no taste lower 1/2 of bowl

[smokertruck]

any ideas ? can taste upon lighting up & only taste first half of bowl no matter what the pipe or tobacco. lot of tobacco wasted . even the stronger blends ie erinmore flake.

 

[warren]

Almost defies logic. I can't see either the pipe or the blend causing the problem. So, that leaves your taster and smeller since they work together. Sinus problems? Virus? Anything similar occur when eating? Where you I, I'd see a medico, maybe an ENT.
I don't think this will help you but, it will help me read your post. Use your shift key on the first letter of each sentence, makes the post easier to read.

 

[mortonbriar]

Just to clarify, no taste, not bad taste?

 

[andrew]

Your tobacco could be too wet, which later down the bowl will cause for an unpleasent smoking/taste experience, at least in my experience.

 

[puffndave]

I went through a spell about a month ago when I could no longer taste my favorite tobaccos, after I had been smoking a little excessively. No infections, and no tongue bite that I could feel, and somebody here suggested it could be my palate that was fried! Haven't yet seen much to corroborate the existence of that ailment, but after backing away from my pipes for a few days I got my taste back.
I usually smoke until I can only taste the ashes, but that's because there's really nothing left but ashes, but before that no significant flavor change. I am a smidge concerned on the health effects of that habit.

 

[tuold]

I've had some tobaccos get better during the second half and some get worse. I've never had one not have any taste. Getting the tobacco ember too hot can make it tasteless. I think there is a "sweet spot" here you might be overstepping. If you take a mouthful of smoke, gently exhale a bit then sniff it into your nose, do you still not taste anything?

 

[cortezattic]

I think Andy, above, identified the problem: your smoking technique generates too much moisture.

Packing, puffing cadence, initial moisture content, and local humidity can all be sources of the problem.

John Patton has a workable set of rules:

• Dry your tobacco more than you think is necessary
  
  pack it more loosely than you think is correct
  
  puff more slowly.

Warren also makes some good points. Have you always had this problem, or does it seem like you're going thru some kind of phase?

You said that this problem persists across all pipes and tobaccos you've tried, but besides Erinmore, what do you smoke?
Cynical solution: only load half a bowl of tobacco. If necessary, buy a taller pipe. :lol:

 

[bigpond]

Are you using a lighter and getting the entire surface area glowing?

 

[darthcider]

I often have the other problem, too much flavour in the bottom half.

 

[seacaptain]

Probably smoking too hot and desensitizing your taste buds or your taste buds are really sensitive to heat. Something similar happens to me when I eat ice cream. Taste buds get too cold and I can't taste the last half of the bowl. When they "thaw out", they're fine. You could probably test the theory by drinking or eating something hot fairly quickly and see if you lose the taste before you finish.

 

[aldecaker]

Do you have any pipes with a conical bowl? If so, you may wish to try packing in a manner that leaves an air pocket at the bottom of the bowl. Cannonballing with ribbon cut will do the trick, as will carefully packing a bundle of intact flake vertically. The Z-fold seems to work with intact coins.

 

[smokertruck]

it does seem to be a smoking issue which i always had but not to this degree where even some foods are tasteless ie banana after smoking.
age is catching up
i would try a kendal twist but i am nicotine hipper sensitive so that is out -
i do intend to try the above suggestions.

 

[clickklick]

I'm with sea captain on this one.
Conditioning the palate should take care of the issue.