Help! - I just cannot seem to enjoy this pipe smoking.

[angelusnexx]

First off I understand pipe smoking is not for everyone and I am prepared to accept I may be one of those cases...but not yet!

Basically I have never really truly enjoyed one of my smokes. I only continue hoping I am just about to "get it".

The main thing for me is the taste. It always just tastes like smoke. I have tried very hard to detect flavors in the smoke and I am getting nothing. I do not mind the preparation, cleaning... just the taste. Which is the deal breaker obviously.

I have tried slowing down, packing different ways etc. At first I just thought I was smoking too hot or something but I feel like I have tried everything.

Since I am still figuring out if I like this I still only have 2 corn cob MM and have been at it for about 3 months now on and off. I have tried Captain Black White pouch and a house blend. I know the tobac I have been using is not all that great but I should still be getting something other than a gross ash flavor. Only thing other than pipes I have ever smoked were Djarum Black cloves and I love those.

I would really appreciate any advice or similar stories...

[Samsonite]

Being new to pipe smoking myself, I would suggest trying different brands of tobacco. I've been smoking some blends from my local cigar shop (limited selection unfortunately) and I've enjoyed them, although they too have not tasted like they smelled, but I don't expect a kick in the face flavor like I do with my narghile (hookah). Just remember that they won't taste much like how they smell, it's mainly a slight undertone to the tobacco as I've experienced and read about so far.

However, the tobacco taste will be different in different blends, but there will always be that tobacco taste. It's just part of pipe smoking

But one thing to try is to exhale through your nose. I tend to taste the flavors more when I exhale through my nostrils than through my lips

[uncballzer]

Hi, and welcome!

First, you're off to a good start; but first thing--stop trying so hard! It will come, just give it more time. I've only been on the pipe for about 8 months now, and I still don't get it completely.

Second, read, read, read! Especially the stickies on here; they will help you get far (I'm able to help by reading those).

Third, you may have yet to find the right tobacco for you! I came from cigar smoking, and instantly feel in love with English blends. Since you've come from cloves, try some name brand aromatics (lot of good places to purchase online). If you don't want to do the aromatics (vanilla, fruity flavors, etc), try VaPer (Escudo, Peter Stokeybe Luxury Navy Flake or Luxury Bullseye Flake are great starters). If you want to do the english, pick up some Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, Nightcap, or 965; Samual Gawith Squadron leader is also a great blend. Virginia heavy blends will give you a sweet taste (SG Full Virginia Flake). Remember, these are just starting points.

Fourth, when you get your post count high enough, go over to the Pipe Newbie Sampler Trade; we've got a tumor-sized growth of Experience Pipe smokers over there right now waiting for those exactly like you!!! (I think it's a sticky in the WTB/WTT/WTS forum, but you may not be able to see it yet being this new).

Lastly, give it more time. It will come. After a little while longer, if you still don't think you're a piper, try a few cigars (enormous loads of info on this board for that), and you may want to pick the pipe back up again in the future.
Also, again, don't try so hard. I certainly can't taste what some of these guys can from the same tin of the same tobac! To me at this point, it's either good, decent, or bad. I've learned to welcome that, as the key is to smoke what you like. So, go to the review section, and look around (another key word for this board--read!), and read as many as you want to until you find a tobac you would like to give a whirl. Also, some of the online stores will do 1oz samples, but I'm not sure which ones (some of the other guys may help out with that).

You'll get it, it just takes time as in IHT's words: it's not like a cigar where you cut and light; smoking the pipe is an art.

[Blaylock]

I second the "try some brand name aromatics". That should at least give you some taste rather than the "gross ash flavor" you're getting now. Don't expect too much in the beginning...take it slow. The more subtle tastes should emerge when you move on to VAs, English, and other blends.

[Mad Hatter]

It sounds like you've moved beyond the initial "I love the smell of this stuff" phase. I'd suggest some mild aros or some of the more pronounced VAs. You might even be an SG man in-the-making

[Mr.Lordi]

Originally Posted by angelusnexx

First off I understand pipe smoking is not for everyone and I am prepared to accept I may be one of those cases...but not yet!

Basically I have never really truly enjoyed one of my smokes. I only continue hoping I am just about to "get it".

The main thing for me is the taste. It always just tastes like smoke. I have tried very hard to detect flavors in the smoke and I am getting nothing. I do not mind the preparation, cleaning... just the taste. Which is the deal breaker obviously.

