Tobacco “Strength” -What is It?

[Ryan]

I am still fairly new to the world of pipe tobacco, I have been at it for about six months now.

I have read many tobacco reviews and there is something that comes up that I don’t think I fully understand. In the reviews, many reviewers mention the nicotine strength of a blend, and they discuss the strength of the taste and flavor. I understand all that well enough.

There is a part I’m not sure I understand at all though: separately from the taste/flavor and the nicotine content many reviewers talk about the strength of the tobacco. It isn’t just a few reviewers, it seems that many if not most mention this. Separately from the taste/flavor and nicotine, what does this strength refer to exactly?

I don’t remember where, but one review site even mentions using that strength factor as part of the rubric for evaluating a blend. Unfortunately for me, they did not really define it. Can a tobacco have weak nicotine and taste but still be strong? Can it have a heavy nic hit and lots of flavor and still be “not strong “?

 

[jpberg]

Lots of Latakia blends are really strong in flavor, but not in nicotine.
Id assume that’s what they’re talking about.

 

[chopper]

I'm far from being an expert but for what it's worth;

Pipes got me off a 30-40 a day cigarette addiction.
This is why I only order blends with mild nicotine.
Inhaling is something that I've always enjoyed and an integral part of the ritual that settles my nerves which is why I prefer mild blends.

I've relied on JimInks and tobaccoreviews to help me choose blends [When I first found pipe forums and tobaccoreviews I really didn't have much of an idea; Cavendish? Latakia? Perique? Kentucky?] Thanks to Jim and other reviewers, I've liked most blends I've bought based on their reviews.

It's been my observation that most mild - mild to medium blends have mild nicotine.
Not all but most. Blends from England like Gawwith seem to be one exception to the 'rule'.

 

[Ryan]

I’m not sure if I am explaining my question very well. Here is a quote from a JimInks review, and it just happened to be one I read today so I picked it as an example. I could show many more examples of this.
This is in reference to Low Country Natural Virginia and Burley:

The strength is a step past the medium mark, while the taste and nic-hit are medium.

It seems clear to me he is referring to something beyond the nicotine level or taste, as it is mentioned to be a separate thing from the taste or nic-hit.

I chose a JimInks review, but many reviewers talk in these same terms. These people seem to be referring to a strength that is not about the nicotine or taste.

Just to be clear, I’m not trying to make a comment about the reviewers, I just want to understand what they are talking about.

Maybe I’m just missing something that is obvious to others, that happens to me sometimes. ?

 

[chopper]

Not sure if this is what they mean but strength to me is all about inhaling.
Some extremely mild blends can be like sucking on air.
Mild is just right with my morning cuppa tea.
Mild to medium are good during the day.
Medium blends I can handle inhaling but that's right at my limit.
A strong blend would choke me [and probably turn me green ]

It will be interesting to hear from @JimInks and others if that's what they mean by strength.

 

[Ryan]

Not sure if this is what they mean but strength to me is all about inhaling.
Some extremely mild blends can be like sucking on air.
Mild is just right with my morning cuppa tea.
Mild to medium are good during the day.
Medium blends I can handle inhaling but that's right at my limit.
A strong blend would choke me [and probably turn me green ]

It will be interesting to hear from @JimInks and others if that's what they mean by strength.

I had not thought of this, but that makes sense. I’m also hoping some reviewers chime in.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Let’s just ask da boss… @JimInks ️

 

[Grangerous]

This is a well thought out question. I personally enjoy very mild tobacco. Mild in the sense that I can retro with no harshness or nose tingle. Both Granger and Winchester fit the mild category for me. Very high in flavor. Mild in nicotine and no harshness whatsoever.

Pegasus and Crooner are a bit harsher and I consider these medium strength blends. Both fittingly have a bit more nicotine.

These are not strong blends. I’ll leave those to others.

I am also interested in hearing other’s explanations.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

This is a well thought out question. I personally enjoy very mild tobacco. Mild in the sense that I can retro with no harshness or nose tingle. Both Granger and Winchester fit the mild category for me. Very high in flavor. Mild in nicotine and no harshness whatsoever.

Pegasus and Crooner are a bit harsher and I consider these medium strength blends. Both fittingly have a bit more nicotine.

