Why not this time?

[Christos D. Tsatsaronis]

Well, this is my first thread...
I guess probably this has been discussed before. If so, please excuse me. I mean, why does this happen? A blend that you generally like a lot, but sometimes, when you smoke it, it's not so enjoyable, or maybe not all. I guess this is related to various reasons: mouth "chemistry", not the correct bowl size, the hour, the weather, the mood... e.t.c. Next time you smoke it, it's fine again. Strange. Does it happen to you also? Any thoughts about it?

Thank you, be all well. Greetings from Athens (Greece).

 

[FLDRD]

It does, or has from time to time. The phrase that came to my mind was: palate fatigue.

Sometimes we just need to re-set, re-calibrate, or similar.

I do find that most everything I can think of will alter the experience (food eaten, liquids drunk, temperature, humidity, breeze) and if one is consuming the same blend continually, you're likely to experience times when it seems that flavors are simply "off".

That is a reason I still enjoy variety, as well as trying new blends regularly.

 

[bullet08]

At certain point in our lives, bowel movement becomes very important. Take a poop and try again.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It can come down to tobacco moisture, packing, cadence, ambient humidity, a palate contaminated by food or drink, or any number of factors.

 

[verporchting]

At certain point in our lives, bowel movement becomes very important. Take a poop and try again.

This is perhaps the strangest thing you’re going to read on any pipe forum ever.

 

[trouttimes]

All the above answers are true. If you change pipes it can change taste. What you last ate can change taste, phase of the moon can change taste. Just one of life’s great mysteries.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Combo of what I was drinking and snacking on while having a favorite blend recently made it taste yucky.

 

[OzPiper]

Combo of what I was drinking and snacking on while having a favorite blend recently made it taste yucky.

Absolutely.
I love anchovies, but the thought of lighting up immediately after eating some is stomach churning

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Absolutely.
I love anchovies, but the thought of lighting up immediately after eating some is stomach churning

Raisins, peanuts and butterscotch chips were surprisingly a bad match, but I powered through both snacks and tobacco!

 

[OzPiper]

Raisins, peanuts and butterscotch chips were surprisingly a bad match, but I powered through both snacks and tobacco!

It's surprising how many things don't match that well with pipe tobacco.
Wine and food matching is one of my favourite things.
I must give more serious thought to tobacco and food/drinks matches.

 

[cigrmaster]

I can get great consistent smoke because I do the same thing every time.
I first pick what I feel like smoking. Then I pick the corresponding pipe. It could be a genre pipe like a straight Virginia. It could be a Virginia/Perique pipe. It could be a pipe that is dedicated to one blend.

I fill my pipe the same way. I never light up before checking the draw. Normally one flake fits my group 4-5 sized pipes but if there is room for more I would add a little kindling. Once that is added I check the draw again. I am looking or a bit of resistance before I light up. For my tastes a loose pack means it burns hot and looses flavor. Once I learned what worked best every time, I stuck to that procedure and got a great smoke every time.

I also clean the piss out of my pipes after every use and let it dry a couple of days. Everytime you light up pay attention to exactly what you did. When you do get a great smoke, then you can repeat the process and get consistent great smokes.

Now if you don't like the tobacco, no amount of filling and smoking properly will make it taste better, some blends just suck.