Losing My Taste For Tobacco

[Lumbridge]

I haven't been very active on here for a while because my enjoyment of tobacco has diminished considerably, but I'm curious to hear if anyone else here has had an experience similar to mine. I've been having taste issues going back about five years now, starting before the pandemic, so I know it isn't C19 related. At first, I began to notice that I could hardly taste the smokyness in latakia. It progressed until all latakia blends eventually just tasted like nothing but ash and wet cardboard.

Gradually, my taste for other tobaccos has diminished as well, and now I can hardly taste anything besides aromatic toppings. It fluctuates, and sometimes I can get some small amount of flavor from a burley or Virginia, a bit from perique at times, but never from Latakia. DFK mostly tastes flat and boring. I have also noticed that whiskey and other liquor tastes weird and mostly flavorless. Food tastes normal. That is what stumps me.

My dental hygiene is pretty good these days, and I know I don't have a brain tumor or anything because I've seen a neurologist for other reasons. I can't figure out what the problem might be, and it's kind of maddening.

So, I'm thinking about selling off my tin collection. I don't see much point in keeping all of it if I can't taste most tobacco properly, and there seems to be no end in sight. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

 

[sablebrush52]

I haven't been very active on here for a while because my enjoyment of tobacco has diminished considerably, but I'm curious to hear if anyone else here has had an experience similar to mine. I've been having taste issues going back about five years now, starting before the pandemic, so I know it isn't C19 related. At first, I began to notice that I could hardly taste the smokyness in latakia. It progressed until all latakia blends eventually just tasted like nothing but ash and wet cardboard.

Gradually, my taste for other tobaccos has diminished as well, and now I can hardly taste anything besides aromatic toppings. It fluctuates, and sometimes I can get some small amount of flavor from a burley or Virginia, a bit from perique at times, but never from Latakia. DFK mostly tastes flat and boring. I have also noticed that whiskey and other liquor tastes weird and mostly flavorless. Food tastes normal. That is what stumps me.

My dental hygiene is pretty good these days, and I know I don't have a brain tumor or anything because I've seen a neurologist for other reasons. I can't figure out what the problem might be, and it's kind of maddening.

So, I'm thinking about selling off my tin collection. I don't see much point in keeping all of it if I can't taste most tobacco properly, and there seems to be no end in sight. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

I went through something similar about 35-40 years ago. The flavors were fading, so I quit smoking for several years. Really, I just lost interest.
After about 5 years I felt like giving it another go and I was happy to find that the flavors came back in spades. To this day, I’ll take a break for a few weeks if my palate is getting tired and that always helps.

 

[BingBong]

I haven't been very active on here for a while because my enjoyment of tobacco has diminished considerably, but I'm curious to hear if anyone else here has had an experience similar to mine. I've been having taste issues going back about five years now, starting before the pandemic, so I know it isn't C19 related. At first, I began to notice that I could hardly taste the smokyness in latakia. It progressed until all latakia blends eventually just tasted like nothing but ash and wet cardboard.

Gradually, my taste for other tobaccos has diminished as well, and now I can hardly taste anything besides aromatic toppings. It fluctuates, and sometimes I can get some small amount of flavor from a burley or Virginia, a bit from perique at times, but never from Latakia. DFK mostly tastes flat and boring. I have also noticed that whiskey and other liquor tastes weird and mostly flavorless. Food tastes normal. That is what stumps me.

My dental hygiene is pretty good these days, and I know I don't have a brain tumor or anything because I've seen a neurologist for other reasons. I can't figure out what the problem might be, and it's kind of maddening.

So, I'm thinking about selling off my tin collection. I don't see much point in keeping all of it if I can't taste most tobacco properly, and there seems to be no end in sight. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

This has only happened to me owing to serious life-threatening health issues and treatment with large amounts of strong antibiotics - I stopped completely for some months and again some time later owing to further treatment. When I was "well enough" to try again I could get the basic taste of a blend but none of the nuances that made it a pleasure. I carried on smoking the last time all was lost and eventually there was a glimmer of hope, but it took forever to get 100%.

Like you, I could taste food ok. I don't know how that happens either. Have you had blood tests? I had serious anaemia as a side, hg count was down to 70 for a long time and later, struggled to get over 100 (target 130).

 

[Lumbridge]

I went through something similar about 35-40 years ago. The flavors were fading, so I quit smoking for several years. Really, I just lost interest.
After about 5 years I felt like giving it another go and I was happy to find that the flavors came back in spades. To this day, I’ll take a break for a few weeks if my palate is getting tired and that always helps.

I'm an intermittent smoker, taking frequent breaks for weeks or months at a time and coming back to it when I have the time and inclination. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to help.

 

[Lumbridge]

Have you had blood tests? I had serious anaemia as a side, hg count was down to 70 for a long time and later, struggled to get over 100 (target 130).

