Pondering How The Same Pipe/Blend Tastes Different On Different Days, etc.

[Sam Gamgee]

First, a bit of history...
I've been smoking pipes for a long time, but only in the past few months have I come to see it as a hobby, or lifestyle, or "a thing," as folk are fond of saying today. For most of that time it's just been something I do while mowing the grass, working around the house, or taking a break.

I never fussed over my pipes, never cleaned them, etc. I'd just set them aside till I wanted to smoke again, and if one was clogged I'd clean it out (often times with a small twig I'd find in my yard) and away I'd go again. This haphazard approach is unlike anything I've ever done in any other hobby I've had. And it was only recently when I began to get frustrated finding a good-tasting tobacco that I began to read about pipes, watch YT videos, etc. And now, after 15 years, I find myself fully immersed.

I've also listened to lots of pipe-related podcasts this year and my approach does not seem typical. The typical one seems to be a person getting his first pipe, and then diving into the lifestyle right away (buying different pipes, blends, etc.).

Now on to my pondering...
Autumn weather is the best for pipe-smoking, so this week I've enjoyed a bowl each day on my drive home from work. Every day it was the same (Peterson) pipe with the same (Stokkebye's Nougat) tobacco. One day the taste and experience was nothing short of glorious: the kind of day when one is reminded why he stuck with pipe-smoking. Another day was just ok. And another day was even a bit underwhelming. Other days might fall somewhere in between these extremes.

But I also noticed that on the days where my palate was pretty much wiped clean (i.e. I only drank water for the previous few hours before smoking), this would enhance my smoking experience. On other days I might have an Altoid mint a few minutes before smoking, or I might have eaten an apple on the walk to my truck after work: these things colored my palate and made my pipe less enjoyable.

I also noticed this week that after-dinner smokes varied in enjoyment based on the food I ate. If the food was standard fare and sort of plain, the pipe tasted better. One night we had Mexican food for dinner and the pipe didn't go well with the after-taste of the spicy food. If I drank water or beer with dinner, it made for a better pipe; if I had soda pop it made the pipe too sweet and less enjoyable.

In all my pipe-smoking years I'd never noticed any of these things. I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

 

[OverMountain]

Sam, those are some good observations that I can’t say I have experienced personally. You seem to be detailed oriented and curious.

One of the only things that befuddles me with the pipe is the lack of reliable consistency. Pipe care, tobacco selection and drying, filter use (or not), breath technique chasing the ember….as much as I try and control variability my experiences range from “meh” to “wow that’s good” with no rhyme or reason.

Im not sure it’s related to food or drink, but I have a wide range of experience that I can’t explain.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Sam, those are some good observations that I can’t say I have experienced personally. You seem to be detailed oriented and curious.

One of the only things that befuddles me with the pipe is the lack of reliable consistency. Pipe care, tobacco selection and drying, filter use (or not), breath technique chasing the ember….as much as I try and control variability my experiences range from “meh” to “wow that’s good” with no rhyme or reason.

Im not sure it’s related to food or drink, but I have a wide range of experience that I can’t explain.

You mentioned technique, breathing, etc. That's something I've become aware of listening to the Pipes Radio Show. Now that I've learned to "sip" the pipe, it rarely gets hot and I don't get tongue-bite anymore. The downside is that I really enjoy drawing heavily and getting a huge mouthful of smoke, but that ensures a hot pipe and an early end to a bowl for me. Sipping gives a lot more consistency, but as you say, "meh" can still be the outcome even then.

 

[OverMountain]

You mentioned technique, breathing, etc. That's something I've become aware of listening to the Pipes Radio Show. Now that I've learned to "sip" the pipe, it rarely gets hot and I don't get tongue-bite anymore. The downside is that I really enjoy drawing heavily and getting a huge mouthful of smoke, but that ensures a hot pipe and an early end to a bowl for me. Sipping gives a lot more consistency, but as you say, "meh" can still be the outcome even then.

From a pure “human factors” perspective, the tobacco pipe has been far surpassed by the capability of vape which offers “stupid simple”user affordances and consistent flavor throughout.

There are no periodic re lights, and the same flavor is readily available and present throughout the session. There is no necessity to chase an ember and tease subtle flavor.

