Having Taste Issues

[rjscha]

Sip on the pipe. Don't take long drags. Even if the pipe goes out, your goal is to find the temperature where the flavor starts coming through. If it goes out, let the bowl cool down completely before relighting and trying again. Then you just have to learn how to pack/smoke to keep it at that temp all the way through. Believe me, I'm still learning.
And if you have tongue bite, you may need to take a day or two off to let your taste buds recover. Every time I've pushed it too hard I lose the ability to taste for a while--even after my tongue feels ok again.
+1 for keeping your pipes clean.

 

[easterntraveler]

Everytime I have gone through learning to smoke cigars, hookah, and my pipe I always tasted the same thing. No matter the cigar,flavor of the shisha or type of pipe tobacco it always came down to heat managent.

 

[mso489]

I've just gone back to non-blended bulk tobaccos, McClelland Red Va. Cake, and Lanes Ltd. Burley,

and these are nice in rotation with more complex blends. This might provide a base line, then move

to blends. An idea to consider.

 

[andrew]

You have to dedicate pipes to blends, if you smoke an english blend and then try an aromatic in the same pipe it will probably taste like crap. Learning to gauge what tobacco for what pipe is part of the art. First bowl I ever had was regimental standard and I fell in love, first time smoking a pipe ever. Also some tobacco's simply have a natural taste like Virginia's, and for most pipe smokers including myself are the last tobacco you learn to appreciate. I highly reccomend starting with lighter blends rather than non blended, as the only non blended tobacco I like is premium Virginia, but didn't like Virginia u til after about 2 years of smoking a pipe. But sticking with certain blends to pipes is very important, this is why I'm at 16 pipes already in my 3rd year smoking. Pipes and cigars are much different, nothing beats a good cigar, but a good cigar is too expensive for me unless its a very special occasion, then it's a Monte cristo #4

 

[sparroa]

Smoking your pipes indiscriminately is a guaranteed way to get modest returns.
If you dedicate them to one style or another, you will get greater clarity of flavour...
I would encourage pipe smokers to try straight Virginia blends as soon as they get a grasp of the basics of pipe smoking. The taste of this strain of natural tobacco is quite extraordinary and, IMO, it easily defeats any aromatic on the market. Like a fine coffee or wine or cigar, however, it may take some getting used to...

 

[cigrmaster]

Welcome to the forum Louie. I would suggest getting a tin of Escudo, it was the blend that opened my eyes to how good a pipe can be. I was a 20 plus year cigar smoker when I took up the pipe and that blend had the flavor I was looking for.
Also when you are done packing your pipe, check the draw, if you do not feel some decent resistance pack it firmer, many new smokers pack too loosely and it will go out all the time.Also you need to dump ash occasionally so you are not trying to smoke through a pipe of burnt tobacco. You will eventually find your smoking cadence which will produce a cool and sweet smoke, it takes time. Pipes are nothing like cigars and there is a very high learning curve to them, but once you get it the rewards are worth it.

 

[captainbob]

+1 Jud,
Based on what you have enjoyed with cigars, you might do well to try a cigar blend or an English Blend (contains Latakia). You strike me as a smoker who needs a stronger non-aromatic blend because you enjoy cigars. Lou, if you can speak to a tobacconist, he may be able to help you. Sometimes, a cigar smoker has a difficult time making the transfer. I'll add, that smoking a pipe after smoking a cigar will prevent your taste buds from enjoying the pipe tobacco. That is my experience. See what you think about the pipe, smoke the pipe before your palate is saturated from a cigar and go from there. I hope this helps you.

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[cigrmaster]

Bob make a great point about a cigar overwhelming your palate for you to truly enjoy pipe tobacco. When I was smoking both cigars and pipes, I found it very difficult to appreciate my pipe tobacco after smoking a cigar. I would give your palate a 2 day rest after smoking a cigar before you try the pipe.

 

[bludgeoningdeath]

If one has been smoking aromatics and Virginia's in the same pipes should an alchohol cleaning be done to cleanse the bowl of the pipes and rid it of ghost flavors? I know Latakia will produce a strong ghost flavor in a pipe but I hadn't heard before that aromatics and other types should be seperated.