These are not strong blends. I’ll leave those to others.

I am also interested in hearing other’s explanations.

That’s a good representation/answer to the question IMHO. ️

 

[Streeper541]

Generally when I read a description of a blend I equate "strength" to the nicotine content and "taste" to the flavor. I believe that is the standard.

See attached rating for the following two blend listings at SMP.

 

[reloader]

I am still fairly new to the world of pipe tobacco, I have been at it for about six months now.

I have read many tobacco reviews and there is something that comes up that I don’t think I fully understand. In the reviews, many reviewers mention the nicotine strength of a blend, and they discuss the strength of the taste and flavor. I understand all that well enough.

There is a part I’m not sure I understand at all though: separately from the taste/flavor and the nicotine content many reviewers talk about the strength of the tobacco. It isn’t just a few reviewers, it seems that many if not most mention this. Separately from the taste/flavor and nicotine, what does this strength refer to exactly?

I don’t remember where, but one review site even mentions using that strength factor as part of the rubric for evaluating a blend. Unfortunately for me, they did not really define it. Can a tobacco have weak nicotine and taste but still be strong? Can it have a heavy nic hit and lots of flavor and still be “not strong “?

I've also noticed this. Very good question. Looking forward to someone giving a definitive answer.

 

[bullet08]

Nic hit? It's like cigarettes. Marlboro Red is stronger than Gold/Light. You can feel that Red is stronger in intensity. Some pipe blends might give more nic hit than other? I really don't get nic hit from pipe tobacco, but that's my impression.

 

[Ryan]

As I said in the original post, I understand about nicotine strength. If you look at the example I gave, it is quite clear that there is another strength that is being referred to in these reviews.

I'm not trying to be rude or dismissive (because I did post this hoping for replies), but I think I established that this is NOT nicotine strength or flavor strength that is being mentioned in these reviews. I only gave one example, but I could give many more.

 

[Ryan]

Let’s just ask da boss… @JimInks ️

How do we ask him, via PM? or did your @ already take care of it?

 

[renfield]

Hmmm. Apart from the nicotine and flavor strength I’m not sure what people would be referring to. They may simply be imprecise in their language.

There are mild flavored blends that are mostly Virginia that can have substantial nicotine levels. GLP Gaslight is high in Latakia, very strong in flavor but not in nicotine.

Jim’s reviews do a good job of clearly quantifying both aspects of strength.

 

[Streeper541]

... it is quite clear there is another strength...

...this is NOT nicotine strength or flavor strength that is being mentioned in these reviews...

If you're not asking about strength of flavor or amount of nicotine, then you have me confused.

Could you perhaps be more clear? Those are usually what people, and reviews, speak of when mentioning "strength."

 

[Ryan]

Hmmm. Apart from the nicotine and flavor strength I’m not sure what people would be referring to. They

If you're not asking about strength of flavor or amount of nicotine, then you have me confused.

Could you perhaps be more clear? Those are usually what people, and reviews, speak of when mentioning "strength."

That is my question. I want to know of this other strength that is being referred to in the reviews.

 

[Ryan]

Hmmm. Apart from the nicotine and flavor strength I’m not sure what people would be referring to. They may simply be imprecise in their language.

There are mild flavored blends that are mostly Virginia that can have substantial nicotine levels. GLP Gaslight is high in Latakia, very strong in flavor but not in nicotine.

Jim’s reviews do a good job of clearly quantifying both aspects of strength.

His reviews are great, they have been very helpful to me. That was one of his reviews that I quoted where he refers to a strength separate from nic and flavor.

 

[Ryan]

This is another one from JimInks, and I want to be clear that his reviews have been very helpful to me as a novice. They are very well done, but this one is from his Granger review, where there is another reference to strength that seems to be different than just nic or flavor strength. This is from TR:

I rated the strength of the original as very mild, and would rate this as mild. The taste level of the original was rated by me as mild, and this is a half step more than that. The nic-hit is very mild. (JimInks review of Granger on TR)

 

[Ryan]

I should add that he is not the only reviewer who uses the terms this way. The man can write, so I am quite sure it isn't a lack of clarity on the part of the writer.