How to smoke a pipe

A Pipe Smoking Primer (Pipe Smoking 101)

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from AoM reader Jason Mills.

I can remember visiting my best friend when I was younger. It was fun to get together and have adventures like boys do, but one thing I really, really liked was his dad. His dad was an old farm man and looked like it from the weather-beaten lines on his face to his calloused hands. He was quiet spoken and loved smoking his pipe. Since my dad was a non-smoker, this fact really intrigued me as a young boy. I’d see him lighting up and smoking his pipe in complete happiness. He always smelled like pipe tobacco (Sir Walter Raleigh) and now, whenever I smell that brand, I always think of him.

Maybe you had a grandpa who was like my friend’s dad. Maybe you saw him smoking his pipe in quiet contentment and enjoyed that manly smell as I did. Maybe you’ve never known a man who smoked a pipe, so you don’t know what I’m talking about. Either way it doesn’t change the fact that pipe smoking is a manly art.

Why? Well, pipe smoking is as much ritual as it is relaxation. There’s a certain satisfaction you get when you pack the tobacco into the bowl just right. Then, the whoosh of the match followed by that wonderful, aromatic smell. Smoke a pipe with one of your favorite cocktails (maybe an Old Fashioned or a Martini) in the comfort of your favorite armchair, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect evening.

Pipe? Check. Man chair? Check. Grab the sports section and you’ve got the perfect evening ahead of you.

Even in cinema from the 1930s and 1940s, oftentimes you’ll see men with a pipe in their mouths. Movies like The Quiet Man, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and even It’s a Wonderful Life find men of all stripes smoking their pipes. Today, men who smoke a pipe are taking part in a manly ritual that stretches back to the dawn of time and has continued unbroken to the present. Convinced? Then let’s get started.

Basic Supplies

Once you have all this, you can get started.

How to Smoke a Pipe

To start with, smoking a pipe is a leisurely activity. I’d recommend setting aside at least 20 minutes. That’s one of the reasons pipe smoking is so enjoyable. It lets you take some time to slow down. Again, make yourself one of the 5 Classic Cocktails Every Man Should Know, grab your pipe and tobacco, and take a seat on the porch to enjoy the evening. Now you’re really ready to begin.

1. Fill the bowl of your pipe. This step is the most difficult to master, but it affects the rest of your smoke. Fill the bowl loosely with tobacco and press it lightly down with the tamper. The bowl should now be filled halfway from the bottom. Fill the bowl again to the top and compress a bit more, packing more firmly. Now your bowl is about 3/4 full. Now top off the bowl with more tobacco and press down. There should be a slight space between the top of the bowl and the tobacco.

2. Put the pipe to your mouth and take a test draw. If air doesn’t flow freely through the tobacco, it’s too tight. If that’s the case, remove and try again. If your test draw is fine, you’re ready to light.

3. When lighting your pipe, use a wooden match or pipe lighter. I recommend wooden matches because they’re cheaper. Pipe lighters are made specifically for tobacco pipes and don’t alter the taste of the tobacco. If using a match, strike it and let it burn for a few seconds to get the sulphur off. Then, as you take gentle draws on the pipe, move the match in a circular movement over the surface of the tobacco. Do this until the tobacco is evenly lit. Once it’s lit, you’re still not quite there. This is simply the “false light.” Let it go out, then relight the same way. Once it’s evenly lit, this is the “true light” and you’re ready to smoke. Note: It is suggested that you NOT inhale the smoke into your lungs. Pipe smoking is different than cigarette smoking. This type of tobacco is a bit stronger and is more for the flavor.

4. Take it easy when smoking your pipe. Slow and steady, this is a marathon, not a 50 yard dash. If you puff too quickly, you’ll get what’s known as “tongue bite”– a burning sensation on your tongue. Definitely not what you want. Your pipe may go out 2 or 3 times during your smoke, but that’s OK. Remember, relax and enjoy. If you have a friend over, your pipe may go out more often as you talk! Enjoy the flavor of the tobacco.

That’s all there is to it. If you enjoy your first and subsequent smokes, you can buy the more expensive pipes and tobaccos. Who knows, there may be another article on the types of pipes and tobaccos in the future.

Some Other Tips

Editor’s note: If you’re intrigued by the idea of pipe smoking but for a variety of reasons want to avoid tobacco, you may wish to look into trying an e-pipe. E-pipes are electronic pipes that produce a vapor-like smoke but don’t contain tobacco. You can control the level of nicotine in the vapor from high to none at all. It’s a far cry from real pipe smoking, but an interesting alternative.

Primer: How To Smoke A Tobacco Pipe

Pipe smoking is a centuries old art. And there are great men throughout history that made it their vice of choice – or at least one of their vices. For example, Edwin Powell Hubble – whom you might know as the person for whom the famous telescope was named – was an adamant pipe smoker. So was author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – which makes sense, considering that his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes, enjoyed it just the same. Even the great general Douglas MacArthur was frequently photographed with his favorite corncob. The point is this: smoking a pipe can be a rewarding and relaxing endeavor for anyone willing to take the time to learn how to do it properly.

The problem is, this art appears to be fading away into the ether and is, subsequently, more difficult than ever to learn. In light of that, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to put together this step-by-step guide. From selecting your tobacco to taking your first long draw, these are the ins and outs of this dying art. So, if you find yourself wanting to take it up and join the ranks of great ponderers, explorers, and other men of notable stature, the following will teach you how to smoke a pipe.

Anatomy of a Pipe

There are a number of different pipe shapes that have been popular throughout the years. But each of them; whether they are stout and carved from corncob, curved like the one owned by Sherlock Holmes, or the exceedingly long churchwarden-style (like Gandalf’s from Lord of the Rings); are comprised of two basic parts: the stummel and the stem. The stummel is the larger main portion of the pipe into which the tobacco is placed and the Stem is the secondary portion through which the smoke travels on its way to the user’s mouth. The subsequent parts of each are as follows:

Stummel

Chamber: The rounded interior of the pipe into which the tobacco is placed.

Bowl: The rounded exterior of the chamber; typically the part of the pipe that is held.

Heel/Foot: The base and forward portion of the bowl that faces away from the shank.

Shank: The hollowed portion of the pipe that protrudes from the bowl through which the smoke travels.

Bit: The narrowest part of the stem that’s held in the mouth by the teeth or lips.

Button/Lip: The endmost part of the pipe and the portion through which it is smoked. This piece is often widened to prevent it from slipping out of the mouth.

Smoker’s Choice

There are literal dozens of styles of pipes with an equal number of confusing and seemingly unrelated names, but – at the end of the day – your choice of pipe is going to come down to personal preference. Whether you want a simple minimalist pipe straight pipe or you appreciate the sweeping curve of a bent pipe, you can track down a worthwhile one with relatively little effort. Though there are differences in shapes and materials, there’s really not a much of a difference between how they all function. Find a style that you like and go for it.

