Tongue and Tasting

[Old_Newby]

Ok it’s getting better. This morning tried the Autumn Evening and loved it. I can taste the note if maple. Lit well and burned all the way. Smooth.
But I don’t seem to ever get hay, or fruit much.

Tasting - not to get weird and I am sure I will get some good jokes on this one but any input on the tongue. I assume it’s we are all different and I should do what works for me, but is there a method to tasting? Center? Underside? etc. I tend to change during a smoke. Sometimes top, sometimes underneath, sometimes tip. Sometimes I try to imaging it coming in on clinch side, rolling across or filling mouth, then exiting on opposite side.

I have read and seen lots of info about pipes, tobacco, loading, lighting, tamping, cadence, etc but not much on what’s going on in the mouth?

I can just enjoy it and do what feels good, but any specific techniques us Newby’s should know about?

 

[anotherbob]

nope but you can swirl the smoke around in your mouth or blow it out your nose. Either of those ways of playing with smoke can illicit notes you never noticed before.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If not for retrohaling, I couldn't taste smoke at all. Do what works for you.

 

[warren]

but any specific techniques us Newby’s should know about?

You could train your palate, smoke different leaf so to learn the differences. Keeping the palate clean would be beneficial also. There's a learning curve I'm sure. Me? I simply enjoy the pipe and revel in the nicotine. Different blends are entertaining but, a serious taster I'm not.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Members here introduced me to retrohaling soon after I started. I use the technique to taste.

If not for retrohaling, I couldn't taste smoke at all. Do what works for you.

So, I started to post about retrohaling, but figured everyone already knew......LOL!!

 

[bullet08]

Retrohale and tongue are both used in tasting. However, it will take awhile before everything falls in place. Those who doesn't retrohale still gets the taste, but not a "whole picture." Still enjoyable.

 

[goosetime]

Could someone explain retrohaling? First I’m hearing of it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Could someone explain retrohaling? First I’m hearing of it.

Blowing smoke out of the nose.

 

[goosetime]

@Chasing Embers I appreciate you always answering my questions!

 

[Chasing Embers]

@Chasing Embers I appreciate you always answering my questions!

Very welcome, always happy to help.?

 

[WVOldFart]

The main thing is not to get wrapped up in reading tobacco reviews or watching reviews on Youtube. Get the tobacco you want to try and try it with no preconceived notions of what you should taste. I think too many new pipe smokers believe they should taste every single nuance that the reviewers do. Smoke the tobacco and decide for yourself what you taste. The flavors may come easier than you think.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The main thing is not to get wrapped up in reading tobacco reviews or watching reviews on Youtube.

+1000

 

[Old_Newby]

You could train your palate, smoke different leaf so to learn the differences. Keeping the palate clean would be beneficial also. There's a learning curve I'm sure. Me? I simply enjoy the pipe and revel in the nicotine. Different blends are entertaining but, a serious taster I'm not.

Yea I think that’s a great point. My first goal is to learn how to detect a Virginia, a Burley, a Cavendish, a Perique, a Oriental, etc. The Latakia probably will slap me in the face. I have a straight cavendish and straight Virginia (not smoked it yet) and I know burley is that cigarette flavor if not cased / topped.

As far as clean palate what do you recommend? I saw a video of Muttnchop cleansing with orange soda. Is carbonation the key? Etc?

 

[Brewfan]

My personal story - I couldn't taste any of the typically described flavors of Virginia in Virginia blends, at all, just everything else in the blend. I bought some Sutliffe 507c Virginia slices and in the first bowl BAM, there's the hay and grass and it's delicious. It's like a lightbulb turned on because now I can taste the Virginia when it's blended.

Not saying this specific tobacco will turn YOUR lightbulb on, just highlighting the beauty of the tasting journey, I suppose.

 

[JKoD]

Smoke requires the olfactory to “taste” completely.

Perhaps a disgusting example - but, easily relatable.

Do you smell a fart or taste it on your tongue?

Goodnight.

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

While drawing let a little air sneak in through your lips to mix in with the smoke. I find this opens the flavor a little for me. As well as retrohaleing. Also, sometimes less is more. Don’t take big drags

 

[Eastmon]

Every other sip, I let some smoke rise from my mouth and take it in through my nose. Most of the time this is where I get the big taste.

When I retrohale, I barely notice the difference. Funny how that works.

 

[Old_Newby]

Thanks everyone. Based on all feedback I am not doing anything wrong. I also do taste some flavors. Especially the maple in autumn evening. It tastes like the tin note. I have not settled on right or left clinch yet either. All over the place!!

For me I sometimes, maybe 30% of the time, probably sip too frequently. I have never had tongue bite, but it starts to taste ashy if it burns to fast. I sip slightly and don’t drag, but I am too eager and do not wait long enough (cadence) between sip groupings. I also need to let the wetter tobaccos dry out before smoking.

 

[samanden]

Blowing smoke out of the nose.

Yes, and this can be done without inhaling the smoke. Pull the smoke into your mouth (imagine drawing hot tea into your mouth using a straw), and force the smoke out through your nose.

 

[Bobby Bailey]

I don't bother retohaling, it just makes it taste like bland generic smoke to me.
Sipping the smoke across my tongue allows me to taste flavors and sweetness.
We're all a little different, so try different ways to find yours.