Why is pipe tobacco "harsher" on my pallet and sinuses than cigars? I can smoke 3 cigars back to back and the next day be completely fine. I smoke one large bowl (of any kind of tobacco and blend) and I feel like my mouth and sinuses were rubbed raw. I've smoked with filters, I've smoked slowly, my tobacco isn't too wet or to dry. I don't smoke hot. I don't believe it's "tongue bite". Ive been smoking both for 4 years by now. Is it the way I draw the smoke in? That's the only thing I can think of. Please help because I'm about to sell all my tobacco (60+ jarred blends) and go all in on cigars. I've had good bowls but the bad is starting to out way the good. Thanks in advance.
Pipe Tobacco vs. Cigars question
- Thread starter stacy36
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Some people just have an easier go with cigars. I mean, I can start throwing guesses... not dry enough, packed too loosely or too tight, still drawing either too hard or too fast on the pipe... Pipes aren't easy, and you want to try to smoke a pipe with as little smoke to show as possible. Not to be mean, but maybe you are just more of a cigar guy than a pipe guy. Cigars are way easier.
Wow, I really sympathize with your experience. I’ve never heard of anyone having a similar response; in fact, it tends to go the other way, with folks finding cigars to be the harsher smoke.
You’ve listed just about every variable that would have occurred to me—smoking cadence, humidity levels, etc. The only thing you don’t mention, though, is what kind of tobaccos you’ve been smoking. Are they all aromatics? Virginias? Burleys? Latakia or perique blends? Assuming you’re experiencing this across the board—with every single pipe tobacco you’ve tried—Is there anything that all of your pipe tobaccos have in common?
It’s possible, I guess, that there are ingredients that are inherent to pipe-tobacco processing that aren’t present in cigars and that you’re having an adverse reaction to them. And, perhaps, the solution may be to sacrifice the pipe in favor of cigars.
But, my god: How have you accumulated over 60 jarred blends when you’re experiencing a reaction like this!? That makes it seem like you must have had good experiences with the pipe at some point…?
You’ve listed just about every variable that would have occurred to me—smoking cadence, humidity levels, etc. The only thing you don’t mention, though, is what kind of tobaccos you’ve been smoking. Are they all aromatics? Virginias? Burleys? Latakia or perique blends? Assuming you’re experiencing this across the board—with every single pipe tobacco you’ve tried—Is there anything that all of your pipe tobaccos have in common?
It’s possible, I guess, that there are ingredients that are inherent to pipe-tobacco processing that aren’t present in cigars and that you’re having an adverse reaction to them. And, perhaps, the solution may be to sacrifice the pipe in favor of cigars.
But, my god: How have you accumulated over 60 jarred blends when you’re experiencing a reaction like this!? That makes it seem like you must have had good experiences with the pipe at some point…?
It could be that your mucus membrane is getting dried out from the extended exposure to the heated air when you smoke. Are you staying hydrated while and after you smoke a pipe? I'm sure you'll get some good advice from other members that have been at this for longer than I.
Cigar tobacco is a more natural product than pipe tobacco wich have a lot of "pharmacy" on it. I do not smoke more than one or two pipes during the day and a cigar every night. If i try to smoke more pipes than that then i would have the same symptoms. We should know our limits wich are different in every smoker.
“Pharmacy”?
But just to clarify: This is not a universal reaction to pipe tobacco. If it were, I don’t think there would be any pipe smokers.
If I had any insight I'd throw it out there...
I don't usually lack compassion, but I'm actually wondering what's in your cellar
I don't usually lack compassion, but I'm actually wondering what's in your cellar
Hey, if he is selling it off because he hates pipes, you might get a good deal.If I had any insight I'd throw it out there...
I don't usually lack compassion, but I'm actually wondering what's in your cellar
You don't just smoke pipe. You have to experiment and find the way it works for you. Cigs and cigars, you lit them and start puffing. Not much involved. With pipe, everything you do counts toward what kind of reward you will get. Once you get there, it becomes automatic. But before that time, you have to think about what you are doing and change to meet your need.
I am suspicious that if you tried an experiment where you let a sample of pipe tobacco you have…. get really dry…. perhaps air dry for even a day or two for the experiment….. smoke that…. and I think there is a good chance you will not experience the harshness.