AND YET….here we are. Because this is a centuries old tradition and pleasure. The very facets of use require some level of skill and cognitive abilities, and dare I say art….

I won’t touch vape personally (I don’t want nicotine in large amounts) but the simple mystery and enjoyment of the tobacco pipe keeps bringing me back. I don’t fully understand it, or even like the inconsistency…but here I am.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I find that various tangible things seemingly effect my pipe smoking experience. My favorite time is weekend mornings before the household awakes with a good book and bottomless cup of coffee. I like to enjoy my pipe at a relaxed pace.

Weather, food, mood, and other factors tend to change the consistency of my experience. I don't like being rushed or having a pipe when overstressed. All rather fickle, I know.

If you find the "perfect" combination, continue what works for you and enjoy. If the pipe isn't working for me, I put it down and come back later.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

My favorite time is weekend mornings before the household awakes with a good book and bottomless cup of coffee.

You just described every Saturday morning of my year. I look forward to it all week. The book bit varies for me, as I normally use this time for forum-surfing and eBay deep-dives. But, ah, those bottomless cups of coffee...

 

[cigrmaster]

I clean the piss out of my pipe once I have smoked one bowl in it. I never smoke the same pipe 2 times in a day and I never smoke the same blend more than once a day. I let my pipes rest a couple of days and when it is time to pick a pipe and a blend I get a great smoke as that is what I expect every time out. Smoking a dirty pipe for me would be wasting good tobacco which I spend good money on.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

I clean the piss out of my pipe once I have smoked one bowl in it. I never smoke the same pipe 2 times in a day and I never smoke the same blend more than once a day. I let my pipes rest a couple of days and when it is time to pick a pipe and a blend I get a great smoke as that is what I expect every time out. Smoking a dirty pipe for me would be wasting good tobacco which I spend good money on.

Since I found the pipe forum and started listening to the Radio Show, I now clean my pipes. But for over a decade I never even knew to do it, and like I said, I'd use a twig out of my yard to clear the shank if my pipe got clogged! Ha! I recently got some pipe cleaning solution and was amazed at how nasty the bowl was on my old favorite. I have to admit, my smokes tasted much better after cleaning it. But, hey, you don't know what you don't know, right?

 

[verporchting]

Body chemistry is variable therefore most things related to the experience are also varied. In addition to all the other variables inherent in pipe smoking (and/or the game called life).

Except dealing with the drivers license bureau - that universally sucks. Exactly nobody anywhere in the history of mankind has said, “Wow, that was freaking awesome!”

 

[Waning Embers]

Pondering How The Same Pipe/Blend Tastes Different On Different Days, etc.

Varying moisture of the tobacco, how it's packed, and the speed that it's smoked.

 

[Waning Embers]

Except dealing with the drivers license bureau -

That's what I like about living in a smaller community. There's almost never more than two people there when I go and I'm there and out in ten minutes.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Varying moisture of the tobacco, how it's packed, and the speed that it's smoked.

Yes, I've been suspecting that the way it's packed is a big contributer as well.

 

[cigrmaster]

Since I found the pipe forum and started listening to the Radio Show, I now clean my pipes. But for over a decade I never even knew to do it, and like I said, I'd use a twig out of my yard to clear the shank if my pipe got clogged! Ha! I recently got some pipe cleaning solution and was amazed at how nasty the bowl was on my old favorite. I have to admit, my smokes tasted much better after cleaning it. But, hey, you don't know what you don't know, right?

Glad to hear you can taste the difference,

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

First, a bit of history...
I've been smoking pipes for a long time, but only in the past few months have I come to see it as a hobby, or lifestyle, or "a thing," as folk are fond of saying today. For most of that time it's just been something I do while mowing the grass, working around the house, or taking a break.

I never fussed over my pipes, never cleaned them, etc. I'd just set them aside till I wanted to smoke again, and if one was clogged I'd clean it out (often times with a small twig I'd find in my yard) and away I'd go again. This haphazard approach is unlike anything I've ever done in any other hobby I've had. And it was only recently when I began to get frustrated finding a good-tasting tobacco that I began to read about pipes, watch YT videos, etc. And now, after 15 years, I find myself fully immersed.

