Scientific Approach to Tobacco Choice?

[OverMountain]

I have been a very casual pipe smoker, and becoming more interested recently. I have difficulty choosing tobacco or knowing what I really like. Embarrassingly, I usually choose tobacco based upon name or appearance.

My question is if anyone has made an algorithm or system approach to testing tobacco’s and refining what a smokers favorite blend may be? Some way to hone in on a new smokers favorite without having to try 100 different blends in somewhat random fashion and high cost.

Being scientifically minded, I envision having a representative tobacco sample in 4-5 major categories, and then on to another tier of sampling depending upon ones favorite and so on. Does a list like this already exist?

What method would you suggest a new smoker use to find their favorite?

Thanks in advance to all who assist my journey.

Hi Doc,
Check out the Hick Hyman law. It’s designed for reaction time and the relation to amount of bits transmitted in a stimulus alternative but it may have some interesting application here. It is certainly not an algorithm. I’m looking at it as more of a time to find what you like when compared with comprehending multiple options.
(there’s some other parts of the equation that don’t matter in this context)

Usability engineers often use HH for menu design to arrive at a desired item or items most efficiently when considering time in the aggregate. (i.e. Simple choices A vs B may be quicker, but you have to answer a host of simple follow ons to arrive at what you want taking more time in the long run)

In your quest, a broader categorical “first look” may help narrow likes down. Once you find your interest areas, then you can more quickly drill down into what you like.

I’d recommend using a simple tree such as
English-
Balkan-
Virginia-
Aromatic- sweet (choc, vanilla, cherry),
Aromatic- other (maple, rum, liqueur, etc)

Try one or several representative blends per above headings by filling in group recommendations under those headings. I’m sure people here will have some accessible and quintessential blend recommendations for each of the headings above.

Once you figure out where on the tree you like to browse, it’s quick and easy to drill down into more blends you would have a higher chance of liking.

Remember tastes often change over time, and as your technique improves with practice {non-declarative memory } the more you will taste and enjoy.

It’s nice to have a doc on the board. Keep us posted on how the search goes. Variety is the spice of life.

Regards,
OM

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Hi Doc,
Check out the Hick Hyman law. It’s designed for reaction time and the relation to amount of bits transmitted in a stimulus alternative but it may have some interesting application here. It is certainly not an algorithm. I’m looking at it as more of a time to find what you like when compared with comprehending multiple options.
(there’s some other parts of the equation that don’t matter in this context)

Usability engineers often use HH for menu design to arrive at a desired item or items most efficiently when considering time in the aggregate. (i.e. Simple choices A vs B may be quicker, but you have to answer a host of simple follow ons to arrive at what you want taking more time in the long run)

In your quest, a broader categorical “first look” may help narrow likes down. Once you find your interest areas, then you can more quickly drill down into what you like.

I’d recommend using a simple tree such as
English-
Balkan-
Virginia-
Aromatic- sweet (choc, vanilla, cherry),
Aromatic- other (maple, rum, liqueur, etc)

Try one or several representative blends per above headings by filling in group recommendations under those headings. I’m sure people here will have some accessible and quintessential blend recommendations for each of the headings above.

Once you figure out where on the tree you like to browse, it’s quick and easy to drill down into more blends you would have a higher chance of liking.

Remember tastes often change over time, and as your technique improves with practice {non-declarative memory } the more you will taste and enjoy.

It’s nice to have a doc on the board. Keep us posted on how the search goes. Variety is the spice of life.

Regards,
OM

I think I need to fill a bowl and look up Hick Hyman law. I don’t recall learning that in Pre-med classes. Then again, as my children remind me, there was not as much to learn way back then. blood letting and tonics was it. I still remember how to mix a tonic: 2 fingers gin, top with tonic, splash of lime. As many have told me in this thread, keep it simple….

Doc

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Good Lord that chart is a train wreck.

How would you improve it?

 

[OverMountain]

A quasi organized approach will save you time and money. In the meantime, enjoy exploring!

If I could recommend a basic English I’d say Presbyterian mix is an old time favorite. I think it’s almost 100 years old now.

For sweet aromatics, Boswells Best is hard to beat! (Boswells has many other great aromatics and offer small denomination samplers).