Choosing A Tobacco

Before you even try to pack your pipe, you should do a little research into the type of tobacco you want. As is the case with craft beer and fine cigars, there are a number different types of pipe tobacco and each is going to have a different flavor palette, level of smoothness, etc. It’s also important to keep in mind that, like craft beer, there isn’t any standardized way of naming a tobacco outside of overall varieties, so a brand may name their blends whatever they choose. The best bet for any newcomer navigating the realm of tobacco is to speak to an actual tobacconist. These purveyors of all things smokable are – more often than not – experts in their craft and will be able to guide you on your way. You can also purchase small tins of a wide variety of different blends, cuts, and otherwise if you’re having trouble deciding. That way, you can try a few and figure out which types you like. It can be said, however, that tobacco will fall into two main categories: aromatic and non-aromatic.

Aromatic

Aromatic tobaccos are those which have had flavors added to them. Common types include vanilla, chocolate, whiskey, and fruit. Keep in mind, however, that these flavors will be most notable in the scent of the tobacco rather than the actual taste; hence the term aromatic. Don’t expect your vanilla tobacco to taste like ice cream and you should be fine. That being said, these types of tobacco do tend to be a bit on the milder and sweeter side and are your best bet if you are not a seasoned smoker.

Non-Aromatic

These tobaccos have a much more natural and traditional smell and flavor to them. Though nearly all tobaccos are mixed with an alcohol-based liquid – called a casing – which is used to make them more palatable, the non-aromatic varieties feature a casing that is more neutral and does not compromise the natural flavor. Those with more experience in smoking tend to appreciate these blends for their more nuanced profiles.

Breaking In A Pipe

Once you have your pipe and your tobacco picked out, the time has come to smoke it, right? Well, not if you want your pipe to last for a long time and enhance your smoking experience. The first step you should take after purchasing a new pipe is to break it in. Keep in mind, however, that this is not an absolutely necessary step; it’s just what we recommend if you want to make the most out of the experience. After all, smoking out of a pipe is a labor of love and is not for those seeking instant gratification. Sure, breaking in your pipe could take some time and patience, but it will be worth it in the long run.

You can think of it kind of like seasoning a skillet. The end-goal here is to create a uniform coating on the inside of the bowl of your pipe. First, take a pinch of tobacco and fill the bowl about 1/4 to 1/2 full and gently press it down with your finger or a tamper (a small, flat-bottomed tool used to pack pipe tobacco). This is what’s referred to as “packing,” which we will go into in more depth later. Then, place your lips over the bit of the pipe and suck some air through. If you struggle to draw air, your tobacco is packed too tight and needs to be loosened up.

Once your tobacco is packed, you can take a wooden match or a lighter, ignite it, and evenly spread the flame over the surface of the tobacco, taking small puffs through the stem to get it started. If you know how to smoke a cigar, the lighting method isn’t all that dissimilar. Once the tobacco is lit, you’ll want to take long and slow drags to ensure that the tobacco burns all the way down. Once that’s done, repeat that step a few more times. Then, fill it slightly higher and repeat again another couple of times. Finally, fill the bowl to 3/4 (you never want to fill your pipe any more than that) and repeat the step another few times.

All in all, you should follow this process a total of about a dozen times. We know that terms like “a few” and “about” are hardly scientific, but the process of breaking-in a pipe is more of an art than it is a science. You’ll have to determine on your own whether you’re happy with the result or if you want to continue the process. What you should end up with is a thin layer of carbon coating the entirety of your pipe’s tobacco chamber. This will both protect the longevity of the piece and will aid in enhancing the flavor profile of future bowlfuls.

Filling The Pipe

The first step of filling your pipe is determining the cut, and therefore density, of the tobacco you are using. If you can’t identify it by the label on the tin, there are a few telling signs that will aid you. Ribbon cut tobacco, for example, comes in dry strands of varying length. This type tends to hold more air and requires a more firm tamp. Conversely, Plug style is a kind of tobacco that has been compressed under heat and is, therefore, more dense and requires a lighter hand to avoid clogging your pipe. If you are unsure which cut suits you best, consult your tobacconist. And remember, you can always test to see if your pipe is packed properly by drawing air through the mouthpiece.

A Pinch At A Time

As is the case with adding spices to food or feeding a fish, the best way to fill your pipe is a pinch at a time. This deliberate method will not only help you keep from clogging your pipe, but it will also ensure that your tobacco burns both evenly and completely. If you pack too little tobacco into your pipe, it will burn fast and hot and will, therefore, be less enjoyable. If you add too much, your tobacco will not properly combust and drawing smoke through the stem will feel like sucking on a plugged up straw. To avoid this, take the time to meticulously fill your pipe pinch by pinch. Usually, two to three pinches should be enough. And remember, never fill your pipe to the brim, lest you want to risk dropping burning tobacco onto yourself or any flammable things nearby.

Tamping The Tobacco

Tamping, which is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “ram[ming] or pack[ing] a substance into something firmly,” is the unsung hero of smoking tobacco. It’s also the hardest skill to master because it takes the most practice and finesse. A perfectly tamped bowl of tobacco wont burn too quickly, nor will it require frequent re-lighting. It can be done with your finger, or you can buy a device called a tamper (which is usually made from metal or wood) to complete the task. We recommend the latter, as it is both more precise and more sanitary.

With the first pinch of tobacco, you want to press down on the it very gently and evenly, so as to leave a good amount of air between your tobacco leaves and the bottom of the bowl. With each subsequent tamp, the press should become more and more firm. Remember not to crush your tobacco into a paste – it’s not a mortar and pestle. You want to be sure that the bowl is tight enough that the tobacco stays secure, but – as always – you need to be able to draw air through it.

Lighting The Tobacco

To ignite your tobacco, you’ll want to use either a wooden match – not the flimsy paper kinds you find in bars – or a butane lighter. The difference between a butane pipe lighter and your average disposable Bic is that butane pipe lighters will not change the flavor of your tobacco, whereas anything with a liquid combustible can negatively affect the taste of your smoke. Pipe lighters are also typically designed to keep the flame away from your digits in the process of lighting. You can try to light your pipe with a cheap throw-away, but you’ll likely find it frustrating and you’ll probably burn yourself frequently. With matches, you can at least hold the end and hover the flame above the bowl.

With either your lit match or lighter, you want to draw the flame in a circular motion across the surface of the tobacco. As you do this, you should take long and steady draws to pull the flame downward into the tobacco. This first step is called ‘charring.’ Once you’ve charred the surface of the tobacco, the time has come to tamp it again – another reason we recommend getting a tamper rather than using your finger. Press down firmly on the tobacco to even out the surface again. Once it is even and the embers are out, you’re ready for what’s called the ‘true light.’