Yes, I've been told that I'm in near-perfect health by my doctors. It remains a mystery. I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've had, but I'm glad things have improved.

 

[Zeno Marx]

allergies? Between C-19 2 or 3 times, and allergies developing before the pandemic, I've lost a lot of taste. I've considered moving to another part of the country.

have you tried pre-smoking preparation? as in, food or drink, to prepare your taste buds. Traditional compliments, like whiskey, cognac, wine, chocolate, etc. they've helped me a little.

 

[fireground_piper]

I'm curious, what about something like a cigar? BBQ food?

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

just stop for a while - see if it does anything
it could be psychosomatic - you may deep down in your conscious not be interested in smoking - nothing wrong with it

 

[philobeddoe]

Have you tried deep cleaning your pipes, I’m talking salt/alcohol treatment or a retort? I have found that even though I keep my pipes clean and don’t keep a cake in any of my pipes, that a general sourness or ”blandification” can sneak up on me over time. That pipe will just not let the tobacco shine like it used to and I eventually realize it needs a deeper cleaning.

 

[jpberg]

I lost my sense of taste after a wuhan bout.
Never got it back, but I still love to smoke.
Is anything else going on with you?

 

[AndyNJ]

Does it extend to certain foods also, wines, maybe spirits, deserts? Or strictly tobacco. I like the idea of cleaning the pipes pr even trying a fresh Meer.

 

[Scottmi]

Well.... consider it a blessing and go forward with new adventures? Nothing bad about not doing what has no enjoyment, and no need to look back.

 

[Egg Shen]

Did you stop retrohaling, or start trimming your nose hair? Are you underhydrated? Is your sense of taste tarnished because you drink a lot of coffee and/or liquor? Could be allergies too. Maybe just take a hiatus or try a new blend.

 

[Grangerous]

I stop during extreme summer and winter months. The fall is the most desirable season for pipe enjoyment.

When I first come back it takes a while. I’m sure others may agree that the more your smoke the better it tastes. I find that to be quite true.

I also find pipe smoking to require a right frame of mind. For example, if I light a pipe among friends on a cigar night, my pipe tastes like hot air.

But with my morning cup of coffee, crisp fall weather, some peace and quiet, flavors find me.

 

[sardonicus87]

How old are you now? It's not uncommon as we age to lose some of our ability to taste in general, though it's odd that it doesn't seem to affect food, unless it does and you haven't really recognized it as much with food, since food is a bit different as a necessity. How are non-essential meals, like say treats and stuff, any loss in flavor there?

But then again, not all taste loss is even, like you might have a diminishing ability to taste sweet but not bitter for instance, and so some flavors will diminish while some will stay the same and others change.

But, that's just one potential factor, and everyone's affected differently and to different degrees in that regard anyway.

 

[woodsroad]

...Gradually, my taste for other tobaccos has diminished as well, and now I can hardly taste anything besides aromatic toppings....

Pipe tobacco ain't what it used to be, even five years ago. I find that a lot of it tastes pretty bland these days.

 

[Lumbridge]

allergies? Between C-19 2 or 3 times, and allergies developing before the pandemic, I've lost a lot of taste. I've considered moving to another part of the country.

have you tried pre-smoking preparation? as in, food or drink, to prepare your taste buds. Traditional compliments, like whiskey, cognac, wine, chocolate, etc. they've helped me a little.

I've considered that it might be allergies, but it's a year-round problem.
I don't typically drink at the same time as smoking. I feel like it dries my mouth out too much, especially liquor. I do keep water or coffee on hand, though.

 

[Lumbridge]

I'm curious, what about something like a cigar? BBQ food?

Cigars taste similarly bland. I haven't noticed any differences with any type of food, just tobacco and alcohol.

 

[bullet08]

Take couple of years off. Your system might be fatigued from smoking. Happens with Lat smoker. It happens with vape smokers. It happens with cig smokers. No need to sell you tobacco. After couple of years, they might taste great again after a readjustment period.

 

[Lumbridge]

How old are you now? It's not uncommon as we age to lose some of our ability to taste in general, though it's odd that it doesn't seem to affect food, unless it does and you haven't really recognized it as much with food, since food is a bit different as a necessity. How are non-essential meals, like say treats and stuff, any loss in flavor there?

But then again, not all taste loss is even, like you might have a diminishing ability to taste sweet but not bitter for instance, and so some flavors will diminish while some will stay the same and others change.

But, that's just one potential factor, and everyone's affected differently and to different degrees in that regard anyway.

31, probably too young to be affected by any age-related sensory loss. As far as I can tell, all food tastes normal. Spirits often taste sour, and I can't really taste the smoke in a smoky single malt whisky anymore.