I've also listened to lots of pipe-related podcasts this year and my approach does not seem typical. The typical one seems to be a person getting his first pipe, and then diving into the lifestyle right away (buying different pipes, blends, etc.).

Now on to my pondering...
Autumn weather is the best for pipe-smoking, so this week I've enjoyed a bowl each day on my drive home from work. Every day it was the same (Peterson) pipe with the same (Stokkebye's Nougat) tobacco. One day the taste and experience was nothing short of glorious: the kind of day when one is reminded why he stuck with pipe-smoking. Another day was just ok. And another day was even a bit underwhelming. Other days might fall somewhere in between these extremes.

But I also noticed that on the days where my palate was pretty much wiped clean (i.e. I only drank water for the previous few hours before smoking), this would enhance my smoking experience. On other days I might have an Altoid mint a few minutes before smoking, or I might have eaten an apple on the walk to my truck after work: these things colored my palate and made my pipe less enjoyable.

I also noticed this week that after-dinner smokes varied in enjoyment based on the food I ate. If the food was standard fare and sort of plain, the pipe tasted better. One night we had Mexican food for dinner and the pipe didn't go well with the after-taste of the spicy food. If I drank water or beer with dinner, it made for a better pipe; if I had soda pop it made the pipe too sweet and less enjoyable.

In all my pipe-smoking years I'd never noticed any of these things. I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

Sam, (love the LoTR reference) welcome to the immersion and obsession.

First, you are not abnormal, as your and mine experience and history are very similar. For over a decade I would smoke a bowl about once a month (always when cold outside) like a choo choo train, never clean my pipe (other than a pipe cleaner at the end), never paid attention to packing, never did a false light, never used a tamper, and did not have a cellar or employ mason jars to store open tins. Yet I smoked and enjoyed it (mostly). It was not until last year about this time when I got scared by impending taxes that I convinced my wife to let me spend a bit more money to have extra tins. That was the beginning of the obsession…thankfully I have a lovely wife who now understands this is one of my passions and hobbies.

Second, you are not alone in struggling with consistency of smoke and flavor. It seems when you really start to pay attention to something with detail and examination you begin to notice discrepancies, differences, and patterns emerging. In the past year I have experienced what you are going through countless times as I smoked more and really started paying attention to packing, lighting, and drawing on the pipe. Some days the pipe and tobacco scream with flavor and are like a great marriage. Other days it is just off and there is breakdown in the communication. But I press on and chalk it up to: I smoked too fast, the humidity was too high or low, the pipe and tobacco dont go well together, or I was distracted with the cares of this world.

Third, a clean palate is very critical to help draw nuances from the tobaccos especially if they are not heavily topped. I recently had a strong stout while smoking an english blend and the stout overwhelmed my taste buds to where I could not taste any of the tobaccos. So I drink water now while smoking to help me taste the flavors. I do think what you eat or drink can help or hurt. Think about if you have an apple then taste maple syrup. The apple will be sweet and then the maple syrup even sweeter. Now reverse this, have the maple syrup then the apple, here you will find the maple syrup sweet and the apple not so sweet. Your taste buds have been overwhelmed with sugars from the syrup.

Those are my thoughts and experience. Take them or leave them!

 

[vosBghos]

Except dealing with the drivers license bureau - that universally sucks. Exactly nobody anywhere in the history of mankind has said, “Wow, that was freaking awesome!”

Department of Motor Vehicles

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Sam, (love the LoTR reference) welcome to the immersion and obsession.

First, you are not abnormal, as your and mine experience and history are very similar. For over a decade I would smoke a bowl about once a month (always when cold outside) like a choo choo train, never clean my pipe (other than a pipe cleaner at the end), never paid attention to packing, never did a false light, never used a tamper, and did not have a cellar or employ mason jars to store open tins. Yet I smoked and enjoyed it (mostly). It was not until last year about this time when I got scared by impending taxes that I convinced my wife to let me spend a bit more money to have extra tins. That was the beginning of the obsession…thankfully I have a lovely wife who now understands this is one of my passions and hobbies.