Now, you’ll want to follow the same first steps as the char, but draw the flame around the bowl several more times. While doing so, again take long and deep draws from your pipe. You should notice that the smoke is getting thicker and a bright red ember should be visible in your tobacco. Once this occurs, your pipe is fully lit and you’re ready to enjoy that smoke.

Relax & Enjoy

Now that you’ve taken care of all the tedious and/or hard work, the time has come to enjoy your pipe. Remember, there is no rush in this step. Pipe smoking is meant to be a steady and relaxing experience. Set aside whatever else you are doing and focus on appreciating your achievement. Long and consistent draws should be all you need to keep your tobacco lit. If it goes out, however, don’t fret. Simply follow the steps for lighting it and continue to smoke. The one thing you want to avoid as much as possible is smoking too fast. If you take drags too quickly, it’s possible to get what’s called ‘tongue bite’ – an very uncomfortable burning sensation.

Maintaining The Pipe

Once you are finished smoking, you should immediately take steps to clean your pipe. This will not only ensure that each time you use it, your tobacco will taste fresh, but it will potentially save your pipe from incurring damage that might be caused otherwise. There are three methods by which you should clean your pipe. In order of frequency, they are as follows:

Pipe Cleaning

After each smoke, you should take a pipe cleaner – yes the same thing you used in arts & crafts as a kid or as an amateur plumbing tool – and feed it through the mouthpiece and down into the bowl. This will prevent any buildup from clogging up the smoke channel. You don’t need to use any soap or corrosive cleaning supplies. In fact, we recommend against it entirely, as it could impart flavors or toxins into your pipe. After you’ve run the pipe cleaner through, you should blow through the mouthpiece to expel any loose particles. You should also take a scraper – a piece of metal designed for this purpose – and remove any excess ash from the bowl. If your pipe can be disassembled, you should take it apart when you clean it. This will ensure a more thorough cleaning and will make the job easier. Once this is done, simply leave your pipe out to dry (smoking inherently imparts moisture into your pipe). Ideally, you should give your pipe a break for about a day between each smoke to allow ample time for it to dry. This will keep your pipe from acquiring a sour taste.

Alcohol Wash

Select a drinking alcohol – you can use scotch, vodka, rum, brandy or our personal favorite, whiskey – for a more thorough cleaning. Do not use rubbing alcohol, as it is not safe to drink and therefore shouldn’t be used on your pipe. Simply take a pipe cleaner, dip it in the alcohol and follow the same steps as above. This type of cleaning should be done periodically, but not nearly as frequently as a dry-cleaning. Every few weeks or so should be fine.

Scraping The Cake

The more you smoke, the more carbon buildup you will get on the inside of your bowl. The ideal thickness of that beneficial buildup should be about the same as a dime. If it is approaching the thickness of a nickel, the time has come to scrape some of it off. Using the same scraping tool used in the pipe cleaning step, simply scrape away at the buildup until the thickness matches about that of a dime. Don’t be too eager in this step, however, as you don’t want to take off too much of that ‘cake.’ It does, after all, benefit both your smoking enjoyment and the health of your pipe.

Pipe Smoking Essentials

While you’re going to find that the world of pipe smoking is fairly vast in regards to gear and you’ll develop preferences over time, you’ll still need some things to get you started. Again, your best bet is to speak to your tobacconist – as they can give you one-on-one attention and impart years of valuable wisdom – but sometimes you just need to take that first step. A basic pear wood two-piece smoking pipe is a solid starter. It’s easy to use, maintain, and features a classic style that has been proven for centuries. And this one has a wind guard. Visol’s Coppia pipe lighter is the perfect counterpart – boasting some modern tech (like a fuel viewing window and flame adjustment dial) – and it will ensure a full and even light when used properly. Then of course, you’ll need a set of tools. Well, the 3-in-1 from Mr. Brog is a tamper, scraper, and reamer in a single easy-to-manage package. And, lastly, you could do far worse than Dill’s premium pipe cleaners for your after-smoke maintenance. They’re all cotton, disposable, and can absolutely be depended on to get the job done.

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How to Smoke a Pipe

Learning how to smoke a pipe is a lot easier then it seems and beneficial in multiple ways. Once you know the proper technique, it will ensure you don’t waste cannabis, while also reducing the risk of getting burned by the flame. This article will also teach you common smoking etiquette if you end up smoking with a group of friends.

Smoking weed from a pipe is one of the most prevalent methods of consuming cannabis globally. Pipes are widely available and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The ease of use and the compact size of pipes make them perfect to travel with and use wherever!

If you have never used a pipe before, there are a few important things you need to understand first. This article will teach you everything you need to know about smoking cannabis from a pipe. It will go over the components of a pipe, how it works, and how to properly smoke cannabis from it. After reading this article, you will be a pipe-smoking expert!

What is a Pipe? Pipe Components Explained

Bowl: A pipe will have a “bowl” shape at the end opposite of the mouthpiece. This is where cannabis is packed and loaded. It holds the cannabis securely so it doesn’t fall or blow out. This is also a unit of measurement as people judge the amount of cannabis consumed by the amount of “bowls” that were smoked.

Mouthpiece: This is the small hole at the end of the pipe where you place your mouth on. You press your lips around it to form a tight seal. Once sealed you then inhale the smoke once the cannabis is lit.

Carb: The carb is a small hole beside the bowl. It is used to adjust the airflow when you are using the pipe. You place your thumb over the carb while lighting the bowl and when you are ready to inhale the smoke, you lift your thumb off.

Chamber or Stem: This is the area that holds the smoke in between the bowl and your mouth. While you are inhaling, this is where the smoke collects. You release your thumb from the carb to inhale (clear) the smoke that has collected.

Screens: A screen is a small metal circular mesh that is placed inside the bowl. It is used to stop the cannabis from falling through the hole and prevents the cannabis from getting inhaled by the user. These are optional and many people choose not to use them.

What You’ll Need to Smoke a Pipe

In order to be able to use and smoke a pipe, you will need some equipment and cannabis. We also recommend grabbing a water bottle or drink for after. Items needed:

How to Smoke a Pipe | Step by Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to smoke a pipe. This comprehensive beginner guide will teach you everything you need to know about smoking and using a pipe.

Step 1: Gather the Equipment

Prepare the equipment. The first step to smoking a pipe is gathering all the necessary equipment. This includes getting the pipe, cannabis, lighter, and grinder ready. You may also want to bring a bottle of water for after.

We also recommend finding an area that is protected from the wind. This will help you focus on the task at hand! You don’t need the wind blowing the lighter out or blowing the cannabis away.

Step 2: Grind the Cannabis

Grind the cannabis by using your hands, scissors, or a grinder. If you are using a grinder, grab a few small nugs of cannabis, remove any stems and seeds, then push the nugs down into the teeth. Close the lid and spin it back and forth until all the cannabis falls into the lower compartment.

