New To tobacco pipe smoking

[ron45]

My father smoked a pipe for much of his life. I smoked cigs from 6th grade til 1974.

I lit up my first bowl of Borkum Riff a little bit ago. I'm having doubts. Could be cuz the pipe was a cheepo, I've seen most of the pipe smoking sites on youtube so I know just enough to be dangerous. The newly opened pkg. smelled interesting until I lit it! I remember trying several aromatics 30 years ago. Same the the tobacco smelled great. The smoke is not something I'd recommend. Had no trouble packing and lighting, I'm hoping it's the cheap pipe I bought on line. I was made by Mr. Borg. Bowl is pretty thick. It was pretty deep til I cut off about 3/4's of an inch. for the price it wasn't exactly heresy. I knew I didn't want to try to light and light and tamp an inch and a half of tobacco and smoke that much at once. The tobacco seems moist enough and it burned ok for the short time I smoked it. But I've been smoking cannabis for about a month and the taste is much better. I have a card from the County. I'm aware there are better pipe out there and have one on the way from Ebay. It was less then 50 bux. But not much.
I'm hoping I did something or am doing something wrong. I like the idea always did and often the aromatics smoked by others were pleasant enough. If they are tasting anything like what I just did... I appreciate their sacrifice.
Ron

 

[ron45]

To continue from above. How much does the cheap pipe I bought effect the taste of the tobacco? And was Borkum Riff a bad choice, I chose it because of the Name and the Three masted ship on the pkg. Not the wisest practice I know. But you have to start somewhere.
But I just relit the pipe and expelled the smoke thru my nose. The smell made no sense at all and was quite unpleasant, compared to smoking very good quality Cannabis which is full of volitile oils and compounds.
My thanks to everyone who shares their hard won wisdom and experience here. I know there are better smokes ahead.
Ron

 

[prairiedruid]

I've always found Borkum Riff blends smoke hot, tasteless and tend to bite me. Pipe smoking takes time to develop your technique of packing and smoking pace that works for you. Go slower than you think you need to. Sip your pipe also have water/tea/beverage to drink while you smoke. You should probably dedicate one pipe to cannabis and use a different pipe for tobacco, MM cobs are cheap and good smokers. Some blends that might appeal to you Carter Hall. Lane 1-Q, Prince Albert which all smoke well for a beginner. Depth of taste takes a few weeks for your palate to pick up so don't get discouraged when reading a review that lists 12 different flavors. Relax, take your time and things will improve.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

1+ to what prairiedruid said. I've not found many favorable opinions of Borkum Riff. I would instead look for some other OTCs, like Carter Hall and Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. Those are both exceptional pouch blends that I always circle back to. I'll get on a CH or SWRA binge and smoke the pouch up at times. Get a MM cob and a pouch of something else to try. It'll take time to develop your palate and the more you smoke, the quicker it'll develop, but I don't mean quicker by smoking a whole bowl in 15 minutes. I just mean the frequency. You want to take it slow and sip it; if the bowl gets too hot to touch, you're puffing too much and/or you're packing too tight. Pack it loose, puff it slowly, and sip some icy beverage while you smoke and you'll be fine. Glad to have you here and ask all the questions you want/need to. Happy puffing! ::

 

[crashthegrey]

Is the Mr. Brog briar or pear? It will give a substantially different flavor. I prefer briar. That may be an issue. And BR is definitely not my favorite tobacco.

 

[ron45]

Holy Somkes. Help already. And I haven't been idle in my quest for something more satisfying. Before I forget. I don't use the clunker [Borg] for cannsbis.
But it did get a rolling paper and twist up some of the Borkum Riff. There was a slight improvement but I think I've make a poor choice of tobacco for now. I will seek out some of your suggestions, some of which my Father smoked. I don't remember the wood used but am betting it's the pear.
Thinking about what happens in a pipe bowel, it' a stretch to imagine that amount heat for the short time I puffed this thing should't be stating fires in my bowl. this line of reasoning may not explain my troubles but I'm not overly attached to it and am eager to know more on this interesting subject.
Thanks
Ron

 

[nunnster]

Hello. Welcome to the forum. These guys are very knowledgeable and have given you good advice. I too would suggest a few things. What others have touched on I would recommend as well. Find yourself a cheep cob and try a totally different brand/type of tobacco. I've never enjoyed any Borkum Riff blend. If you live near a tobacco shop that sales bulk blends, I would strongly recommend visiting and picking out a blend there that appeals to you. It's usually pretty cheep to try out an ounce (less than 5 bucks) and if you dont like it, no harm done.
If there is not and only a few blends are available to you, then I would say to pick up a pouch of captain black, Carter Hall, or half and half. Depending on your area only one of those may be available to you where I currently reside, the only otc blend most places carry is cpt'n black.
Also I think that you are going to have to change your mindframe of smoking since your frame of reference is with cannabis. With tobacco, it is all about going slow and savoring the flavor. Cannabis is a sprint and an instant burst of flavor, where tobacco is more of a marathon and you have to tease out the flavor