Best Tobacco to Break in a New Pipe ?

[huckleberry]

I just got my first expensive pipe, (at least expensive to me) and I'm going to smoke me some Watch City Cigars "Simply Red" for my first bowl!

Because.... I simply like it!!

oh...my new pipe is a nice looking Barling 1819 smooth....it just "Spoke" to me in the Pipe and Tobaccy store...and it just kept saying, "Take Me, Take ME".... so I did!!

 

[Hunter1]

Thanks everyone.

 

[judcole]

I'm of the "neutral tobacco" school for breaking in a new pipe. When I get a new pipe,I smoke one full bowl a day for two weeks, then let it rest for another couple of weeks. I use Virginias and burleys - Lane RR, Sutliff Virginia Slices, PS Natural Dutch Cavendish.

 

[Hunter1]

Just had my first bowl full of Nutty Irishman in the pipe. Everything was great.

 

[LeafErikson]

I like go pack the pipe 1/20 full of captain black and relight it at the heel 40x so that the airway is charred and I end up getting less for it when I trade it in to SPC.

 

[mso489]

I vote with those who already said to smoke what you like. Unless you are designating a pipe, I wouldn't use Lakelands aromatics, or heavy Latakia if you are sensitive to that ghosting, but in general, it doesn't matter.

The point is to smoke something you enjoy, and not necessarily just one blend, and to smoke the pipe enough, giving it a days rest between smokes, so you develop a carbon coating. Personally, I don't build cake, just scoop out the ash and wipe out the bowl with an abrasive paper towel, but cake building is your call. Do what you do.

The idea is also to "learn" the pipe, its draw, its airway, its balance, its bit, its texture. Usually, this is all a pleasure, or a little learning curve that is a pleasure by the third bowl or so.

Relax, go with the flow. This isn't a job interview or buying a car. You already own the pipe; now make friends with it.

I'm a burley devotee, so often I go in that direction, but not always.

 

[FurCoat]

It is my unscientific theory that the first tobacco smoked in a new pipe will to some degree forever permeate the bowl of that pipe. As such, I like to smoke a neutral flavored tobacco for the first few bowls. A good burley or Virginia works for me. Having said that, if you love English or aromatics, let her rip. It's your pipe so smoke what you enjoy.

This would be my advice.

 

[Zamora]

I'm old school, Carter Hall of course.

Virginias are a common reccomendation for break in instead of burley, so CH or H&H would be perfect to get both

 

[jerry]

I like to break in a new pipe with whatever is my current favorite tobacco.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I have some Mac Baren Plum Cake coming soon. Also some peaches and cream flavored tobacco, just an ounce to see if I like it. Breaking in is progressing on several pipes with Captain Black. I gave up on peach brandy infusion. Just did not seem to work.

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

You can break in a pipe with any tobacco you like, it really doesn't matter too much, though I've always had a preference for Carter Hall or Prince Albert since they burn cool and quickly and leave behind an unusually thick non-sticky neutral tasting carbon layer; making them faster at building a cake to protect the inside of the bowl than most blends and they don't leave any sort of ghost behind.

 

[Hillcrest]

Title edited for cap. See Rule 9, please.

Question, I smoke English blends, English aromatics, and full areo's. Is it better to break a new pipe in with non areo's or will it matter? I do keep some pipes just for my English , and most for my Areo's. Or will that matter ? can you smoke whatever in any pipe ? Man I really love smoking a pipe.and trying different tobaccos. Thanks.

Best tobacco I've found for really building up a carbon layer is Sutliff Sweet Virginia. It burns to a white ash and really, really clings to the bowl. Just 2 cents adjusted for inflation.

 

[Singularis]

The one you like best with the least amount of topping.

 

[anotherbob]

I think the question is why do you smoke a pipe. Are you a purist who wants and enjoys getting the purist tastes or do you enjoy smoking a pipe and enjoying what ever flavor you are getting from it at the time. Seriously a lot of times that's the question with these things what is your aim.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I just got my first expensive pipe, (at least expensive to me) and I'm going to smoke me some Watch City Cigars "Simply Red" for my first bowl!

Because.... I simply like it!!

oh...my new pipe is a nice looking Barling 1819 smooth....it just "Spoke" to me in the Pipe and Tobaccy store...and it just kept saying, "Take Me, Take ME".... so I did!!

Your motto at the end was not by George Carlin, but Mark Twain, who had lots of experience arguing with idiots.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Your motto at the end was not by George Carlin, but Mark Twain, who had lots of experience arguing with idiots.

"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” —George Carlin

Huckleberry has not been seen here for some six months.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” —George Carlin

Huckleberry has not been seen here for some six months.

That's too bad. As soon as I posted this remark I feared it would not be received well.