If you’re using scissors, place a few small nugs of cannabis into a bowl or container. Use the tips of the scissors to cut it up into small even-sized pieces. Aim to have the ground up cannabis look like the picture below.

If you’re using your hands, you may be able to rub the cannabis buds in between your fingers if they’re dry enough. If the bud is too sticky and won’t separate properly, slowly start picking the leaves off one by one until you have enough to fill the bowl.

Step 3: Pack the Cannabis into the Bowl

Once you have the ground up cannabis, pack it into the bowl. The amount used varies from pipe to pipe, person to person, depending on tolerances and the size of the bowl. If you’re smoking alone, use a pinch or two of cannabis (roughly the size of a blueberry).

For beginner users, we recommend starting with small amounts of cannabis in each bowl. Wait at least 15 minutes between inhalations to allow the effects to come on. Slow and steady is the safest option until you are familiar with your tolerance.

Press it down slightly to keep it from blowing or falling out, but not too tightly. You don’t want to restrict the airflow. If you packed it down too tightly and it won’t ignite, you can use a toothpick or your fingernail to loosen it up.

If you’re smoking with a group, pack it to the rim of the bowl so everyone can take a hit. This is a common etiquette when smoking with a group.

Step 4: Get Comfortable

Make yourself comfortable. Some people like standing while others like sitting, do whatever feels right for you. Once your settled, pick up the pipe with your non-dominant hand. Hold the chamber of the pipe from underneath (the bowl faces up). Grab the lighter with your free hand.

Place your lips on the mouthpiece and form an airtight suction. Your lips should just be covering the opening on the mouthpiece. Then with the hand holding the pipe, use your finger or thumb to cover the choke (small hole beside the bowl). Now the pipe is ready to smoke.

Step 5: Light the Cannabis

Ignite the cannabis. Turn the lighter sideways and bring the flame to the bowl. The flame should just be touching the top of the cannabis. Almost all pipes come with a “carb” or “choke” which is a small hole beside the bowl. When you are igniting the cannabis, press your finger or thumb over the carb to allow the smoke to collect in the chamber.

Tip: we recommend using “hemp wick” for a healthier smoking alternative if possible. Hemp wick is a string of woven hemp that burns slowly. This is the healthiest method to ignite the cannabis because no harmful chemicals from the lighter enter the smoke. If you are using hemp wick, light the end of the wick and bring the flame close enough to the cannabis to ignite it.

Step 6: Inhale the Smoke

Gradually start inhaling through the mouthpiece. Bring the flame to the cannabis and slowly inhale through the mouthpiece, keep your thumb on the carb. Once you have collected enough smoke in the chamber, remove your thumb from the carb and inhale the smoke slowly. Only hold the smoke in your lungs for a maximum of 3-4 seconds.

There is no “set” amount of cannabis you need to burn. You can smoke a portion of the bowl, or the whole thing. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

Exhale the smoke and take a deep breath. This will help control your coughing. If you are smoking with others, wipe the mouthpiece if there is any excess saliva. This is common smoking etiquette.

Step 7: Ash the Pipe

Remove the ash from the pipe. Once you have smoked the entire bowl and the cannabis is now ash, you can dump it out. Turn the pipe upside down and tap it a few times until the ash falls out. If it doesn’t fall out after tapping, you can use a pipe tool or toothpick to scrape it out.

Now you have learned how to smoke a pipe! If you want to smoke more, pack another bowl and repeat the steps. If you are smoking with friends, pass the pipe to the next guy.

The Difference Between a Tobacco Pipe and Weed Pipe

The main difference between weed and tobacco pipes are the materials used to construct each one. Tobacco pipes are usually made of a variety of different materials like meerschaum, clay, briarwood or corncob. Weed pipes are most commonly constructed of glass but sometimes made using metal, ceramic, wood, silicone, or bamboo. The overall function of each pipe is generally the exact same. This means you can use a tobacco pipe for cannabis and vice versa.

Different Types of Weed Pipes

When it comes to weed pipes, there is a variety of styles you will come across. There are a few characteristics you need to consider when looking for a pipe. Some of these characteristics include size, colour, material, and price. Take all of these into consideration when finding a pipe to fit your specific needs. Here is a list of some of the most common types of pipes:

Glass Pipes: The most common type of pipe is a glass pipe (see picture below). These are usually of higher quality and come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. We recommend glass pipes over metal pipes due to the health concerns associated with heating up the metal. They are also much smoother and easier to clean.

Glass Pipe

Metal Pipes: The next most common type is metal pipes. These can be found at most convenience stores and headshops. These are generally much cheaper and of lower quality.

One Hitters: Another type of weed pipe is called a one-hitter. The one-hitter is in the shape of a cigarette and is very discrete. You stamp cannabis into the top of it to load it. The term “one-hitter” is because usually it only takes on hit to inhale the bowl. If you want to learn more, we wrote a comprehensive article on how to use a one hitter here.

One Hitter

Wooden Pipes: Another common style is handcrafted wooden pipes. These look the same as glass ones but are made out of wood. These are usually much harder to clean.

Specialty Pipes: Other specialty pipes have their own unique names depending on their style. Some of these include sherlock, gandalf, spoon, glass blunts, chillum, and steamroller pipes.

Where to Buy a Pipe

If you are need of a pipe, there is a variety of great options available. You can find them at headshops, gas stations, convenience stores, and online. The store we recommend is called NYVAPESHOP. They have a wide selection of pipes that include:

They will have a pipe that fits your unique preferences. Our favourite is called the Glass Sherlock Pipe which was blown in the USA! This pipe is more on the expensive side but it’s worth it (see image below).

How to Make a Pipe

If you need a pipe and don’t want to purchase one, there are easy DIY methods for making them. We recommend building an apple pipe if it’s your first time! These are DIY pipes that can be made in under 5 minutes and they work just as well as the real thing! The method of making them is very straightforward and the materials are most likely already in your kitchen.

We already wrote a comprehensive article on making and smoking an apple pipe here! It will teach you how to make an apple pipe, along with tips and tricks to making them.

Common Mistakes

Don’t exhale when your mouth is on the pipe. You need to remove your mouth from the pipe after you inhale all the smoke. Proceed to exhale the smoke when the pipe is away from your face.

Hold the lighter to the bowl. A common mistake is an individual doesn’t fully ignite the cannabis. When you are using a pipe, hold the lighter on the cannabis while inhaling. You can remove the lighter once the cannabis starts to “cherry”, this is when the cannabis is a bright ember.

Packing the cannabis too tightly. If you pack the cannabis too tightly into the bowl, you will restrict the airflow. Aim to have the cannabis semi-compact so it stays inside the bowl, but also has good airflow. This will help the cannabis burn evenly and will make it easier to inhale.

