When is the tobacco bowl done?

[JBrumBravo]

I have read differing suggestions as to when a pipe bowl is done and when to stop smoking it. It's been said to smoke till there is no more smoke or until the tobacco tastes bad. I don't think finishing a great smoke session with a bad taste is the way to finish it off, but I don't want to waste tobacco at the same time. As a beginner, I have been smoking till there is just a little darkened tobacco flake left. I would like the advice of a seasoned smoker. Thank you.

 

[OzPiper]

When the smoke starts to taste “off” or “bad” - it’s done. Usually when there is a wet, smelly mass of tobacco (dottle) at the bottom of the bowl.

Tobacco can’t get more expensive than in Australia where it is AUD$155-165 for 50gm/2ozs, so I don’t like wasting tobacco

But life is too short to waste on a bad smoke

 

[Scrapyard Ape]

If it starts to taste/smell weird, stop.

 

[B.Lew]

Agreed with the above. If the flavor becomes unenjoyable I will dump the bowl. Another indicator for me is that towards the bottom of the bowl it won’t stay lit well. Assuming that to be due to excessive moisture saturating the leaf.

 

[Sigmund]

You will get a number of opinions and all of them are right.

You have already answered your own question with your opinion and it makes total sense.

Some people want to smoke every shred, some dont want to ruin a good smoke. My thinking is if its bad dump it unless you happen to be seriously hankering for a nicotine fix and its all you have.

 

[Briar Lee]

I have read differing suggestions as to when a pipe bowl is done and when to stop smoking it. It's been said to smoke till there is no more smoke or until the tobacco tastes bad. I don't think finishing a great smoke session with a bad taste is the way to finish it off, but I don't want to waste tobacco at the same time. As a beginner, I have been smoking till there is just a little darkened tobacco flake left. I would like the advice of a seasoned smoker. Thank you.

Until a pipe has been broken in by smoking all the way down to the draft hole a few times, until there’s no taste of briar at the bottom, I don’t consider it broken in.

At most that might take four ounces of tobacco and it usually doesn’t need two.

After that, smoke it only so long as it tastes good.

 

[Brad H]

Don’t know about you, but I don’t want to smoke something that tastes bad because, what’s the point.

When it changes to a bad flavor, dead give away to stop.

If you are unsure how much is left in the bowl, give it a tamp then poke it with the stir and see how far down it goes into the bowl.
I do this to see how much unspent tobacco is left.

 

[JBrumBravo]

Thank you for your advice. I'm glad this platform for discussion is here. It certainly supports me as a new pipe smoker.

 

[Old_Newby]

As others stated when it starts tasting bad. Could be ashy from ashes sifting down into unburnt tobacco or getting into stem, but most often for me is the off putting from moisture buildup (saliva). It took me a while to figure out I need to run a pipe cleaner to bowl a couple times during a bowl.

 

[JOHN72]

When it approaches an ashy aftertaste or aroma, with hardly any aromatic nuances. Assuming you've made it to the last third of course, then you're supposed to have done well.

 

[didimauw]

I  only smoke burley blends, and honestly, for me they dont change much in flavor throughout the bowl most days. BUT I also have a terrible sense of smell. I rarely get "Nuances". So it goes without saying, I just smoke untill it won't light anymore.

If the bottom portion takes me more than 2 relights I dump it.

 

[Shore]

I am (ahem) frugal and we live by the saying "Waste not, Want not" around here...but the moment it tastes bad (and I mean the exact moment) I dump it...Good luck!

 

[Hillcrest]

If you smoke a filtered pipe and are using the filter for more than one bowl as recommended, sometimes the filter gets wet and causes a bad taste and needs to be changed out. The tobacco could be perfectly fine otherwise. just 2 cents.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Varies smoker to smoker. For me, it's done when I decide it's done. I'm certainly not going to smoke it if it tastes bad. It's not good for your pipe to keep lighting over and over to attempt to smoke every last bit. Sometimes, I pretty much smoke down to a fine ash. More often, there's a very small amount of dottle left. It's not a contest, just enjoy.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

I think the easiest answer is….

The bowl is done, when you, the smoker either a) are tired of smoking it, b) have the flavors start to change in a way that you no longer enjoy, or c) has the tobacco turns to ash.

A single bowl of pipe tobacco, IMO, is not worth fretting over about trying to wrangle every single “puff” from….. that just sets up a situation for becoming “stressed out (man!)”. In my manner of thinking, pipe smoking is to encourage and facilitate relaxation…. so…. the easiest answer is the bowl is done usually…. when YOU feel it is.

 

[The Benedictine]

When you don't like the flavor anymore. I smoke to ash.

 

[PApiper63]

Good question. I generally smoke until I can't keep it lit. Unlike others, I often find that the best flavor is that the bottom of the bowl.

 

[warren]

When you, the smoker, determines it's done. It's really that simple, no other opinions are required.

 

[Sig]

Yep, when its done, its done....no matter if its gone or not.
Anything from flavor changes to losing intrest.

 

[BingBong]

It'd done when there are no relights left. If there's still a bit there, that's for the Persian Slipper, along with old chew and the pickings from my nose after snuff - makes a glorious smoke, when there's sufficient.