New to pipe smoking, and have a question about taste.
I've been trying a few different tobaccos, after watching reviews on them. Everyone talks about the notes of rum, caramel, vanilla, etc.; however, all I ever seem to taste is just plain smoke. Even when retrohaling, nothing but smoke.
Now, the room note of the smoke from the bowl is amazing, but I'm just not tasting anything.
I'm not puffing like a freight train, and the smoke is usually thin and light, and cool.
Am I doing something wrong, or will my taste buds eventually get used to the smoke, and start picking up on some of the flavors?
New Pipe Smoker Question
- Houtenziel
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If you are starting out on Aromatics, that's a pretty common thing to experience. Aromatics are usually something I would only recommend to an experienced smoker. I really couldn't appreciate them(or even taste anything but hot air) until I'd been smoking for about a year.
Have you tried smoking more natural Burley based blends, or maybe something with a little Latakia in it? They are usually far easier to get a load of flavor out of.
Also, Welcome to PSF!
Have you tried smoking more natural Burley based blends, or maybe something with a little Latakia in it? They are usually far easier to get a load of flavor out of.
Also, Welcome to PSF!
“To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
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― Theodore Roosevelt
- Mr Beardsley
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I'd recommend you give it some time and see if your tastebuds start to pick up on it. There's the possibility of a ton of factors contributing and time and patience will take care of most of them
“If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?” - George Carlin
- Houtenziel
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I would try something more lightly flavored, like Carter Hall, Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lane BL/WB. They are all easy to smoke, and have a good amount of flavor.
If you want to try something with Latakia, I'd recommend Peter Stokkebye's English Oriental Supreme, Lane HGL, or maybe even some Edward G. Robinson for a little Latakia with some fruit casing added. There are so many different choices, it's hard to know what you like unless you order a whole slew of 1oz samples.
“To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
― Theodore Roosevelt
- Ray Mackessy
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Same thing happened with me, then later on after the first few lights, and progress to a good full burn, the flavor of a good mouthful of cool, aromatic smoke was fully appreciated. I started with mostly aro's, and that is a challenge with the tendency to burn it too hot, turning the bowl into a furnace, drawing moist hot smoke, burning the mouth...and inexperience of packing makes the problem worse. Problem was the non-aro's were high in nicotine, but i've adapted somewhat to that, too.
In my case the learning process was lengthy since i don't smoke too much. If you stick with it, you'll learn, good luck.
In my case the learning process was lengthy since i don't smoke too much. If you stick with it, you'll learn, good luck.
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insufferable filter guy
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- Fr_Tom
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I would add the recommendation that you stick with something easy until you get the hang of loading, etc. I think Carter Hall is a good place to start. I like the suggestion of HGL if you are lat-curious.houtenziel wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 6:43 pmI would try something more lightly flavored, like Carter Hall, Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lane BL/WB. They are all easy to smoke, and have a good amount of flavor.
If you want to try something with Latakia, I'd recommend Peter Stokkebye's English Oriental Supreme, Lane HGL, or maybe even some Edward G. Robinson for a little Latakia with some fruit casing added. There are so many different choices, it's hard to know what you like unless you order a whole slew of 1oz samples.
"Prov'dence don't fire no blank ca'tridges, boys" Roughing It, Mark Twain
Old Ted Award - 2017
Old Ted Award - 2017
Mixture 79. Now hold on folks before you start saying I'm sabotaging this guy and scaring him from a lifetime of pipe-smoking enjoyment.
When I started, I started with some pretty sophisticated blends (and I got the tongue bite to prove it). I liked what I was smoking but I didn't appreciate what the different blends were delivering. Then, I got a tin of No Name from L.J. Piretti. No Name is M79 on steroids: a floral lakeland burley blend that makes M79's tin note seem like a love tap.
With that much flavor up front, I learned to appreciate the flavor of the smoke underneath. I still have a soft spot on my palette for No Name, and for M79. Instead of going for subtly flavored blends, go all out and get the most robust (or most lavender-y grandma) smoke you can try to see what it does for you.
If you don't want to take the M79 plunge (don't listen to the haters!) try Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. It's a different animal from SWR. SWRA has a delicate and delicious topping that makes women weak in their knees when they detect its room note and it's a pleasure on your tongue----both mild and flavorful. SWRA is a perennial favorite but it doesn't get as much press as some other OTC blends. SWRA will treat you right and it will help you develop a sophistication for what it going on in the bowl without being boring.
When I started, I started with some pretty sophisticated blends (and I got the tongue bite to prove it). I liked what I was smoking but I didn't appreciate what the different blends were delivering. Then, I got a tin of No Name from L.J. Piretti. No Name is M79 on steroids: a floral lakeland burley blend that makes M79's tin note seem like a love tap.
With that much flavor up front, I learned to appreciate the flavor of the smoke underneath. I still have a soft spot on my palette for No Name, and for M79. Instead of going for subtly flavored blends, go all out and get the most robust (or most lavender-y grandma) smoke you can try to see what it does for you.
If you don't want to take the M79 plunge (don't listen to the haters!) try Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. It's a different animal from SWR. SWRA has a delicate and delicious topping that makes women weak in their knees when they detect its room note and it's a pleasure on your tongue----both mild and flavorful. SWRA is a perennial favorite but it doesn't get as much press as some other OTC blends. SWRA will treat you right and it will help you develop a sophistication for what it going on in the bowl without being boring.