Not cleaning the pipe. If you don’t clean the pipe, it will start to clog up. This will reduce airflow and make it inefficient. To clean the pipe, submerge it in rubbing alcohol and salt in a ziplock bag. Shake the ziplock back and forth. Another method is using premade cleaning solutions that are sold at headshops and some convenience stores, we recommend orange chronic.

Tips for Smoking a Pipe in Groups

When smoking a pipe in a group of people, there are some common courtesy rules that are set in stone. These apply to almost all regions of the world in most cases.

How to Clean a Pipe

Cleaning a pipe is an important task you need to frequently do! Pipes tend to clog fairly easily and quickly. If you don’t clean it frequently, it will not perform at its optimal levels or even work at all. Here are three of the best cleaning methods:

Rubbing Alcohol and Salt

This is one of the easiest and most common methods of cleaning a pipe. All you need is a large ziplock bag, rubbing alcohol, and coarse sea salt.

Vinegar and Salt

Another method is substituting the rubbing alcohol with vinegar. This is a healthier and more natural alternative.

Orange Chronic

One of the easiest and most convenient ways to clean a pipe is using a premade cleaner like orange chronic. This is a premade formula you can buy that was created specifically for cleaning bongs and pipes. We can vouch that this will leave your pipe looking better than the day you bought it! This stuff seriously works wonders.

Pipe Cleaners

Another great method of cleaning a pipe is by using pipe cleaners. These are flexible wires with bristles that can fit inside the pipe. Use these to clear out any clogs or other built-up plant matter.

Why is a pipe so harsh?

The smaller the pipe usually means the harsher the hit. This is because the smoke is travelling directly from the bowl to your mouth. Try using a larger pipe and inhaling slower.

How can i reduce my coughing?

After using the pipe for a while you will become used to the smoke. Beginners can do a few things to reduce coughing. The first would be to pack smaller bowls. This would reduce the amount of smoke inhaled during the hit. The second thing would be to take a bunch of smaller hits each time instead of one big one.

Jake Randall is a journalist, author, and student with expertise in all things cannabis (especially edibles), along with knowledge in economics, the environment, and everything in between. Originally from Canada, Jake has taken on the role of a senior cannabis correspondent at The Cannabis School.

How to Smoke a Pipe

Pipe smoking is the most aesthetically distinguished manner of enjoying tobacco. If you don’t know how to smoke a pipe, however, this classy effect is lost. Smoking a pipe has become something of a lost art. These days, most people who engage in it do so out of a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps you had a grandfather who enjoyed a puff now and again, maybe along with a good whiskey, or you aim to emulate some pipe-smoking artist. Whatever the case, you intend to take up the time-honored tradition of unwinding with a pipe.

So, how do you smoke a pipe without looking like an amateur? As with most endeavors, it all starts with the right equipment.

Everything You Need for Smoking a Pipe

There isn’t an overabundance of gear that goes into smoking a pipe, but you will need a few essentials:

Your Pipe of Choice

Pipes come in all varieties, from your basic corncob pipe to simple wooden pipes to highly ornate carved pieces that border on works of art. Which is right for you has more to do with personal aesthetic tastes than anything.

Wooden Matches or a Pipe Lighter

While the traditional Bic can work, it’s not the easiest tool for getting a flame into the bowl of your pipe. Wooden matches or long pipe lighters are the easiest way to get the job done.

Pipe Tamper

Not necessarily essential, these are useful for packing your bowl and help add to your overall classy look.

Pipe Cleaners

If you’re going to be puffing a pipe on the reg, it will get clogged.

Tobacco

Which tobacco is right for you depends on your experience with tobacco and your personal tastes. If you’re new to smoking pipe tobacco, a mild blend is your best way to ease into things. Ask your local tobacconist for recommendations.

Now for the meat of the matter …

How to Smoke a Pipe

Smoking a pipe isn’t a quick activity like having a fast cigarette during a break at work. This is a leisurely activity in which you give yourself a moment to slow things down a bit. So for starters, carve yourself out a good chunk of time to sit and enjoy a good pipe, as the saying goes.

Once you have the time and space to enjoy said pipe:

1. Pack the Bowl

Fill the bowl with a loose pinch of tobacco, then press it down gently with the tamper. It should now be filled about halfway. Top it off with another pinch, then tamp it down again. At this point, the bowl should be about two-thirds of the way full. Now add and tamp one more pinch of tobacco, leaving a tiny bit of space to the top of the bowl.

2. Test Draw

Before lighting, give it a few quick test puffs to make sure that air flows freely. If it doesn’t, start over.

3. Light Up

If you’re using matches, ignite a match and give it a moment for the sulfur to burn off — otherwise, it’ll ruin the flavor of the tobacco. Apply the flame to the bowl in a circular motion, drawing gently on the pipe all the while. Usually, it will light once in what is known as a “false light.” Let this go out, then do it once more for a “true light.”

4. Puff — Don’t Necessarily Inhale, Though

Unlike a cigarette, when smoking a pipe, most people don’t inhale into their lungs. As with a cigar, pipe tobacco tends to be rather strong, and the whole experience is more about flavor. Enjoy taking little puffs of smoke into your mouth.

5. Pace Yourself

Don’t attempt to smoke your pipe too fast — you might get what experienced pipe smokers call “tongue bite,” which is a burning, irritated sensation across the surface of your tongue. Puff at a leisurely pace and enjoy. It’s not uncommon for a pipe to go out and require relighting several times within a single smoking session.

6. Clean Out When Finished

When your session is over, be sure to tap or scrape out the bowl, as letting it sit for too long can make it difficult to clean later. If your pipe is making a gurgling sound or sensation, moisture has built up in the stem and it needs a deeper cleaning. Regular cleaning is also important for ensuring that the taste of the tobacco isn’t tainted.

For all intents and purposes, you now know how to smoke a pipe — enjoy!

From here, getting the most out of your pipe smoking experience is largely about the company you keep. For some, a pipe is a great way to sit in solitude and reflect on the day in peace. For others, smoking a pipe is a social activity intended for good conversation.

Whichever you prefer, you now have a more civilized way to have a good smoke.

How to Start Smoking a Pipe (Only 4 Things to Get You Going!)

Posted by Greg Rosenberg on 19th Aug 2021

With so many things in life, getting started can be the hardest part. No doubt that applies to pipe smoking. So if you’ve ever wondered how to start smoking a pipe, this guide is for you.

One of the best things about smoking a pipe is the vastness of options. Pipes come in any number of shapes, materials, and sizes and there are seemingly infinite options for tobaccos. Even methods of packing and smoking are varied. This fertile ground for exploration is one of the hobby’s greatest charms, but it can also be a daunting deterrent for newcomers. It can feel like you have to be an expert right out of the gate and you start to think the question of “how to smoke a pipe” is actually a million other questions.