If the above turns out to be true for you…. then you will want to continue and experiment with how dry you NEED to avoid the negative effect but leaving in as much moisture to enhance your perception of flavor.
If the above turns out to be true for you…. then you will want to continue and experiment with how dry you NEED to avoid the negative effect but leaving in as much moisture to enhance your perception of flavor.
Try c&d dark burley. Straight.
This tobacco is pretty much cigar tobacco—it’s air cured and piled—but it’s much better in a pipe than most true cigar tobacco. I say this because my situation is similar to yours: most blends bother my mouth. For me straight dark burley was the solution.
This tobacco is pretty much cigar tobacco—it’s air cured and piled—but it’s much better in a pipe than most true cigar tobacco. I say this because my situation is similar to yours: most blends bother my mouth. For me straight dark burley was the solution.
I would guess that you are smoking your pipes too hard, puffing too much and sipping too little. With cigars you can drag the smoke in rambunctiously and it's okay, whereas with a pipe, that gets irritating on your mouth and airways.
If it is the tobacco, you could experiment with less processed non-aromatic blends and hold back on the vigorous puffing and that might help.
When I went from aromatic holiday pipe blends to non-aromatic blends, even strong ones, a lot of irritation disappeared. Now I choose my aromatics more carefully and smoke them as well.
If it is the tobacco, you could experiment with less processed non-aromatic blends and hold back on the vigorous puffing and that might help.
When I went from aromatic holiday pipe blends to non-aromatic blends, even strong ones, a lot of irritation disappeared. Now I choose my aromatics more carefully and smoke them as well.
I hate to put it this way but how do you know? How do you know it's not too this or that? I say this because it seems like peoples ideas of these things when they start are just off. The same thing happens with nasal snuff. My suggestion before packing it in, is to limit the number of pipes you smoke in a day (the issue maybe you're not letting the pipe rest) and the other is to focus on sipping not on rate of puffs. People talk about smoking slowly but smoking gently seems to do the trick in my opinion. To get an idea of what a sip is... get the pipe going lit and smoking. Then put the pipe in your mouth for a little while without drawing at all on it. You'll see how little effort or force is needed to smoke a pipe.
I don't have an answer to your question specifically, but with cigars the heat and smoke go through a natural filter... the butt of your cigar, whereas, with your pipe unless you're using a filter, the heat and smoke go directly into your mouth. If you're puffing to hard and/or too fast that heat and smoke can cause an irritation. So slowing down, and sipping your pipe as well as finding that right amount of dryness for your tobacco will go a long way. If you're smoking multiple bowls a day that could also be a cause, so maybe limit your pipes to a couple bowls a day. I find that drinking lukewarm coffee or iced coffee or beers like Guiness help coat my mouth and throat and sooth any irritations.
As a cigar and pipe smoker, I know if I leave my pipes alone for too long; when I come back to them, I have more tongue bite and irritation in my mouth/throat. Generally, because with cigars I will draw more frequently and harder than I would with my pipe, so I have to correct my draw and cadence when coming back to my pipes.
As a cigar and pipe smoker, I know if I leave my pipes alone for too long; when I come back to them, I have more tongue bite and irritation in my mouth/throat. Generally, because with cigars I will draw more frequently and harder than I would with my pipe, so I have to correct my draw and cadence when coming back to my pipes.
I struggle with it also. I have a sensitive mouth. Even some foods will cause me discomfort. I have some thoughts on the matter.
I think that pipes are in fact harsher on the mouth and sinuses than cigars. At least most people seem to find that this is the case. The average cigar is long and dense. That extra matter helps to filter and cool the smoke before it enters your mouth. When the smoke finally enters your mouth it enters through a relatively large hole. In contrast, a pipe bowl is not packed as densely and only offers about an inch or less of unburned tobacco to filter the smoke and vapors. A pipe bowl is not packed as densely as a cigar either. And when the smoke exits the pipe it does so through a very tiny pinhole in the stem.
