Tobacco and Ash Colour

[toby67]

G'day all, just been browsing 4noggins.com who ship to Australia and have been browsing their own blends which I will be ordering 2-3 in my next order along with a couple of corn cob pipes to try out. As I was browsing the blends they offer, I noticed reviews left by others who have tried them. One in particular stood out as reviewers noted the slow, even burning of the tobacco that left a white ash. Does ash colour depend on the moisture of the tobacco? The two tobaccos I have tried thus far have been leaving a blackish to slightly grey ash. Or is this the way I am smoking the pipes. I pack the bowl so it is a bit springy and tamper it a few times as the tobacco expands to ensure the hot coals remain in contact with the underlying tobacco.
Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jarit]

I think that the "white ash" (also "dry/clean white/gray ash"-variations) mentioned in many reviews is just a cliché ending that has no other value than perhaps conveying the observation the tobacco didn't leave a dottle and burned clean.

 

[toby67]

Thank you, also I found I wasn't evenly tamping the pipe and needed to tamp slightly harder than I was. I am now finding a whitish ash in the centre of the bowl. The tobacco burns better when I pack the pipe a bit firmer also.

 

[jitterbugdude]

Ash color is dependent on the minerals and nutrients in the tobacco leaf. That all goes out the window though once you start adding casings and toppings.

 

[bulldogbriar89]

it depends on the tobacco and the casing and flavorings added to the tobacco

 

[toby67]

I'm very pleased with myself, 3 weeks into my pipe career and I can pack my two pipes to the point of minimal relighting. I have found that half a bowl a few times a day satisfies my need. Previously I was a cigarette smoker smoking about 20 a day, now I don't like cigarettes and love my pipes. I have a Falcon as well as one that says Damman, Melbourne on one side and the other says "The Viscount - London Made 1122" the stem has an underlined V on it and it is a beautiful pipe to smoke. I had problems with them at first until I realised they bother needed a reaming as the carbon buildup was so thick it shrunk the bowl about 25%.

 

[drwatson]

I don't know but my best smokes always seem to have a white ash, my not so good ones more gray. I personally think it has something to do with the perfect pack,quality of tobacco,and how fast or slow you may be smoking.