We assure you it isn’t. Getting started is not the headache it may seem and all the personalization will come in time. Even the seemingly tedious aspects of smoking a pipe—prep, packing, cleaning—soon become part of the beloved ritual. Like any field, the knowledge goes deep, but getting started really is quite simple.

What You Need to Start Smoking a Pipe

Here’s a list of everything you need to begin pipe smoking:

Getting Started Smoking a Pipe: The Essentials

Now, our goal here is to offer a comprehensive guide with all the fundamentals you could want to know about how to start smoking a pipe without overwhelming you, so let’s break this up—we’ll start with the bare bones, then get into the nitty-gritty. That is to say, this section will offer everything you need to get started without overcomplicating. Then we’ll expand and really get in the weeds.

There’s a lot of jargon that goes into the different parts of a pipe and all their varieties—we don’t need to worry about all that now. Let’s just look at the basic anatomy so you’ll have context and something to refer back to with the bit of terminology we’ll be using here.

How to Smoke a Pipe

1. First you’ll need to pack the bowl. There’s a bit more method to this than one might assume. Stuffing the chamber all at once will lead to an uneven pack and restrict air flow. Fill the chamber halfway but without applying any pressure—just feeding the tobacco in and letting it lie. Repeat until the chamber is three-fourths full, then tamp down with your tool or finger. Don’t use too much pressure, remember, you want it nicely compact without compromising airflow. Finally, fill once more to the rim and tamp again.

2. Next is to light the pipe. For a good even burn, start by circling the flame around the top of the chamber, charring the whole surface layer of tobacco, being careful not to scorch the rim. Lightly puff your pipe while doing so. Gently tamp again, then wait about one minute. Finally, repeat the circling method.

4. You’re smoking your pipe! Go at a slow pace, and don’t draw too hard. The flavor comes from the smoldering of the tobacco, so you don’t want to be incinerating it. This can overheat your pipe and cause dreaded tongue bite, the bane of pipe smokers.

5. Once you’ve smoked the tobacco through, clear out the ash and clean the schmutz from the stem and shank with your pipe cleaners. Repeat this until the cleaners are coming out with little to no residue.

And there you have it, you’re a verified pipe smoker!

A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind:

How To Start Smoking a Pipe—Unabridged

Well, now that we’ve covered what you need to know, let’s leave no stone unturned and no pipe unsmoked with a comprehensive, unabridged guide for curating your pipecraft specifically for you.

Choosing your Tobacco Pipe

The first step for any new pipe smoker is to buy a pipe. Choosing what smoking pipe is best for you can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these four steps and choose the first pipes in your collection with ease.

Choose the material: Briar, Corn Cob, or Meerschaum.

The first choice you will make is what material will be used to construct your pipe.

The three most common materials used in the construction of tobacco pipes are briar wood, corn cobs, and meerschaum.

Briar Wood

Briar is the most popular material used for crafting tobacco pipes. Most of the pipes you see in your local retailer or online are made from this unique wood. Briar comes from the roots of the Erica Arborea tree, primarily growing near the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its saltwater-tolerant growing conditions, briar is exceptionally durable, heat resistant, and breathable. Briar is porous on a microscopic level, which allows it to absorb the heat and oil produced by burning tobacco.

Corn Cobs

Corncob, often shortened to cob, is the most affordable material. Corn cob pipes are made by drying out a cob of corn, drilling out the center, and attaching a stem. Smokers love cob pipes because they are inexpensive, easy to maintain, and culturally nostalgic.

Meerschaum

Meerschaum is a material found in Turkey near the Black Sea. Authentic meerschaum is significantly more expensive than corn cob or briar. This is because meerschaum is a material that is easily carved. Most of the time, meerschaum pipes have an intricate design, which puts them in the premium price category. Despite their expense, Meerschaum pipes are highly sought after. Tobacco pipes made from meerschaum smoke smooth and cool. They also tend to be lightweight. You can get a deep dive into meerschaum here.

Pick Your Shape

Once you’ve chosen the material, it is time to decide what shape will work best for you.

There are many different ways to decide what shape to buy. Some smokers only want fat pipes while others only want skinny. Some enjoy long stemmed pipes, but others prefer the stem to be as short as possible.

Some smokers just pick the shape that “speaks” to them at that moment.

There is no correct shape. Whatever you choose is “right” for you. However, a few guiding principles will help you get the most out of your early smoking experiences.

To see an intensive guide of pipe shape options, visit A Complete Guide to Tobacco Pipe Shapes.

Consider these four things when choosing the perfect pipe for you:

Chamber Shape and Size

The chamber is where the tobacco goes into a pipe. Learning about the differences here will help you understand how the chamber’s size and shape affect your smoking experience in many ways.

Simply put, the more tobacco you have, the longer and stronger your smoke will be.

If you’re sitting down to smoke for a long time, a bowl with a large diameter or a deeper depth is preferable. If you just want the occasional short smoke, you don’t have time to take a long break at work, or you want to smoke multiple tobaccos in one sitting, you should stick with a smaller chamber.

As for the shape of the chamber, there are only a few variations.

Most pipes have a perfectly cylindrical chamber. But some pipes, such as a Dublin, have a conical chamber that tapers in diameter down the bowl. This usually speeds up the burning process and intensifies the flavor at the end of the smoke.

However, the shape of the bowl is not the only part of the pipe design that affects how the pipe smokes.

Straight or Bent Stem

Deciding between a straight or a bent stem is much more important than you might think. The choice is about more than aesthetics. Straight and bent stems perform in different ways.

There are pros and cons to either stem choice. That’s why so many smokers have both in their collections. However, most pipe smokers tend to lean towards one type or the other. The choice is yours. There is no right place to begin.

Smooth and Rustic Finished Pipes

You have most likely noticed a plethora of pipe shapes, styles, materials, and finishes by now. We understand how it may be a bit overwhelming. While most aspects of the construction of the pipe directly or indirectly affect the performance of the pipe, not all do.

To be honest, the finish of a pipe has no legitimate stakes in the pipe’s performance. Some say it makes a cooler smoke, but we couldn’t verify that it actually does. The choice between a smooth, rustic, sandblasted, or other custom finished pipe will not affect your pipe smoking experience at all at the beginning. The choice between them is yours to make.

Practical and Collectable Pipes

Something you should keep in mind is what exactly you plan to be doing with your pipe.

Are you going to be smoking it while mowing the yard?

Will you pull it out at a friend’s barbecue?

Or will this pipe of yours only be for special occasions?

Our point simply is that you may not want to mow the yard while smoking an artisan pipe that costs a few hundred dollars.

To Filter or Not to Filter

In the United States, most tobacco pipe smokers prefer unfiltered pipes, but in many European countries only filtered pipes are available. So what gives? Is one better than the other?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use a filter:

Types of Pipe Filters

There are three common styles of pipe filters: pass-through filters, absorption filters, and condensers.