As far as I know the tobacco in a cigar is very natural unadulterated tobacco. Whereas pipe tobacco is often heavily processed. This could also be a factor. Who knows what blenders are putting in pipe tobacco. I have some Prince Albert that has been drying out for weeks and it is still spongy. In comparison, I have some Gawith, Hoggarth, & Co tobacco that dried out fully and it turns to dust if I pinch it. Prince Albert is full of propylene glycol whereas the Gawith tobacco is not. I think I have read that some people are sensitive to propylene glycol.
What kind of pipes do you smoke? Do they have vulcanite stems? Vulcanite is rubber and some people are allergic to natural rubber products. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can contribute to mouth sores. Acid reflux will do it. So will a yeast/candida/thrush infection. Maybe there's something in the water. There are so many possibilities.
You say your tobacco is not too wet nor too dry. But maybe it should be? Why don't you try sopping wet tobacco and then try some bone dry tobacco?
I have read that what you light your pipe with matters. Butane lighters burn very hot, naptha lighters burn cooler, and matches burn the coolest. Maybe try using a naptha lighter or matches instead of a butane lighter.
I suck at pipe smoking and it has caused me considerable grief but it is better than my cigarette addiction. Nevertheless, I enjoy tobacco despite all the annoyances of pipe smoking.
I hate big pipes. I prefer to smoke the smallest pipes I can find. You would all laugh at the size of my tiny pipes. I pack them with strong shag tobacco and smoke them slowly. I let it go out all the time. Smoking this way is easier on my mouth. Get yourself a small pipe or even a clay pipe and pack it with some dried out shag.
Hopefully some of this helps you.
I think that pipes are in fact harsher on the mouth and sinuses than cigars. At least most people seem to find that this is the case. The average cigar is long and dense. That extra matter helps to filter and cool the smoke before it enters your mouth. When the smoke finally enters your mouth it enters through a relatively large hole. In contrast, a pipe bowl is not packed as densely and only offers about an inch or less of unburned tobacco to filter the smoke and vapors. A pipe bowl is not packed as densely as a cigar either. And when the smoke exits the pipe it does so through a very tiny pinhole in the stem.
As far as I know the tobacco in a cigar is very natural unadulterated tobacco. Whereas pipe tobacco is often heavily processed. This could also be a factor. Who knows what blenders are putting in pipe tobacco. I have some Prince Albert that has been drying out for weeks and it is still spongy. In comparison, I have some Gawith, Hoggarth, & Co tobacco that dried out fully and it turns to dust if I pinch it. Prince Albert is full of propylene glycol whereas the Gawith tobacco is not. I think I have read that some people are sensitive to propylene glycol.
What kind of pipes do you smoke? Do they have vulcanite stems? Vulcanite is rubber and some people are allergic to natural rubber products. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can contribute to mouth sores. Acid reflux will do it. So will a yeast/candida/thrush infection. Maybe there's something in the water. There are so many possibilities.
You say your tobacco is not too wet nor too dry. But maybe it should be? Why don't you try sopping wet tobacco and then try some bone dry tobacco?
I have read that what you light your pipe with matters. Butane lighters burn very hot, naptha lighters burn cooler, and matches burn the coolest. Maybe try using a naptha lighter or matches instead of a butane lighter.
I suck at pipe smoking and it has caused me considerable grief but it is better than my cigarette addiction. Nevertheless, I enjoy tobacco despite all the annoyances of pipe smoking.
I hate big pipes. I prefer to smoke the smallest pipes I can find. You would all laugh at the size of my tiny pipes. I pack them with strong shag tobacco and smoke them slowly. I let it go out all the time. Smoking this way is easier on my mouth. Get yourself a small pipe or even a clay pipe and pack it with some dried out shag.
Hopefully some of this helps you.
To possibly rule out additives or type of leaf in the pipe tobacco being the culprit, you might consider grinding up some portion of a cigar you know does not affect your mouth, and smoke it in a pipe. If you suffer after smoking that, we may discover it was technique at fault.
@rmbittner and @kgs replies got me thinking... Have you tried smoking cigar tobacco in a pipe? This might help narrow down some possibilities. You don't even have to tear open a whole cigar. You can cut off a part of the end of the cigar and shred that so that you can smoke it a pipe. And then smoke the rest of the same cigar to compare.