I have tried slowing down, packing different ways etc. At first I just thought I was smoking too hot or something but I feel like I have tried everything.

Since I am still figuring out if I like this I still only have 2 corn cob MM and have been at it for about 3 months now on and off. I have tried Captain Black White pouch and a house blend. I know the tobac I have been using is not all that great but I should still be getting something other than a gross ash flavor. Only thing other than pipes I have ever smoked were Djarum Black cloves and I love those.

I would really appreciate any advice or similar stories...

I fully understand your plight. I myself and still trying to find the flavors and everything, and I been smoking a pipe for, I think, a year now, maybe a year and a half. EDIT: actually might be longer, I forget. lol

I started with the "drug store blends" and disliked them. Then I got my first "premium" tobaccos and I liked Frog Morton and not a big fan of the Christmas Cheer. In fact, I still got most my 07 CC left and am still trying to figure out how to smoke that blend. lol.

Eventually my local store was bought up by a competent owner who smoked the pipe and he has ordered good blends. so now I have access to better blends, but not an abundance of them, unless I ask and see if he can get them.

But I am still getting "sour" and "ash" taste myself. I have cleaned my pipes multiple times and have realized that it wasn't that, as far as I could tell, it was me who was at fault.

So what I did was go back to drug store blends recently, and imo, it has helped me to kinda be able to start to taste blends. first off, it has taught me to smoke a lot slower then I used to. not that I puffed fast, but prob faster then I should have. second off, it allows you to taste more, I guess I want to say, Prominent flavors, then the premiums allowed me to, so when I switched back, I could taste a lot more.

I know smoking pipes is what actually helped me discover the flavors of cigars. Before I smoked the pipe, I never got the flavors cigars and was left wondering what people where talking about. I was like "hey, it doesn't taste toasty to me" lol, so I think trying something similar might help.

I had a bowl of Peterson's Irish Flake a couple weeks ago, and I rank it as one of the best smokes I have had. It didn't taste sour or ash like.

Sorry for the novel size response, but you're definitely not alone when it comes to this, so don't give up. Eventually we will figure it out. I know that trying to figure out how to best get the smoke flavors is half the fun.

P.S. try emptying out the ash every now and again and then relighting. it might help.

[MithShrike]

I started at the local Tinderbox and when I first smoked it was aromatics. All the girls at my parties liked the smell but I found the taste lacking. The first thing I ever tried that blew me away was Frog Morton. It still had that sweet Cavendish flavor but was more comlex.

I've since expanded. I seem to only like to smoke my pipe when it's in the deep summer here. June - September.

[frenchy]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

I started at the local Tinderbox and when I first smoked it was aromatics. All the girls at my parties liked the smell but I found the taste lacking. The first thing I ever tried that blew me away was Frog Morton. It still had that sweet Cavendish flavor but was more comlex.

I've since expanded. I seem to only like to smoke my pipe when it's in the deep summer here. June - September.

Try a briar, not everyone can get the best out of a cob, they can smoke hot and wet for some. Cobs are a great inexpensive way to puff and they're terrific for tryin' out new blends but to me ya' can't beat a briar. Once broken in they're just what pipes are all about. That's just me, but give one a try and see if that don't give ya' a different experience. I'd stay away from aromatics for awhile too they smell great but until ya' really get the hang of a pipe you'll probably do better with a nice cool dry English blend. And don't shy away from estate briars, they're a wonderful way to get a good one and not go broke plus they're already broken in. See what ya' think.

[superpelic]

Try different tobacco's put those you don't like away now, you might like them later...
Don't smoke a pipe because you feel you have to smoke a pipe, put the pipe away for a few days and pick it back up when you think about it or when you feel the moment is right.

Give it some time, remember the first beer in your life is always awfull, but it always get's better the more you drink it.
Same with a pipe.

[smokehouse]

As people have already stated, try some different tobacco's. The ones you said, would probably turn me off too. Puff slow, don't puff real hard and fast, it will make your baccy taste like poo.

[jkorp]

I am very new myself, maybe 8 months on the pipe. I am primarily a cigar smoker, but took up the pipe to round out my smoking so i woudn't go through so many cigars. Anyway...

Here is what I do and have been getting consistently good results. (Keep in mine I am a car piper, smoking half the bowl on the ride to and half on the ride back so I am always using DGT.)

