How many bowls does it take?

[slowpuffer]

I have a question that I've been wondering about as I read tobacco reviews. How many bowls of a blend do you smoke before you decide whether you like it or not or review it? I wonder because when I first picked up the pipe, I had a bad habit of deciding on the first bowl (this eventually led to some wasted tobacco). Now that I'm more mature, I prefer to smoke at least a half dozen bowls over the course of a couple weeks before I decide.
So, what is your answer?

 

[terry]

Am I the only one seeing double posts on this thread?

 

[cortezattic]

I figure I know a blend pretty well after smoking about an ounce -- for me that's about 6 or 8 bowls.

If I don't like a blend at any time before that, I'll bottle it up in a Mason jar and sample it periodically.

Many, many times I've returned to a blend under various conditions and found it better than the early

impressions. I will rarely give up on a blend completely unless it's a cheap OTC brand.

 

[spartan]

I will smoke as many bowls as I can stand. Even after I have decided that a certain blend is 100% not for me... If there's some still laying around I tend to forget how bad it was, and I'll try it again.
I say 1-2oz is my average depending on the bowl size. Small bowl, 1oz. Large bowl, 2 oz.

 

[judcole]

It depends on the blend. I try to give everything a fair chance, but some blends I can tell right away are not my cuppa.

 

[slowpuffer]

Moderators, I think I double posted this thread by hitting the send post button more than once. The first time I hit it, my internet lost connectivity and I didn't think it worked so I hit it again after reconnecting. Please fix as you see fit.

 

[puffy]

For me it's usually about two bowls.

 

[jchaplick]

I will smoke about half of the tin (50g) which usually is about 10 bowls or less. I only do that if I really dont think I will like it. Lets say I really cant stand a blend, ill do the whole test period. If I like it, or I kind of like it, I just keep smoking it until its gone. Usually it gets better and better

 

[dervis]

I normally give a blend a 4-5 tries in as many different pipes. If it still comes up as a bust I just store for a few months. A few of my favs (AM pipe as example) started out as horrible to me, 5 months later its my first pipe of the day every day.

 

[nsfisher]

Usually on the first bowl or 2 I will decide if I like a blend. However, I will shelf it and try again in a week or 2. If I am still indifferent to it, I will repeat the process. The only time I deviate from this is if I feel the tounge burning, then it goes in the "Never smoke again" shelf and gets gifted or traded out.

 

[rlunderhill]

It depends a lot on your pipe to. I always try new blends in many different pipes. I hated tobacco in some pipes and shelved it. Then tried it again in a different pipe after aging some and it tasted different. I have some tins of tobacco that I almost threw out, then I re-tried and now it's a keeper. Your tastes change as time goes on to.

I hated Balkan blends. Now, I love Balkan blends. So, I put it away and save it for later.

 

[stogie37]

It depends a lot on your pipe...

This is true. I need to really be sure to try blends in pipes with different chamber dimensions before writing them off. Great point.

 

[mountainman]

I agree I will try a blend in each pipe. If I still don't like it I will shelve for a few months.

 

[checotah]

Usually try to give a new blend about 5 bowls, spaced a few days apart if the first one is questionable. Have run onto some that benefit from some aging. Have also run across the very rare that just don't get past the 2nd bowl. Every one deserves a 2nd bowl.

 

[loki993]

It depends for me, some I know right off that I like them others take a little bit. Of course I'm still new. Now most of the time I know within a bowl or 2 whether or not I'm going to like something or not. I do have some Havana Daydream though that I smoked 2 bowls of, hated it and jarred up. Hmm Its been in there a little bit now maybe Ill try it again.

 

[markw4mms]

I usually know within a half dozen bowls if it's something I really like or not.

 

[cigrmaster]

I can usually tell within 4-5 bowls whether or not I am going to continue smoking a particular blend. There have been a few times when 1 or 2 bowls was all I needed. Example being 1792 flake, that was some nasty stuff and I could only stomach 2 bowls of it.

 

[riptide]

I will usually know with in a few bowels if I like a blend.