Will My Taste Buds adjust?

[sk806]

Hi All,
I was wondering if any of you experienced this when you were new to pipe smoking. I feel like I'm not really tasting much flavor when I smoke. I am getting much better at packing and lighting and finding a rhythm, but I can only taste a faint flavor (smells great, though). Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I notice that my tongue feels leathery since I started a week ago, but not really burned. Is this lack of taste just something you just go through in the beginning?
If it matters, I've been smoking some stronger blends, like Irish Flake, 3noggins, Haddo's, etc, and they don't seem much more flavorful than lighter blends (although better nic in some cases). Oh, and I am smoking two new briars with maybe six bowls a piece, and a cob (again, not sure if that matters).
I really like this pastime, and enjoy my time outside with my pipe (where I am right now with some Mississippi Mud) - just in the moment and relaxed. I am really eager to get to that flavor I can smell while I smoke and others seem to be able to taste, so I'm hoping it's just a phase. With cigars, I was always able to taste and enjoy the various flavors presented by a particular stogie, but not so much with pipes, yet. Anyway, any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Steve

 

[aldecaker]

Give it a little time. Try sticking with just one blend for a few smokes in a row. All blends pack and burn differently- try getting into a good groove with one, when the pack and the cadence are both just right, that's when the magic happens.

 

[dkaye201]

What aldecaker said...

 

[wyfbane]

You should be able to push through that. You need to transition to "a smoker".
Also, there are few tobaccos that cannot be improved by puffing slower. Sometimes that helps get the subtle flavors coaxed out.

 

[sk806]

Hmm, just googled this and found several threads from this site on the same topic. Didn't come up when I used the sites search. Sorry for the duplicate thread.
It looks like lots of people have this issue when they start up. I'll just keep plugging along...if I recall, my first 20 or so cigars tasted strong, but I couldn't pick out a specific flavor if I tried.
Thanks for the replies.
Steve

 

[woodsroad]

Start with dry tobacco, somewhere shy of crispy. Still pliable but dry. Pack so that you still have a good draw through it, but tight enough that it stays lit. Then light with a low temp flame (wooden matches: good). Sip slowly, keeping the burn temp to a low smoulder. High combustion temps kill flavor components and scorch the mouth.
Then try not to think about all of this too much and just enjoy!

 

[sk806]

Btw, my wife just popped out from putting the kid's to bed, I asked here to take a sip from the pipe and describe the taste, and she said sweet and a bit peaty. Not fair!

 

[woodsroad]

That's better than other possible answers, though.

 

[sk806]

I think she liked it. She gave a little eyebrow raise and a curious "hmm".

 

[pagan]

This is the biggest reason I always suggest OTC blends to new smokers, CB, CH and PA, build your tolerance to smoking then discover new blends

 

[woodsroad]

With all due respect, if my first pipe was an OTC, it would have been my last pipe, too.

 

[andrew]

I think it's better to start off with blends, on the lighter side. My first smoke was frog morton on the town and it was instant love and a flavor bomb. I think stronger blends require better technique. You also want to dedicate pipes to certain genre's, like english blends, virginia blends, etc.. I would also give it a rest if you're tongue is leathery feeling, you've probably burnt your tastebuds which will affect your taste which is pretty common among new smokers, it was for me. I would recommend something like balkan sasieni to start with. Virginia's are the last things most pipe smokers learn to appreciate, and they were for me too.

With all due respect, if my first pipe was an OTC, it would have been my last pipe, too.

Amphora is an otc, and it's really high quality. In the UK OTC has a totally different meaning too. Condor, St. Bruno's, Samual Gawaith, G&H are all OTC's there, also Erinmore is an OTC in some countries.

 

[hextor]

I tried captain black first, and i thought I was hombre enough to smoke billy bud, and I turned green, I went crawling back to the soft aromatic blends till i was experienced enough for the heavy nicotine blends.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

as pretty new to pipes,me am Supporting Mr Pagan and Andys opinion, straight virginias are great,although I've seen them be very challenging, as well as strong or complex mixtures,I'd start my learning course with blends such as CH,both Amphoras, MC Barens basic blends(slow down with these-even if you find them mild)and of course OGS

still often I have that leathery feeling on my tongue if more than 3 bowlful smoked per day.

 

[sk806]

Based on the above, I'll try smoking blackhouse for a while, as it's fairly dry and mild, until i get the hang of things and can start to develop an ability to taste the flavors. I really don't want to take a break and let me tongue heal, but I guess I should.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

All will go well, keep going on, we're in the same boat

 

[fitzy]

If your tongue if feeling leathery you've burnt your tongue and just like when you burn your tongue on hot foods you will have a lack of taste for a while.
Your best bet is to take a little time off to let your tongue heal.

 

[darthcider]

+1 on all of the above, but I found it became easier when I stopped trying to do it right.

Try doing something else while you puff and you may find, like me, that it just happened.

 

[sk806]

I am reluctantly taking the weekend off. It's cold and rainy here in NY anyway. Still would like a pipe, though...thanks again for all your help.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

this gettin ridiculous enough,I'm coming to conclusion that still after 6 month or so pipesmoking,I still am smoking a somewhat too wet tobacco that definitively may lead to that fricking ennoying leathery feeling on my tongue-now shall be work this strenghten out in coming days and learn more.