Why Smoke with a Filter

1. Smoking a filtered pipe is believed to be healthier than an unfiltered pipe. The idea behind using a filter is that the carbon, paper, or balsa pipe filter will absorb excess tar and nicotine. This is thought to make the risk to the smoker’s lungs smaller, especially if you accidentally inhale the smoke. There are very few studies that look at pipe smoking in particular—most are concerned with cigarettes and cigars—which means we do not know for certain if this hypothesis is correct.

2. Beyond the possible health benefits, pipe filters can reduce tongue bite drastically. Tongue bite is often caused by the “junk” that filters absorb. However, it is important to frequently replace your filters, as per the instructions for each box. Neglecting to do so may negate the filter’s positive aspects and increase the severity of tongue bite.

3. A filter is a useful tool for a pipe with a larger than average draft hole size in the bottom of the bowl. A larger bore makes it more likely that ash or small tobacco cuts will be drawn into the stem, and consequently, onto your tongue. The use of a filter catches these small particles in the filter, not in your mouth.

4. Filters block and absorb excess moisture. This is incredibly beneficial for smokers who enjoy heavily cased and moist tobaccos. Smoking a wet tobacco—especially in a straight or half-bent pipe—often means that spittle will collect in the stem. Pipe filters help to negate this issue.

5. Filters help control draw. Some pipe smokers find that they smoke too quickly and with too much force. The natural resistance a filter adds to the draw helps slow down the smoke, keeping it cooler and more flavorful.

Why Smoke Without a Filter

The popularity of filterless tobacco pipes in the USA happens because smoking without a filter has many experiential advantages. The super absorptive qualities of pipe filters can take away what pipe smokers really want from the tobacco: taste.

Especially for smokers who do not inhale, some feel that the filter detracts from the taste. Using a filter can make cleaning your pipe more difficult. You cannot run a pipe cleaner through your pipe while smoking, which means you must wait until the end of your smoke—after the pipe is cool—to take it apart, remove the filter and clean it properly. In addition, leaving the filter in for too long can cause major gunk build up in your pipe. A used pipe filter should not sit in a pipe for more than 24 hours. The moisture and tar absorbed will not dry up. Neglecting to remove the filter will mean that you are giving your briar a chance to be affected by what essentially is a wet sponge. Not something any collector wants to think about doing to one of their “babies.”

Should You use a Filter?

Here is our best, attorney-like answer: It depends.

No one can answer this question but you. Pipe smoking is such a personal hobby, and your decision to use a filter should not be affected by others. It should be your decision.

Use this information and choose for yourself. Try them both. See what you prefer. That is the best advice we, or anyone else, can give you.

How Much To Spend

So what should you do? Start low or shop for the best?

We would never recommend a beginner start with a pipe that costs thousands (or even hundreds) of dollars. But knowing which end of the range you should begin on comes down to a few simple questions:

How Will You Smoke?

A better way to phrase this is, “where will you smoke?”

It is important to know the setting in which you will be smoking. If you plan to immediately join a pipe club, where smokers take pride in their quality pieces, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend a bit more money on a higher grade briar or meerschaum pipe.

But if you plan on just filling up your pipe with whatever tobacco you can find and want to smoke while fishing, biking, or some other outdoor hobby, a trusty cob or low-grade briar pipe will do nicely.

Factory or Artisan Grade?

For our purposes, think of factory pipes as brands that are produced on a mass scale, like Vauen or Peterson. Most tobacco pipes fall under this category.

An artisan grade pipe is a one-of-a-kind creation made by the hands of a pipe carver. Artisan pipes come from both large brands (like the Savinelli Autograph Series) and small one-person shops (like OWL Pipes).

Typically, artisan grade pipes tend to have a steeper price point than factory pipes. If you are just looking to smoke, a factory pipe will do you nicely. However, if you desire to jump headfirst into pipe collecting as many smokers do, a more affordable artisan pipe would be a good choice for you.

Suggested Price Ranges for Pipes

This section is not intended as an absolute model for pipe buying. Rather, use this as a basic guide for weeding out how much you should begin spending on a pipe.

Creating a Pipe Rotation

Pipe rotation refers to how often the smoker changes pipes. Most pipe smoking enthusiasts agree that a briar pipe needs to rest in order to keep it in good condition and ensure the pipe lasts for years to come. A collection of smoking pipes is needed to accommodate this.

Proper pipe rotation is a particularly heated topic. Some long-time tobacco pipe smokers use the same pipe all day, every day. Other smokers rotate two or three pipes. Some pipe enthusiasts have large collections and only smoke the same tobacco pipe every few weeks.

In our opinion, there are four different ways you can build your pipe collection to accommodate your rotation. But first, we will explain why you probably should have more than one pipe.

Why do briar pipes need to rest?

Several things happen to a pipe when it’s smoked that changes the pipe’s structure.

First, the bowl of the pipe heats from the burning tobacco inside of it. As the smoke moves through the stem, the stem begins to heat as well. When wood is heated to high temperatures, we all know what happens—it burns! That is why Meerschaum pipes do not need the rest time of briar—they aren’t made of wood.

If a briar pipe isn’t allowed to cool fully between smokes, holes can form in the bowl. The pipe can also develop cracks and will begin to smell sour.

Tobacco contains 10-14% moisture when smoking conditions are optimal. This moisture causes steam to pass through the pipe with the smoke, and the pipe will “sour” without proper time to cool. If your pipe ever has a distinctive sour odor, don’t smoke it! Let it sit for a couple of days.

One: Let the Pipe Rest for at least a Week

The term 7-Day Set comes up often in the pipe world. This refers to the long-standing rule that an aficionado will have at least seven pipes, one for each day of the week.

A full seven-day rest ensures that your pipe is completely dried out before reuse. However, there are obvious drawbacks. Acquiring seven quality pipes can be a fairly large investment. If you only own one or two, waiting a whole week to smoke a bowl again can be a distressing thought.

Two: Rest the Pipe for a Day

Most modern smokers follow this rule of thumb, giving the pipe 24 hours to rest. Unless the bowl is especially thick, you’re probably in the clear. The 24-hour rule allows for at least one bowl per day with a smaller rotation of two or three pipes. Especially if most of your pipes are factory-made, you should be safe and satisfied with a one-day rest.

Three: It depends on your smoking style

Some tobacco pipe collectors believe that your personal style should determine how often you rotate your pipes. Ask yourself the following questions:

How wet do you smoke?

How hot do you draw?

Are you a puffer or a sipper?

Do you smoke tobaccos that are on the wet side or the dry side?

How high quality is the briar your pipe is made from?

The hypothesis believed by those who follow this method is that your style will either lessen or extend the time a pipe needs to sit. However, most beginners probably can’t answer these questions. We suggest skipping this method until you’ve become comfortable with your personal smoking habits and tried a variety of pipes and tobaccos.

