations that out mouth isn't outfitted by nature to understand.
If you're happy with what you're doing, rock on. I like the extra dimensions to the blends that I get when I snork.
If you're an indoor smoker, you're picking it up anyway. I'm not.

I remember in a video I watched recently, they had once worn a blindfold with their nose pinched and took a bite of something. They were asked whether it was a red or green apple. They couldn't figure out which type of apple it was.

It was an onion.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do it every time!!

All my pipes are pre-owned! Pre-owned by me!

?

That's what I thought.

 

[sablebrush52]

I remember in a video I watched recently, they had once worn a blindfold with their nose pinched and took a bite of something. They were asked whether it was a red or green apple. They couldn't figure out which type of apple it was.

It was an onion.

And then there are those who wouldn't know it was an onion even if they were staring at it.

I've watched that blindfolded taste test, done without pinching off one's nose, on Hell's Kitchen and I marvel at how many professional chefs can't tell apple sauce from mashed potatoes.

 

[TheWhale13]

And then there are those who wouldn't know it was an onion even if they were staring at it.

I've watched that blindfolded taste test, done without pinching off one's nose, on Hell's Kitchen and I marvel at how many professional chefs can't apple sauce from mashed potatoes.

You eat with your eyes

 

[Kooky]

You eat with your eyes

I believe this saying is from Morocco? I have a tagine I use often.

 

[OzPiper]

I remember in a video I watched recently, they had once worn a blindfold with their nose pinched and took a bite of something. They were asked whether it was a red or green apple. They couldn't figure out which type of apple it was.

It was an onion.

I've seen a similar "blind" tasting with nostrils "pinched" conducted with tea/coffee with similar results.

I was very upset when I'd lost my sense of smell and not being able to distinguish a rare $1000 bottle of 18yo Yamazaki Sherry Cask from a basic $30 blended Suntory whisky.

I could have saved myself heaps by not having sinus surgery and being content with drinking cheaply ?

 

[Kooky]

I've seen a similar "blind" tasting with nostrils "pinched" conducted with tea/coffee with similar results.

I was very upset when I'd lost my sense of smell and not being able to distinguish a rare $1000 bottle of 18yo Yamazaki Sherry Cask from a basic $30 blended Suntory whisky.
I could have saved myself heaps iby not having sinus surgery and being content with drinking cheaply ?

I am smoking PS17 English Luxury as we speak. It’s the only blend that hasn’t scorched my nose on the way out and is utterly pleasant and delicious. Not sure if my nose is now used to it or it’s the blend.

 

[brian64]

And it's not blowing the smoke out like a whale clearing its blow hole

Well the OP is @TheWhale13

 

[OverMountain]

Because for many of us it works. I get a lot of flavors by mouth, but many, many more nuances come through when I snork. And it's not blowing the smoke out like a whale clearing its blow hole, it's a very gentle easing out so all of those receptors in my schnoz can pick up variations that out mouth isn't outfitted by nature to understand.
If you're happy with what you're doing, rock on. I like the extra dimensions to the blends that I get when I snork.
If you're an indoor smoker, you're picking it up anyway. I'm not.

The mental image of a whale doing a submarine emergency blow of smoke is perfect. ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

The mental image of a whale doing a submarine emergency blow of smoke is perfect. ?

 

[anotherbob]

Because for many of us it works. I get a lot of flavors by mouth, but many, many more nuances come through when I snork. And it's not blowing the smoke out like a whale clearing its blow hole, it's a very gentle easing out so all of those receptors in my schnoz can pick up variations that out mouth isn't outfitted by nature to understand.
If you're happy with what you're doing, rock on. I like the extra dimensions to the blends that I get when I snork.
If you're an indoor smoker, you're picking it up anyway. I'm not.

I was trying to in a way match the tone of the original post.
How do people get any flavor aside from ash and smoke without retrohales?
I almost never smoke indoors and find the best way to increase any flavor or nuance is just to slow down. Ironically even a light retro hale gives me more ash and tar and less of the good stuff.
I think it kind of annoys me when people start working on the supposition that things work the same for everyone as they do for themselves. Gets me slightly peevish.

 

[anotherbob]

And then there are those who wouldn't know it was an onion even if they were staring at it.

I've watched that blindfolded taste test, done without pinching off one's nose, on Hell's Kitchen and I marvel at how many professional chefs can't tell apple sauce from mashed potatoes.

I take it you haven't worked in many kitchens. I've worked with enough chefs who have burnt their taste buds away.

 

[olkofri]

I think it kind of annoys me when people start working on the supposition that things work the same for everyone as they do for themselves. Gets me slightly peevish.

Ergo the tone of my first reply to this post.

Yeah, yeah, I've read the science behind olfactory sensors coadyuvating the sense of taste, but not only do I know from personal experience that it IS possible to taste the blends' flavours without retrohaling—even the tin note from aromatics that others also find "impossible" to taste—, I also know at least one anosmic person who can taste just fine even though She can't smell.