Trying to Find the Flavor

[mike wheelock]

Title edited. See rule 9. Please capitalize proper names, sentences, etc..in body of text (edited)

Been smoking pipe since January this year. Started with aromatics and have since switched to English etc. Can't seem to find the flavor that other more experienced smokers talk about. Have found some when holding smoke and exhaling slowly. Any help appreciated.

 

[crashthegrey]

This is a complicated question, and everyone has a different idea of "flavor." Getting the packing right, the moisture level right, and slowing down will change what you perceive as you smoke. Some pointers from my personal experience, if you think the tobacco is dry enough, it is still too wet. If you think you are smoking slow, slow down even more. Eventually you will start to perceive some of those nuances.

 

[kcghost]

Just to be sure you haven't had Covid have you??

 

[spartacus]

Have you tried retrohaling? I can discern other flavors that way as well.

 

[Andriko]

Have you tried smoking with no distractions? Just sitting there quietly and enjoying it? When I first did that is when I started to notice the flavour much more. It is also the case that the pallet needs some 'training', but I don't want to be one of those who makes pipe smoking pretentious. Sometimes just enjoying a good smoke is enough pleasure in itself.

 

[mike wheelock]

I have tried smoking in a quiet place with some classical music...seems to work better. I think that i just need to put in my time like everyone else and hope for the best. I am not going to get all flustered about the flavor and some day the flavor will come.

 

[mso489]

Like eyesight, hearing, and other senses, taste varies a lot from person to person, and of course includes both tasting with your taste buds, your tongue, and your sense of smell, which are also highly variable. When I read reviews by jiminks on Forums, I feel like I've never tasted anything. He has a highly cultivated and discerning sense of taste for pipe tobacco blends.

Your sensitivity may be greater with some tobacco leaf more than others. I think I get the most taste from burley based blends, and those that have burley as a condiment. I enjoy many others, Virginia based, and Virginia/Perique, but burley seems like my main event.

As someone posted above, slow down and pay attention to your own experience, and try around with different constituent tobaccos, and find your sweet spot for what tastes good to you.

 

[mav]

I went through the same thing, imho, the key is not to expect more from the tobacco than what it is...most of them are delicate in taste. The flavor of the tobacco is only part of the pipe smoking experience. For me it's the act of slowing down and focusing on one thing in the moment. Over time the taste has become more noticeable for me but I still don't taste all the notes that others mention. Don't give up! This is a lifetime experience.

 

[pauls456]

Most pipesmoking 'flavor' is experienced in the nasal passages. I'd suggest any technique you can use to divert more smoke to the nose rather than the mouth.

 

[TheWhale13]

Smoking more, smoking slower and retrohaling

 

[AJL67]

If i want a lot of flavor and mindless smoking i have a cigar, pipes are more contemplative to me, slow small sips, even if I'm wound up from work and a lot on my mind i don't always enjoy a pipe that much, peace and calm, focus on the pebbles in my hand, grasshopper.

 

[newbroom]

A new pallet will require a certain amount of 'training'. I think a new pipe smoker should smoke a codger blend until he or she can taste some nuance and flavor and proceed from there.

 

[Pipingntrucking]

One thing I have done in my current beginner days is especially with Aro's try to find a drink that would enhance the described flavor. For instance. If enjoying tobaccos with a Vanilla or caramel description I will pick up a good quality Creme Soda. For extra enjoyment I have come to pair Molto Dolce with a good Creme Soda spiked with a shot of Jack Daniels Honey.

 

[AJL67]

One thing I have done in my current beginner days is especially with Aro's try to find a drink that would enhance the described flavor. For instance. If enjoying tobaccos with a Vanilla or caramel description I will pick up a good quality Creme Soda. For extra enjoyment I have come to pair Molto Dolce with a good Creme Soda spiked with a shot of Jack Daniels Honey.

Personally always found ice water worked for me or unsweet tea, just shows how different people are and why YMMV

 

[bullet08]

I stopped bothering with finding flavor. It's more like putting name to the flavor. If I enjoy the smoke, does it really need a name?

 

[clynch]

You are not alone. I got about a dozen various tobaccos. They mostly all smell great. Taste, I'm still working on. I've been running one tobacco at a time through the ringer. First I try a couple days with a charcoal filtered pipe. Then a couple days with a balsa wood filter. Then a couple days with no filter at all. Same tobacco throughout the test. Its helping me discern some taste or flavor. Finding I really like Lane 1 Q . In any respect I'm in the same boat and no doubt others are as well. I think I've made a little improvement. Take your time. Go slow. Best of luck.

 

[mav]

A new pallet will require a certain amount of 'training'. I think a new pipe smoker should smoke a codger blend until he or she can taste some nuance and flavor and proceed from there.

I think that's great advice, I wish I had that knowledge when I started.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

It takes years to master pipe smoking..get midsize or big size pipe or quality meerschaum...light it up and smoke it fast during lighting but slow down...very very slow...just sip it.lick it and slowly suck back and forth almost like you want to suck juices out of it..its more intense after mid or last part of the bowl...just keep trying...but do not smoke it just sip it...all kinds of amazing flavor will show up...in a smooth nice quality meerschaum the flavors are even more amazing so before you buy 130 briars and meer after that -realizing it tastes the best of all..buy a meerschaum first..seriously!

 

[mike wheelock]

Good morning to all from Eastern Washington. Very windy here so smoking outside is definitely out of the question. Much very good information in reply to my post...thanks. In looking back to my very recent beginnings with the pipe and taking into consideration all that has been said I have come to some conclusions. When I first started out I bought as many aromatics as I could find after reading many reviews...first mistake. Should have centered on some of the tried and true other blends that are more friendly {get more tongue bite from aromatics than others}. Should have gotten into the slower routine when smoking. Should have paid more attention to the 3 pack method which has since proven successful for me. Should have found a quiet more contemplative place to smoke. Should have found a good drink to compliment the smoke. Many should haves. But having said all that, I think that I have found my place in the piping world that is working for me. One step at a time. Must say that this forum has proven immensely helpful and thank all of you for all of the help through many years of experience. Now if I can keep the moderators happy with my unruly punctuation and grammar.

 

[Dublin Old Man]

Title edited. See rule 9. Please capitalize proper names, sentences, etc..in body of text (edited)

Been smoking pipe since January this year. Started with aromatics and have since switched to English etc. Can't seem to find the flavor that other more experienced smokers talk about. Have found some when holding smoke and exhaling slowly. Any help appreciated.

Which English blends have you tried? I like English blends but most are not so good.