 

[Pipeful Dreams]

I always advice trying some straight blends or close to straight, for example a straight virginia or a heavy burley based blend. From there you can start building and recognising the main taste of a virginia/burley/heavy latakia blend and start experimenting by trying new blends with different condiments. As people stated is a taste thing there is no defined way to do this, u gotta figure out what suits you the best

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I always advice trying some straight blends or close to straight, for example a straight virginia or a heavy burley based blend. From there you can start building and recognising the main taste of a virginia/burley/heavy latakia blend and start experimenting by trying new blends with different condiments. As people stated is a taste thing there is no defined way to do this, u gotta figure out what suits you the best

I have been basically doing what you advise, using Briar Lee’s suggestions as a starting point and then the suggestions of others (Coys, mso489, Chopper, etc.) earlier in this thread. I am not a fan of English for now I realized, taking that class off the table for now. I also understand that I have an adolescent palate which I am working on developing into maturity. For that reason I am trying to not rule anything out for the long term, but rather put it in a mason jar for a later date if it is not to my liking at this time. I see that advice often in the forums.

Not surprising to most of you knowing that I am a beginner, but there are some delicious Aro’s out there! That is my favorite class of tobacco right now, I also sense that my palate is already changing, and I will likely not end up finding my favorite tobacco in the Aromatic class after some more experience.

I think my future is in the Virginia or VaPer class. I am just starting to experiment a bit there. Peter Stokkebye Luxury Naval Flake was a good suggestion, which I enjoyed as an introduction to this class.

Thanks for the advice,

Doc

 

[Pipeful Dreams]

I have been basically doing what you advise, using Briar Lee’s suggestions as a starting point and then the suggestions of others (Coys, mso489, Chopper, etc.) earlier in this thread. I am not a fan of English for now I realized, taking that class off the table for now. I also understand that I have an adolescent palate which I am working on developing into maturity. For that reason I am trying to not rule anything out for the long term, but rather put it in a mason jar for a later date if it is not to my liking at this time. I see that advice often in the forums.

Not surprising to most of you knowing that I am a beginner, but there are some delicious Aro’s out there! That is my favorite class of tobacco right now, I also sense that my palate is already changing, and I will likely not end up finding my favorite tobacco in the Aromatic class after some more experience.

I think my future is in the Virginia or VaPer class. I am just starting to experiment a bit there. Peter Stokkebye Luxury Naval Flake was a good suggestion, which I enjoyed as an introduction to this class.

Thanks for the advice,

Doc

Glad to help! Also i didn't mention Aros because of the tendency to excurbate problems that beginners have (tongue bite, moisture, smoking way too hot) and also because that i tend to love the natural taste tobacco blends have. But hey, if it works for you that's great great! Just make sure though to give a chance to a wider blend area, as you pointed out your palate is constantly changing and you won't regret it!

 

[mateusbrown]

Once you figure out what category you enjoy, read reviews (evidence) to inform your purchases. As for me, I figured out quickly after some trial and error with goopy aromatics that I like non-aromatic Burley blends the most of all, and the higher the nicotine level the better, which put me onto dark fired Kentucky. What a lekker smoke! So whenever a review says something like "eat something beforehand," I know that's one I should try. We learn from our mistakes, but we don't have time to make all the mistakes, so we have to look at precedent.

 

[didimauw]

You're likely not going to. Smoking is like eating and taste more often than not changes. Science can't help you with that one.

My pallete is slightly different with smoking than eating. As I get older, I find I like different things. I thought eggs on a cheeseburger would be terrible. It's now one of my favorite meals.

With tobaccos, it changes very minimally. Like 1% at a time.

Like this Burley blend is straight Burley and I love it. But this new Burley blend has 1 percent Virginia, and I'm starting to like that one now. But after ten years of pipe smoking, I still don't do straight Virginia, perique, Latakia, or Cavendish. Or any mix of either of them.

BURVA BURVA BURVA

 

[Coreios]

For me I smoked Black Cavendish straight up and I liked it. So anything with that I know Ill most likely enjoy even if it's not my favorite. Then I tried a basic Virginia and I liked that too. I don't like Orientals, so I avoid anything with that in it. I also caught the Perique note in a blend and I liked that, as well as Latakia. Now I look for combos of the things I like. Morny Bayou, "Va/per", Creme Brulee' "Cavendish", Star of the East, so on. I bought all of those and new I would like them before they arrived because I already knew what I didn't like.

 

[mso489]

Pipe smokers often have the illusion that they will light on one blend that will answer all their needs and desires, whereas as long as a wide variety of blends is available, we tend to revel in the variety. Hence the never ending parade of new blends and limited issue blends that are offered on a continual basis. One way to cope is to stick with some old standbys while you enjoy the regular change of pace with something new. Sometimes the something new becomes the old standby. I try to be organized in my approach, but I'm not very strict about it. Sometimes you just want to try something new that isn't your style, until it is. Enjoy your old "friends" among blends, but give a new blend a shot now and then.