Second, you are not alone in struggling with consistency of smoke and flavor. It seems when you really start to pay attention to something with detail and examination you begin to notice discrepancies, differences, and patterns emerging. In the past year I have experienced what you are going through countless times as I smoked more and really started paying attention to packing, lighting, and drawing on the pipe. Some days the pipe and tobacco scream with flavor and are like a great marriage. Other days it is just off and there is breakdown in the communication. But I press on and chalk it up to: I smoked too fast, the humidity was too high or low, the pipe and tobacco dont go well together, or I was distracted with the cares of this world.

Third, a clean palate is very critical to help draw nuances from the tobaccos especially if they are not heavily topped. I recently had a strong stout while smoking an english blend and the stout overwhelmed my taste buds to where I could not taste any of the tobaccos. So I drink water now while smoking to help me taste the flavors. I do think what you eat or drink can help or hurt. Think about if you have an apple then taste maple syrup. The apple will be sweet and then the maple syrup even sweeter. Now reverse this, have the maple syrup then the apple, here you will find the maple syrup sweet and the apple not so sweet. Your taste buds have been overwhelmed with sugars from the syrup.

Those are my thoughts and experience. Take them or leave them!

Wow, really great reply. For many years I'd just cram in some tobacco, light, and smoke. I'm 15+ years in, and (though I'm a bit embarrassed to say this) it wasn't till this year that a friend asked me: "When do you tamp?" I didn't know what he was talking about, though I had a tamper/tool. Then I started noticing the initial light/tamp thing on the YTPC and then realized what all the fuss was about. I also realized why so many of my shirts have had holes in them over the years (flyaway ashes with no tamping!). At any rate, I was pretty happy in my novice state and never really knew I was missing anything: I just knew I wanted some better tobacco at some point and then began realizing all the nuances within the hobby.

Even after all this, I'm still a simple smoker and just want a few good pipes and a tobacco that I like for everyday smoking.

I know what you mean about stouts. Not long ago I was drinking an imperial porter (close to a stout) and it ruined and overwhelmed my pipe.

 

[bullet08]

Per some studies, adults' mood will change daily or more often. To prevent this, setting routine to take mind off the mood was suggested. While competing bagpipes, you will hear some interesting routines. Our pipe major usually take dump first thing in the morning. Depends on his bowl movement, he will predict out come of winning the competition that day. He won't be making any money as a tea leave reader.

 

[Warlee]

A lot of it has already been mentioned.

I would add a few things. I’ve noticed very humid air will change the burn rate and alter the experience. Cooler dryer air my pipes stay lit a little easier.

A clean palate has already been mentioned. Eating something loaded with garlic and onions will poison your palate to some degree and change the flavor of the tobacco.

Your body is a biological organism always going through/dealing with changes. Your olfactory cells go through a nerve bundle to your brain and anything that affects that can affect your smell. Think viruses or allergies. We are constantly bombarded with viruses our body has to fight off and environmental factors that affect us (pollen, deisel fumes on the highway, dust, molds etc). Add to this the effects of different medications too. It’s probably a wonder two smokes ever taste the same haha.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

First, I'd recommend you clean your pipes thoroughly so you have a neutral base point to judge from. I've found many,many things can affect and alter your palate. Your pipe, the tobacco, weather, mood, allergies, sickness, food, drink, medicines, etc..it would be more unusual if your palate never varied than if it does.

I find citrus drinks and food negatively affect my palate for my pipe. I would never drink orange juice, for example, while smoking my pipe. Chewing an altoid just prior to smoking would significant affect your palate I would think . I don't do anything in particular to cleanse my palate before smoking but I mostly drink coffee, brewed tea and light fruit/herbal tea. That seems to work for me.

 

[bullet08]

First, I'd recommend you clean your pipes thoroughly so you have a neutral base point to judge from. I've found many,many things can affect and alter your palate. Your pipe, the tobacco, weather, mood, allergies, sickness, food, drink, medicines, etc..it would be more unusual if your palate never varied than if it does.

I find citrus drinks and food negatively affect my palate for my pipe. I would never drink orange juice, for example, while smoking my pipe. Chewing an altoid just prior to smoking would significant affect your palate I would think . I don't do anything in particular to cleanse my palate before smoking but I mostly drink coffee, brewed tea and light fruit/herbal tea. That seems to work for me.

Noticed lately coffee goes real well with pipe smoke. But just noticed cream soda sugar free Pepsi. Love that thing with pipe.