No Taste
- Thread starter Goofeyfoot
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I recently started smoking with some aromatics but have noticed that I enjoy the taste of 'heavier' blends. I also have trouble tasting the lighter tobaccos so I've reduced my smoking of them until I get more familiar with the pipe.
Today I started with an aromatic (4th generation morning blend) and got more flavor than normal. I went back to the same bowl later in the day and found it was too light so I packed a bowl of C&D oriental Silk which was delicious.
Today I started with an aromatic (4th generation morning blend) and got more flavor than normal. I went back to the same bowl later in the day and found it was too light so I packed a bowl of C&D oriental Silk which was delicious.
Cigars have a very distinct, pronounced and easy-to-elicit flavor. Pipe tobacco is more subtle and finicky. Many pipe smokers also smoke cigars and enjoy both but it requires changing your expectations. Even assuming you choose a flavorful tobacco (Latakia, aromatic), do all the prepping of your pipe correctly and draw gently (both of which are different from the way you enjoy cigars), you still have to recalibrate your taste buds. Poor analogy, but It's like the difference between coffee and green tea.
Yup!!! I had the loss of taste and smell. I'm living in a camper until my property is done. You know your senses are "Jacked" when you CANT smell the black water tank smells ??????. I considered myself lucky in that situation.
I have never tried the blends you said you smoke, so I can't talk about them. But I have smoked certain tobaccos that were tasteless. It reminded me of when I smoked cigarettes...just smoke in my mouth. When I went back to pipes, I understood why there are cigar and pipe connoisseurs...but not cigarette! 
I would just suggest you experiment with more blends. Give St. Bruno a whirl. Or Crooner.
I would just suggest you experiment with more blends. Give St. Bruno a whirl. Or Crooner.
Will do. Thanks.I have never tried the blends you said you smoke, so I can't talk about them. But I have smoked certain tobaccos that were tasteless. It reminded me of when I smoked cigarettes...just smoke in my mouth. When I went back to pipes, I understood why there are cigar and pipe connoisseurs...but not cigarette!
I would just suggest you experiment with more blends. Give St. Bruno a whirl. Or Crooner.
Everyone moves at different speed. Some might not pick up taste or flavor of pipe tobacco for awhile. Like suggested, try a blend or two with Latakia. You'll pick that up right away. It does take awhile before you can pick things up as to subtle notes.
Agree completely. I might suggest GL Pease’s Westminster—that worked for me!
When I started nothing had much taste except blends with Latakia. The palate will adjust for the more subtle blends in time, and technique improvement will help over time.
One blend that was a revelation early on, when I couldn’t taste aromatics, that I still really enjoy is Presbyterian. Flavourful but not overwhelming.
One blend that was a revelation early on, when I couldn’t taste aromatics, that I still really enjoy is Presbyterian. Flavourful but not overwhelming.
Trying English blends is a good idea but my advice would be to start with blends that use Latakia as a condiment.
Latakia is an acquired taste for some of us.
My first experience was a generous sample of Becks ol' Limey Bastard from 4noggins.
The bag note was dreadful that I described as "burnt rubber, asphalt and butt"
Of course I had to try it
Let's just say that it was much better after it had been mixed 50/50 with a straight Virginia [Windsail] One small bowl at night was nice, two bowls was one two many.
Now several years later, I still don't like 'Lat-bombs'.
Even blends that others describe as "well balanced", all I'm able to taste is Latakia.
My preference is for milder blends and would recommend these Latakia blends;
Jesses Own. [Also with a touch of Perique - very tasty]
Sutliff Sunrise [Early Morning Pipe Match]
Count Pulaski [a crossover semi-aro]
Ashtons Consummate Gentleman.
Dunhill/Peterson My Mixture BB1938.
Trying English blends is a good idea but my advice would be to start with blends that use Latakia as a condiment.
Latakia is an acquired taste for some of us.
My first experience was a generous sample of Becks ol' Limey Bastard from 4noggins.
The bag note was dreadful that I described as "burnt rubber, asphalt and butt"
Of course I had to try it
One small bowl at night was nice, two bowls was one two many.
Now several years later, I still don't like 'Lat-bombs'.
Even blends that others describe as "well balanced", all I'm able to taste is Latakia.
My preference is for milder blends and would recommend these Latakia blends;
Jesses Own. [Also with a touch of Perique - very tasty]
Sutliff Sunrise [Early Morning Pipe Match]
Count Pulaski [a crossover semi-aro]
Ashtons Consummate Gentleman.
Dunhill/Peterson My Mixture BB1938.
All of my suggestions are different from each other. The only thing they have in common is they all have Latakia.
Variety is woeful here in Nanny State Australia and the price for tobacco is outrageous, $125 for 50g.
Fortunately I found American on-line tobacconists and have accumulated a variety of bulk blends.
Whatever country you're in, try your luck by ordering on-line [Order bulk because from my experience, tinned baccy gets intercepted by Customs more frequently than bulk and by ordering at least 1lb at a time, it's way better value for money]
Before I found the internet I knew little about different types of tobacco leaf.
www.tobaccoreviews.com was a huge help in my education.
When trying a new blend, I'd read what leaf the blend contained, then the reviews from other smokers - JimInk reviews in-particular - and I got to learn why I liked certain blends.
Now when I read what's in a blend, I've a fair idea if it's something I'd like to try or not.
The reviews themselves usually completes the picture. [Based on the reviews, I have not ordered a blend that I didn't like]
Check out www.4noggins.com They post OS and know how to play the game.
Very helpful information. I’ll check out the reviews and see what I can do.
Hmm, lots of good questions and advise here. If you can taste food and other beverages then your taste buds should be operating normally. A lot of tobacco taste comes not only from taste buds but from your sense of smell. Can you smell normal everyday smells?
If you can taste and smell most everything else, then this inability to taste tobacco is quite perplexing. What’s the strongest tobacco you smoke? Heck, go bit some C&D pirate flake or Jack knife plug . If you can’t taste the flavors in those tobaccos, then I’m really stumped.
If you can taste and smell most everything else, then this inability to taste tobacco is quite perplexing. What’s the strongest tobacco you smoke? Heck, go bit some C&D pirate flake or Jack knife plug . If you can’t taste the flavors in those tobaccos, then I’m really stumped.
another two suggestions that are almost polar opposites. Write reviews. You don't have to publish them, but it literally primes your brain to pay more attention. It's a weird trick but it works. Sometimes if I find a blend blandish I'll decide to review it and suddenly pick up on things that seemed utterly intangible before. The other suggestion is to say screw it. And just smoke them without care or worry about flavor. Maybe do both. Both have worked really well for me. Either go all in or check out.
Have you possibly been smoking too much?
I find that if I over-do my smoking, I stop tasting the tobacco as well. If I leave it and don't smoke anything for a few days, the first bowl is delicious.
Also ... are your pipes well-rested and well-cleaned? That really does make a difference.
I find that if I over-do my smoking, I stop tasting the tobacco as well. If I leave it and don't smoke anything for a few days, the first bowl is delicious.
Also ... are your pipes well-rested and well-cleaned? That really does make a difference.
Sense of smell is pretty good. Am always the first to smell anything weird. Mostly mild blends is what I smoke.
I only smoke maybe two bowls a day. Large breaks between. I clean every time I use one. They sit for maybe five days before used again. Every fourth or fifth bowl I clean with whiskey or something. Spic and Span.
