I’ve been thinking that I would like to add a meer to my “collection” of cobs and a a few briars. Would you recommend it to someone who has never smoked a meer over Turkish?
A Turkish meer going to color quicker and you’re getting more of a ‘traditional’ meer experience. I’ll know more about my African meer as I smoke it more, but since the Turkish meerschaum is of a higher purity, I’m assuming that the Turkish is slightly more absorbent. I can legitimately smoke unlimited bowls day after day in my Turkish meer and it doesn’t flinch. That said, the African meer smokes well in its own right and is certainly more durable. If you were dead set on the more rustic aesthetics of a certain African meer I wouldn’t hesitate on pulling the trigger on one as a first meer. Another thing to consider is whether or no you plan on taking the pipe out of your house. If you do, I would say either get a Turkish meerschaum with a case, or an African meer as they’re more durable. Some of the altinay pipes don’t come with a case which makes me not want to take my altinay meer out and about. You have to ultimately make your own decision but I would personally go with a high quality, Turkish meer as my first meerschaum pipe, which is in fact exactly what I did.
