I recently had an AHA that I'll share.
I have found that packing my pipe and then spending a few (5-20) minutes "smoking" it prior to lighting it, is actually delightful and beneficial.
Since I vary the pipes and blends I smoke, it provides me with some time to enjoy the vapors that come off of the tobacco, preparing me for the smoky delight to come. It also re-acquaints me with that particular pipe; the manner in which it "likes" to be smoked / breathed, and the various directions which that specific stem will be directing said smoky bliss in my palate. And finally, it seems to prepare / dry the tobacco quite perfectly for lighting, and has assisted with achieving a better light / char.
This is more relevant the more moist the blend.
I've decided that it's similar to one of the things I learned when I was "training" my wine palate in the past.
"The best place to aerate the wine is in the glass."
And thus I offer that perhaps it's similar for the tobacco.
Cheers.
I have found that packing my pipe and then spending a few (5-20) minutes "smoking" it prior to lighting it, is actually delightful and beneficial.
Since I vary the pipes and blends I smoke, it provides me with some time to enjoy the vapors that come off of the tobacco, preparing me for the smoky delight to come. It also re-acquaints me with that particular pipe; the manner in which it "likes" to be smoked / breathed, and the various directions which that specific stem will be directing said smoky bliss in my palate. And finally, it seems to prepare / dry the tobacco quite perfectly for lighting, and has assisted with achieving a better light / char.
This is more relevant the more moist the blend.
I've decided that it's similar to one of the things I learned when I was "training" my wine palate in the past.
"The best place to aerate the wine is in the glass."
And thus I offer that perhaps it's similar for the tobacco.
Cheers.