Question on Flavor

[Drew72]

IMHO, one really should come to pipe smoking for the tobacco flavors and nicotine. Everything else is circus (not a bad thing in itself).

OTOH, you buy the pipe, so you get to decide what to do with it.

Cavendish-processed blends deliver deeper non-tobacco flavors than cased Burley type aromatics.

I think I am in it for the ‘circus’ then I have no nicotine dependence, so will stay with low nic options. So far the 3 tobaccos I have smoked really have had no nic kick, and that is fine by me. The tobacco flavor is actually beginning to grow on me a bit. Nice room note when smoking is also something that I look for. I really am trying this for the relaxation (which I have been getting) and a nod to the past— I like traditional wet shaving, manual shift cars, and mechanical watches. But... this also just may not be the hobby for me. I am still in my due diligence phase. But want to give it enough of a chance. Thanks for the feedback

 

[Drew72]

Dont be scared to dry some out before packing it up.
Let a bowls worth sit out until it becomes stiff and breaks up easily between your fingers.

i will try that. I have not gotten tongue bite or had an unusual number if relights. The tobacco is definitely moist but not wet, from what I can tell. But will dry it out as you suggest. Thanks

 

[jttnk]

I got some great advice from a master blender on drying. When you layout a bowls worth wait until it is not cool to the touch. The coolness is the moisture. When it’s no longer cool, but still pliable it’s ready. I’m a big believer in drier side is better to err on.

Lastly don’t be apprehensive about English and Balkan blends. Flavor is much easier to achieve and you may really enjoy it. I thought I was an Aro guy when I started 2 years ago. Then I tried Edward G. Robinson and my piping enjoyment took off!

Good luck

 

[danimalia]

I am learning to actually appreciate the taste of tobacco. I guess my expectations for flavor were just different/unrealistic. I am open to suggestions (low nicotine). Thanks

Right on. I would recommend a medium English/Latakia blend like GL Pease Maltese Falcon or Kensington. Perhaps a milder (in nicotine) Virginia-based blend like Orlik Golden Sliced. Carter Hall, as mentioned above is nice because it has added flavorings, but they're not overwhelming and accentuate the burley tobaccos. In that same vein, if you shop at P&C, their Classic Burley Kake is an excellent choice. Hope you find some stuff to enjoy.

 

[Casual]

Any suggestions that are relatively low nicotine?

thanks

Presbyterian, Peterson EMP, or Peterson 965, Rattray’s Red Rapparee are ones I like. Look for light Englishes that are ribbon cut.

To keep it low nicotine, for now stay away from blends heavy in perique, burley, as well as many ropes and twists. Add them in later, after you adjust.

 

[Casual]

I have some carter hall in the queue. Maybe I should try that instead of Molto dolce next? Thanks

Carter Hall is good to try. It’s a low nicotine burley blend and it burns easily. The flavour is not big or complex but it’s certainly fine.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I am learning to actually appreciate the taste of tobacco. I guess my expectations for flavor were just different/unrealistic. I am open to suggestions (low nicotine). Thanks

This is likely the issue right here. Pipe tobacco is a very subtle nuanced flavor. It’s not a punch in the mouth like cigars. As your palate adjusts the more you smoke you will pick up on more flavors and over time appreciate it more and more.

I second other recommendations that you try some english blends and other non aros. If you don’t taste latakia right away, go to the doctor, because something is wrong with you.

 

[olkofri]

Most aromatics have low nicotine, so you're safe there. Avoid English blends that are heavy in latakia or that's all you'll be tasting. I'm not crazy about English blends because they all taste very unidimensional to me; they bore me, and I suspect the latakia amount is a chief factor.

Try Sillem's Black: an aromatic with latakia.

 

[Drew72]

Right on. I would recommend a medium English/Latakia blend like GL Pease Maltese Falcon or Kensington. Perhaps a milder (in nicotine) Virginia-based blend like Orlik Golden Sliced. Carter Hall, as mentioned above is nice because it has added flavorings, but they're not overwhelming and accentuate the burley tobaccos. In that same vein, if you shop at P&C, their Classic Burley Kake is an excellent choice. Hope you find some stuff to enjoy.

thanks for the suggestions. I have heard Latakia has an offensive odor to many. Are there English blends that smell nice when smoked?

thanks again

 

[olkofri]

thanks for the suggestions. I have heard Latakia has an offensive odor to many. Are there English blends that smell nice when smoked?

thanks again

The room note is mostly appreciated by company, hardly by the smoker. Unless you leave the room, and then come back, you're unlikely to smell the glorious smell of an aromatic or the inglorious stench of a latakia bomb.

There are some English-Aromatic crossovers. Lane's HGL is a good example.

 

[Drew72]

Hold the smoke in your mouth. When exhaling, force the air volume of your mouth back by raising your tongue to the roof of your mouth allowing the vacuum of the exhale to pull the smoke from your mouth and out of your nose.

great explanation! I tried this today and it worked. I couldn’t figure it out before.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Amphoras, Carter Hall and some others but I don't have what we call sophisticated palet whatsoever, so my recommendations are very subjective

 

[mso489]

Since you are just starting with a pipe, I think you are working on acquiring a taste. As with starting coffee, for example, it takes a few cups to get used to the actual coffee flavor (usually) and then it dawns on you that it is good. Flavoring usually complements the tobacco flavor, doesn't supplant it. So if you are expecting a sort of vanilla custard flavor, it may not arrive. Slow down your pace, and see if you can come to enjoy the tobacco flavors for themselves as well.

