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As we'll mention a couple of times in this post, there is no definitive way to enjoy, or even smoke a pipe "correctly". I mean, if there were, the various pipe forums out there would have very little to talk about outside of new tobacco blends and how hipsters are ruining everything. Outlined here though are some quick tips to up your pipe game and help you get the most from your beloved briar.
1. Try A Different Tobacco
And no, we're not insulting your choice of pipe leaf, but weather, drink pairings, and even body chemistry can play a part in how much a tobacco "bites". Try playing with different blends to see which works best for you. If you find that Virginias bite no matter how slowly you smoke them, try a Virginia blend with a little more burley to see if it helps.
Although they often pair deliciously with a pipe, some spirits and carbonated drinks can strip your mouth of its natural protections, leaving you more susceptible to tongue bite. Instead of that Mountain Dew, brew yourself a cup of tea instead, you might be surprised at the results.
2. Rotate Your Pipes
"Resting" a pipe is an important step in your maintenance routine. When tobacco undergoes combustion one of the by-products (in addition to heat and, of course, smoke) is moisture. It's this moisture that makes briar the perfect material for pipe-making, as the briar readily absorbs this moisture, wicking it away and preventing it from being sucked into the mouth along with the smoke. The problem is that after a smoke, this absorbed moisture can take some time to dry, and the more of it already in the briar, the less it readily absorbs additional moisture. Rotating through multiple pipes is an ideal way to rest your pipe as you can still be smoking while air and time do their job. If budget is a concern, corn cob pipes can be an ideal way to bulk out your rotation.
3. Clean Your Pipes
There's nothing worse than tasting the last smoke you had in the one you're smoking now. Even if you dedicate one pipe to one blend, a pipe that hasn't been cleaned can leave a sour taste in your mouth and ruin a perfectly good bowl of your favourite leaf.
For your routine maintenance, simply sticking a pipe cleaner through the stem until it pokes out into the bowl and then giving it a little back and forth wiggle should suffice. For a deeper clean, check out our post on "How To Clean A Pipe".
4. Get Into A Routine
Much the same way that writers each have their own ritual to get them in the zone, a solid preparation routine can make the difference between a good smoke and a transcendent smoke. Make sure your beverage of choice is ready and waiting, pick your favourite smoking spot, have a good book on hand and then sit back and relax. Oh, and use the facilities first; nobody wants interruptions from said transcendent smoke for something as trivial as a full bladder.
5. Know Which Lighting Method Works For You
Although no one lighting method could be considered the correct method, they're all worth exploring, and can make all the difference to a good smoke. Check out our post on pipe lighters and experiment to see which works for you.
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Comments
I`ll try some of your tips and let you know my results.
Thank you.
Best Regards
Helmuth
Thanks for the tips in Step 1! Much appreciated.
Follow these five tips for some years and it works perfectly
Very enjoyable read. thank you for this information.
I use most of the methods recommended but have settled into one pipe tobacco at the present time. I am quite diligent in cleaning my pipes after each smoke. Thanks for sharing your methods.
@Helmuth Please do Helmuth.
@Mark I My pleasure Mark.
@Manuel Pintado Good to hear Manuel, thanks!
@Joe Thornton Glad we could help my friend.
@GaryWWhite Nothing wrong with knowing what works for you Gary :D
I enjoy my pipe with a good beer? Are some beers less likely to give tongue bite than others?
I have several nice lighters but I find a wooden match gives a more even fire and is much easier to carry . It also burns the top of the pipe a lot less! So light up and forget your problems.
@Jay Tippett Glad you found a way that works Jay. Thanks and enjoy!
@Anthony Kroeker You know, that's a great question, no promises but we'll try and find an answer. To science!
My favorite beverage with my smoke is either a medium or bold coffee. I use the smoking pipes low country reamer just to scrape the dottle out. Great tool! Great article.
@Bryan Webber Thanks Bryan, glad to help! What kind of coffee are you brewing there?
Thanks for the tips especially the reminder on using the facility prior to lighting up. I tool enjoy a good coffee with my smoke and it also helps in cooling things down when they get too hot. It may be the half and half that is the cooling agent. Just a thought.
@Michael Clark A bit of dairy to coat the tongue makes total sense to me. Thanks Michael!
Tongue and roof of mouth bite really gets to me- I blame it on Virginia in some blends. The search continues, and I try not to over puff when I smoke.
@Adam O'Neill I french press either a french roast or a local Houston blend. The french press really brings out the characteristics of the beans and depending on the blend that's smoked, other flavors emerge.
@Bryan Webber Couldn't agree more. We've got a moka pot, Chemex and a French press, but it's easily the French press that sees the most use.
My favorite drink with my pipe is a cold ginger ale.
Helpful! I now smoke only two tobacco's, an aromatic and an English. and try to keep my pipes separate for each tobacco. Have a good day!
@Osborne Harris Sounds great! Any tips on a tobacco pairing for it?
@Steve Glad we could help Steve, what are the two blends?
i inherited some pipes and they are hard to separate for cleaning. I don't want to damage them. Also one is a "Gandalf" style with an 8inch stem. Any tips ?
@P MAC Actually yes, we've got a page on cleaning over at https://www.smokingpipes.com/information/howto/cleaning.cfm
One point that might be added to the list is relight strategy. I think it's best to let the fire go out when it seems to be going that way, cool down, then lightly tamp . . . and then relight.
@Kevin Marton That's a great tip, thanks Kevin!
Hi there..
I try some different type of tobacco.. some was fresh, bite as you said, spicy, strong at taste even smoking slowly until I found something smooth, light, sweet, good taste and burn very well! Thanks anyway for the tips and.. for a good dry process of the pipe is.. head down like I do everytime and the result is perfect!
Best regards!
@Cristian Alexandru Pop Glad we could help Christian!
That is an absolutely gorgeous pipe shown the photographs above. Who makes that pipe and what is it called?
Hi,
Great article as usual!
I've gotten into the habit of inserting a pipe-cleaner into my pipe after every smoke , it's then placed upside down (bowl end down) in it's stand for an hour or two before removing the pipe cleaner.
II then leave the pipe until it's next turn in my pipe rotation, this currently stands at 6 pipes so plenty time for them to rest between uses. I must say however, they all get an intensive clean once a week.
Thanks again for an enjoyable article & read, "land may yer lum (pipe) reek"
Best Regards, Andy B. Scotland, UK
@Alex R That was an old unstamped pipe we rejected from an estate batch, so no details, sorry.
@Andy B Thanks for reading! Have you noticed a difference since you started Andy?
I've experimented with many types of tobacco and the brand that tastes good to me and smokes the coolest is Sutliff brand rum and maple. and their spiced rum is great,as you can imagine these go great with a strong Columbian espresso. T
hat is my happy place.
Good flavor