1. I always pack with the Frank Method or some variation.
   • Using this method, I usually use a torch lighter, you just have to be careful.
   • Sip the smoke don't suck
   • If it gets hot just stop and let it cool down
   • 5-10 puffs tamp then 5-10 puffs and remove some ash
2. Usually halfway through the bowl I put a pipe cleaner in the stem to clean and sop up all the moisture.
3. When I am finished I remove all tobacco and run a scrub cleaner through, then put a fresh abosorbant cleaner in the stem for storage.
4. Usually once a month, or sooner if I think it's necessary, I'll do an alcohol clean on the whole pipe. (If you're getting sour tastes, I think the stem may need a good cleaning, so try that.)

I pretty much smoke 1 bowl a day except for the weekends, and so far I'm getting great enjoyment from the pipe.

I would listen to Frency and get a briar. You can pick some up from him at great prices, or catch and ebay estate sale and get a handfull of briars for almost nothing. Also get some good baccy. I would go with bulks and buy a whole bunch of 1 oz bags to get a nice sampling.

[angelusnexx]

I just want to thank everyone who has responed so far. Your tips, suggestions, and encouragement really have helped.

Right after posting this thread I went out and gave it another go. jkolp it is funny tou mentioned the frank method of packing because I used it for the first time. I had fantastic success in keeping it lit and the first 1/4 of the bowl tasted fairly good.

I have a few doubts/concerns with my smoking methods though that may be playing a large roll in my distaste for the smoke...

1. I have been using matches to light. I believe I may be burning the tobacco by keeping it under flame too long.

2. My MM pipe has the yellow acrylic stem which I can see through and I do get a lot of condensation which I wipe out with a pipe cleaner. This makes me think I am burning too hot though despite it being a aromatic tobac.

Any tips on these two things? Basically I feel like I may be lighting it too long in the beginning OR smoking too fast to keep it lit. Even with it smoking hot it seems to go out if I am not almost constantly puffing. Last night I never had to re-light once but the cob IMO was obviously getting too hot.

Also I have tried to find a proper way of getting some ash out of the pipe when partially through a bowl but cannot seem to find one. Do I just want to turn the pipe over?

I think I may be ruining the tobac which in turn is why I do not like the taste.

[Mad Hatter]

The condensation in the stem is normal for me but it does sound like your lighting technique may be part of the problem, getting the tobacco too hot and ruining the better qualities of it by generating steam and charring. Try lighting one or two seconds at a time as shown in the Frank method video. It really helped me get a more enjoyable smoke. But there again, the tobacco you're smoking and the chemicals in it might not allow a gentler approach to lighting.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

The condensation in the stem is normal for me but it does sound like your lighting technique may be part of the problem, getting the tobacco too hot and ruining the better qualities of it by generating steam and charring. Try lighting one or two seconds at a time as shown in the Frank method video. It really helped me get a more enjoyable smoke. But there again, the tobacco you're smoking and the chemicals in it might not allow a gentler approach to lighting.

The mad'un is right. If you do a "hot" start, it will singe your tongue and everything after that point will taste like burnt tongue.

First, give your tongue a couple of days to grow a new epidermis. Load your pipe the normal way (see other threads for the baby-mommy-daddy thing); or any way you wish to.

Using a match is fine, just let the phosphorous burn away completely before bringing it over the bowl. Hold the flame OVER the tobacco, don't dig the match in. Pull the flame onto the baccy with shallow puffs, don't use too much suction, move the flame over the whole bowl a few times. The baccy tips will be frizzly and jump up, let the burn go out and cool down. Tamp AROUND (not DOWN) to spread the charred ash, then light again the same way. Do this a few times till the entire surface is lit, don't rush and don't let it get too hot. Once lit, sip and enjoy! If the pipe goes out, thats fine, just relight and re-enjoy.

And get some good tobacco, aromatics are fine, just be sure it is not too damp or too dry. Wander over to the Trading forum once you have enough posts and you will be able to participate in the newbie sampler trade.

Or just PM me and I'll send you a couple bowls worth of some of the aero's I have laying around.

[Mad Hatter]

On other thing I have taken to doing is lighting only the forward half of the bowl at first and then after it is going smoothly I go ahead and light the back half after a couple of minutes. It works better for me because the first light is much cooler and the second light goes much quicker than if I had done it all at once. My smoking experience has improved much in the last year with much thanks to my friends here at CS, not so much because anyone told me the right way to do it but because everyone has their own way and that gives me ideas with which to compare my own. Much help nonetheless.