Matching tobacco and pipe

[AppalachianPipe92]

Keep it simple. Smoker whatever in any pipe.
Personally, when I get a new pipe, I'll smoke a variety of blends. When one "clicks", I'll smoke.other blends similar to that one. If that pipe seems to smoke those blends particularly well, u designate that pipe to that style blend.
Example would be a pipe that isn't smoking VA flakes the way I'd like it to. So I'd try a Burley ribbon cut blend in it. If the smoke experience was improved, that pipe would become a Burley pipe

Good luck, and don't over think it. More than one way to skin a cat

 

[Sgetz]

I only smoke a couple of bowls a week. But I have found it best to smoke flakes in a small pipe as otherwise I'd be on all day. Secondly, some tobaccos ghost a lot!. Ennerdale flake I'm looking at you. So I keep one pipe for it. Thirdly aromatics (like weird scarecrow that I just got in secret Santa) would also ghost a pipe so it's getting a cob.

So I think there can be many reasons for matching pipe to tobacco

 

[Old Film Guy]

Hi,
Not a direct answer to the question (not experienced enough to offer an opinion), but I am EXTREMELY impressed at how polite and thoughtful the responses have been. I am a new member to the forum, but have been a member of dozens of forums for various topics since forums began, and this is a breath of fresh air!
My sincere compliments and deep appreciation for the members here. I look forward to learning from you all and possibly even contributing on occasion if I can be relevent to the topic.
Cheers!

 

[gervais]

Individual preference though some newer smokers call it the gospel because a youtuber said so. If I do it, it's totally out of whimsy and because the pipe reminds me of the tobacco.


Yep

100% agree.

Smoke whatever you want IN whatever you want. I'm sorry, but the people who believe that a blend tastes different in a pipe because of its shape......I think it's all in their head.

Now bowl dimensions MIGHT play a role in how a blend will behave. Even still, the differences I've never been able to tell apart.

"Ghosting" is another thing all together, and of course it can and will affect flavour

 

[Searock Fan]

And the debate goes on.... As I posted above, I do believe some tobaccos smoke better in some pipes than in others. The brand of pipe can make a big difference. This is based on long years of experience and, I'm sure, over a thousand pipes tried. A thousand you say, how can that be? I used to buy and sell new and used pipes and I gave many of the used ones a test before putting them up for sale. I learned what I thought was good and what was not so much. Before deciding if you're going to match pipes and tobaccos, you should experiment and decide what works for you.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Why do people say to match your pipe with your tobacco? Can’t I just smoke any blend on whatever shaped tobacco? pipe?

Absolutely. Both pipe and tobacco can have whatever traits you like.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Try smoking a Virginia blend in a fresher pipe for a week to a month. Then smoke a latakia blend in the same pipe for a week, Now smoke the original Virginia blend in that pipe. If you don't taste a don't ghost, then it doesn't matter. If you easily taste the ghost but like it, it doesn't matter. If you're like me and you don't like that ghost, you should dedicate pipes to a specific genre.

Even smoking a VaPer in one of my Virginia dedicated pipes leaves a Perique ghost. I can distinctly taste it. If I want to taste Perique, I'll smoke a VaPer. I don't want to taste Perique when I'm smoking a straight Virginia. That's just me, YMMV and you should act accordingly.

Shape matters less to me than dedicating to a specific genre. But it matters, at least to me. I primarily smoke Virginia Flake I've found pipes with a bowl ID of 0.75" to 0.82" max work best for me. If I want to smoke an english blend, I'll use a larger bowl ID. That works for me. Everyone should experiment to find what works for them.

Experimenting with dedicating specific genres or blends to specific pipes and shapes to different blends isn't rocket science. Seems like any serious pipe smoker would invest a little time to discover if any of this matters to them, and if so, what results in best maximizing your smoking enjoyment.

 

[Briar Lee]

Smoke aromatics where others can smell your smoke. That usually means smaller pipes.

If it stinks smoke it while you are alone, or else you’ll be alone soon enough.

Latakia blends do best in big Sherlock Holmes looking pipes, mostly because you should be relaxing by yourself, for a long smoke.

 

[Indygrap]

The only rule I follow, keep in mind I’m a newer pipe smoker, is try aromatics in a cob before putting them in a briar. It reduces the risk of ghosting the briar with clashing flavors. The same might be true with a meerschaum, but I haven’t picked one up. Yet.
I’ve begun using some pipes, mostly straight, for tobacco without flavoring added & some, bent or cobs, for aros. The bent stem helps keep moisture from getting sucked up. Have fun experimenting & find what works for you.
It’s not a bad idea to get a reaming tool as well. Jic you get a ghost & need to get it out.

 

[JackOrion]

I start each pipe with a Virginia flake. Eventually I’ll make the decision if it’s going to be dedicated to a single blend or type of blend.

Occasionally I inherently know what the pipe will be used for right out of the gate. Such was a recent case with an ebony Lestrade. I knew before I purchased it was going to be an English blend vessel.

I have never had a pipe that gives me the perfect smoke 100% of the time. I believe my current state has just as much to do with a great smoke as does the pipe.

 

[ADKPiper]

I generally stick with a simple rule of thumb and I don't know if it's BS or not.
Virginia in tall skinny pipes. Burleys in short wide pipes.
And English is whatever pipe I happen to have handy.