 

[Drew72]

Since you are just starting with a pipe, I think you are working on acquiring a taste. As with starting coffee, for example, it takes a few cups to get used to the actual coffee flavor (usually) and then it dawns on you that it is good. Flavoring usually complements the tobacco flavor, doesn't supplant it. So if you are expecting a sort of vanilla custard flavor, it may not arrive. Slow down your pace, and see if you can come to enjoy the tobacco flavors for themselves as well.

well said. I am learning this. I just had no idea what to expect when I started. I am beginning to appreciate the taste of tobacco. I described it to a friend that it is similar to flavored seltzer water. Lime seltzer, as an example, has essence of lime, but does not taste like a sugar soda like Sprite. I think that is a reasonable analogy for aromatics... the tobacco possesses just the essence of said flavor/casing (e.g. vanilla), even if the tin note is especially sweet smelling.

thanks for the response

regards
Drew

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

Tin note, retro Hale /French inhale, tobacco flavor, room note searching for hints of flavors, even all the faff and ritual are all part of it. It’s a sensory cornucopia . Don’t focus on the toppings

 

[wulfheard]

Aromatic tobacco flavoring is dependent greatly on your olfactory senses. In fact taste in general is highly dependent on smell. That's why when you have a head cold, food has a dull taste or no taste at all.

My advice and you have probably gotten the same already, is to to slow down and look for odors in the air and push the smoke through your nose. Also if you insist on smoking aros, as many do, look for something mixed with burly or mixed heavily with a black cavendish. Maybe even try an English/American blend with a light topping. Aros made predominantly of blonde cavendish burn intolerably hot if you are not very, very, careful. Once you burn your tongue and irritate you sinus while smoking a hot burning aro, you won't smell or taste anything.

 

[Drew72]

Aromatic tobacco flavoring is dependent greatly on your olfactory senses. In fact taste in general is highly dependent on smell. That's why when you have a head cold, food has a dull taste or no taste at all.

My advice and you have probably gotten the same already, is to to slow down and look for odors in the air and push the smoke through your nose. Also if you insist on smoking aros, as many do, look for something mixed with burly or mixed heavily with a black cavendish. Maybe even try an English/American blend with a light topping. Aros made predominantly of blonde cavendish burn intolerably hot if you are not very, very, careful. Once you burn your tongue and irritate you sinus while smoking a hot burning aro, you won't smell or taste anything.

I appreciate that. One of the encouraging things thus far is that I have YET to get any kind of tongue bite or overheated pipe (I know it will happen at some point). Not sure if that is because I always smoke using a filter, but my cadence seems to be pretty good, with relatively few relights. I just learned how to retrohale, but think that I was so proud of myself for doing it without choking, that I can't say I noticed much of a difference in flavor. I will focus on flavor more now that my retrohale technique seems to be o.k. But only plan to do that maybe a couple times per bowl.

I definitely look for odors in the air, but as I have learned, the pleasing aromas are mostly appreciated by one's company and not the smoker... I wish that weren't the case.

I am definitely not insistent to smoke aros. I will explore other family's as well.

thanks again for the pointers
Drew

 

[birdog]

My tobacco process suggestions.....

..most tobacco when purchased is too moist with PPG to maintain shelf life...

buy an ounce of this, an ounce of that to try as you learn blends and flavors. I still do this for fun after 40 years of puffing (well made blends are like well made pizzas...all different, all pretty good, just different)

Dump the tobacco into a small flat tupperware container...3 in. by 6 in. or so...put the tupperware container under a small desk lamp overnight....check in morn...it should feel dry a little to the touch, not crumbly (then you have to rehydrate). This pretty dry humidity will ensure an easy complete burn that you can puff gently and maintain.

Then get some ball jars....the little ones hold 1 oz. of tobacco nicely...put your slightly dehydrated tobacco and label it....even consider labeling the contents (burley, brights, cavendish, flavoring, etc.). With the ball jar lid screwed on, you can store and the moisture content will stay just right, regardless of the room humidity.
When you load the pipe, gravity fill it....take out a pinch , drop in bowl, tap it gently to settle, add a little more and gently tamp til you have the pipe filled to desired amount.

Light er up and relax, puff gently. relight after first char light and gently tamp...

Terry

 

[nunnster]

It is going to take a good while to get a handle on smoking a pipe and to develop a palette to be able to detect a flavor. Aromatics are the hardest of all to smoke, which is funny because they are what most people try to learn on. I would suggest that you branch out and try other blends or crossover blends. It took me a while to appreciate them, but find a mild English blend to be the easiest to smoke and to get some flavor out of. If you really want to stick with aromatics and want something that you will be able to taste, try out cults blood red moon or Lanes dark red. They are both fantastic cherry tobacco, but if you push them to hard they will start to taste like crap. Another one of my favorites is mcbs vanilla flake. It will introduce you into the world of flakes, it's got a very nice base tobacco flavor but the vanilla is very present that I think even the inexperienced pipe smoker would be able to detect.

 

[Mr.Mike]

I have no nicotine dependence, so will stay with low nic options.

I have been smoking pipes for 10 years, no tobacco use prior. I've smoked low nic aros to really heavy hitting plugs. Never gained a dependence, I could put my pipe down for a week without a thought. But that could just be me of course. Welcome to the hobby and the forum!