Why has the taste of my aromatic changed?

[Beast]

Hello guys. I am back with another newbie question. I have smoked a pipe off and one for most of my adult life, but just this year started collecting pipes and truly experimenting with different tobaccos. As such I have developed some favorites. I have fallen in love with Erin Go Bragh Apple Crumble. However I have noticed after several ounces smoked over a couple months that I can no longer ‘taste’ the tobacco. I had thought it due to poorly cleaned pipes; but after correcting that issue, I had been a bit lazy tbh, I have noticed no improvement no matter which pipes I use. I own briars, cobs, and a meerschaum all cleaned nicely now. When smoking the same aromatic for an extended period is it possible, or common, for one to ‘lose’ the flavor? I had purchased in bulk so the issue cannot be differences in pouch consistency as all pouches were combined and placed into sealed jars. Thank you all for all the kind advice on my past questions. I do not personally know any pipe smokers and have grown to rely on this forum.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Are you storing them in airtight containers? If flavored tobacco remains very dry for too long it will lose its flavor regardless of the pipe used.


Edit: I see that you're using jars.

 

[Beast]

Are you storing them in airtight containers? If flavored tobacco remains very dry for too long it will lose its flavor regardless of the pipe used.

Yes they are in sealed jars and as moist as when I opened the pouches.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do you retrohale?

 

[Beast]

Do you retrohale?

Yes I do. Often

 

[bullet08]

Which is it? You can't taste the tobacco you used to notice in the aromatic, or you don't taste the topping? Or you just don't taste anything?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Try eating an apple slice or a plain cracker before smoking as a palate cleanser. May just be a matter of something you've eaten or drank interfering with the flavor of the smoke.

 

[Beast]

Which is it? You can't taste the tobacco you used to notice in the aromatic, or you don't taste the topping? Or you just don't taste anything?

I just cannot taste the flavors on the tongue or during a retro inhale. In the jar it smells as it always has, just not detectable when smoking any longer. Room note hasn’t changed, according to the noses of those around me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just cannot taste the flavors on the tongue or during a retro inhale. In the jar it smells as it always has, just not detectable when smoking any longer. Room note hasn’t changed, according to the noses of those around me.

Any sinus issues or recent Covid infection?

 

[Beast]

Any sinus issues or recent Covid infection?

Thankfully no.

 

[bullet08]

I just cannot taste the flavors on the tongue or during a retro inhale. In the jar it smells as it always has, just not detectable when smoking any longer. Room note hasn’t changed, according to the noses of those around me.

Among those who vapes, it's called something like vaper's tongue. Tongue fatigue basically. Try different blends for a week or so and get back to it. Something completely different.

 

[Beast]

Among those who vapes, it's called something like vaper's tongue. Tongue fatigue basically. Try different blends for a week or so and get back to it. Something completely different.

Ahhh that makes sense. I have since picked up a non aromatic I like and can taste the nuances of that tobacco well. I will give the Apple Crumble a rest for awhile. Thank you for the suggestion. I only smoke a pipe, and the very very rare cigar, but smoke my pipe many times a day. Makes sense my tongue may be overworked haha.

 

[OverMountain]

Good to know.

 

[mso489]

In the first era of my pipe smoking, in the 1970's, I smoked aromatics from Tinder Box, probably Lane, Sutliff, and such, renamed by the chain. After a while, I got some weird aftertastes and variations in flavor. When I eventually shifted to non-aromatics, all that went away. I think the flavorings in aromatics are variable. Now I smoke mostly non-aromatics or aromatics I consider tobacco forward; that is, I want to taste the tobaccos enhanced by the flavoring and not so much the flavoring up front.

Also, early-on, I experienced some serious chemical burn like tongue bite and burning gums from over-flavored aromatics that I probably packed too densely and smoked too fast. Even with stronger non-aromatic blends, I don't encounter any of that.