Four: Do Whatever you Want

As long as you’re not getting an unpleasant sour taste, you can smoke your favorite pipe whenever you want.

We know many 30 or 40-year veterans of the hobby who smoke the same pipe four or five times a day and like it just fine.

Pipe rotation is largely based on your preferences and the type of tobacco pipes you smoke. It takes patience to figure out a rotation. Choose the method that you feel comfortable with and adjust your practice as you develop a style that works for you.

Choosing your Pipe Tobacco

Now that you have your tobacco pipe, the next step is to pick out a tobacco blend.

Different Pipe Tobacco Components

Understanding the common components of pipe tobacco blends can help you choose the right one.

Pipe tobacco blends are a combination of many flavors and textures. Much like making sausage, each component causes a slightly different experience for the palate. You may know that you like breakfast links, spicy Italian, or kielbasa. You might love one kind but hate the other. Understanding the varieties comes down to understanding the individual ingredients that make up the whole. Like sausage varieties for a diner, pipe tobacco’s different ingredients create entirely different experiences for the smoker.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common “ingredients” that come together to make a pipe tobacco blend:

Burley Tobacco

Burley is the second most common form of tobacco.

George Webb and Joseph Fore discovered white burley tobacco in 1864. While discovered in Ohio, 70% of burley tobacco is grown in Kentucky today. The remaining 30% is produced in Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.

Burley is air-cured, which means the tobacco leaves are hung from a farm’s rafters to dry. Leaves are hung for approximately eight weeks, allowing the environment around the tobacco to impact both the flavor and the texture. Burley is an intrinsically light tobacco containing natural sugars. Its simple molecular structure makes it easy to mix, breed, and cure with other flavors. Burley can take on many different flavors and can be concentrated to produce a stronger flavor.

The mild and sweet nature of Burley makes it a natural fit for many popular blends. It is always added to soften the flavor and intensity of a blend.

Cavendish Tobacco

Cavendish isn’t actually a type of tobacco. It’s a process used to cure and cut Burley. However, it’s commonly referred to on its own due to Cavendish’s unique properties.

Sir Thomas Cavendish, an English immigrant to Virginia in the late 16th century, discovered the process we now call Cavendish. He decided to dip his “plain flavored” Burley into a barrel of sugar and discovered a delightful new treat.

Cavendish begins as white Burley and Dark Fired Kentucky tobacco. Technically, any tobacco can be made into a Cavendish, but these two are the most popular choices, by far:

Typically, Cavendish consists of 54% tobacco, 22% water, 8% alcohol, and 16% sugar or flavoring. Cavendish is often found as a straight blend, sold as an additive. This allows the user to modify any of their own blends with a sweeter, more mellow taste.

Virginia Pipe Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Virginia tobacco grows all over the world. Virginia tobacco is the most common blending ingredient and is beloved for its flexibility and complexity.

Virginia is a favorite of personal tobacco blenders and connoisseurs alike. Like a fine wine, Virginias are complex and develop new characteristics and flavor when aged. Young Virginia is a bright lemon color and is characterized by a light, often citrusy flavor. As it matures, it will darken into a honey gold color. The strongest and most mature varieties are a rich red hue and full of flavor.

Virginia has a high sugar content, which often results in a sweet, tangy flavor. Because of the high sugar and oil content, Virginia can cause tongue bite if smoked too quickly or too hot.

Oriental/Turkish Tobacco

Oriental is a classification for tobacco grown in the Mediterranean region. It includes blends such as Turkish and Latakia, but also numerous other blends unique to the area.

Turkish tobacco was discovered in Turkey but is now produced in towns and variations such as Smyrna, Basma, Izmir, Yenidje, Samsun, Xanthi, and other small villages.

Orientals are known for being very aromatic. They generally have a “sweet and sour” flavor, meaning there will be a fruit or nut flavor accompanied by a pepper or bread taste. Just as Oriental blends are famous for being sweet and sour, Turkish blends always carry a sweet undertone with a spicy kick. Turkish tobacco is added to blends to deliver more body and flavor without compromising the English nature.

Making Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco

Dark Fired Kentucky (or DFK for short) is similar to Burley. They are primarily produced in the same state and the same climate. The difference between DFK and Burley is that DFK is left to cure over an open fire. This unique and direct curing process gives this blend an incredibly smoky flavor. Fire-curing also chemically alters the plant, delivering a substantially higher nicotine dose to the smoker. DFK tobacco has an earthy flavor and is smooth on the tongue.

What Exactly is Perique Tobacco?

Perique is specific and unique. It can only be produced in one small part of the world. Much like champagne, if it is not made in that one location, it’s not really Perique. That location, St. James Parish, Louisiana, is the only place that produces true Perique tobacco. While environmental factors help in this reasoning, it is also due to the process the tobacco undergoes and the people who grow it.

The Choctaw Indians first made Perique. The Choctaw Indians took the tobacco, stored it in a hollowed-out log, subjected it to fire, and then let it cure. This process was witnessed by 19th century farmer Pierre Chenet, who leaped onto the idea and started cultivating his own crops. When subjected to high levels of pressure, the natural juices of the tobacco seeps out, beginning a fermentation process that gives Perique the flavors for which it is known.

With modern times came a modernization of the process. Today, Perique is stored in old bourbon barrels and squeezed to remove all the air from the barrel. If there is any air in the barrel, the tobacco can rot, so it is vital the air gets pressed out. Once this process is finished, the barrels are stored for around three months, then opened to allow the tobacco to breathe. After 12 to 24 hours, the barrel is re-sealed and pressed again, repeating three times to properly age and prepare the Perique.

The flavor profile of Perique features peppery spice with hints of fig. Popular on its own, Perique also works as an excellent enhancer when combined with other types of tobacco.

Because of the small production area, true Perique is difficult to find. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, which nearly eliminated Perique tobacco from existence. However, thanks to the dedicated farmers of the area, we are still able to enjoy this unique form today.

Latakia Pipe Tobacco

Latakia tobacco is produced by hanging to cure and then either steamed with pine or smoking with fire. This method of curing and aging gives it a spicy flavor. It is the strongest and most upfront flavor of the common tobaccos.

Latakia tobacco was discovered and originally produced in Latakia, Syria. It is now produced wholly in Cyprus.

Latakia is generally the tobacco added to English blends that gives it the smoky “punch” so many smokers are looking for. It is a plaguing myth that Latakia is cured by hanging over a camel dung fire. This is a ludicrous claim, and all smokers can be assured this does not happen to their tobacco.

Styles of Pipe Tobacco

Now that we’re all more familiar with the variations of the “ingredients,” it’s time to talk about how the individual components come together to make a tobacco blend.

On a chemical level, every tobacco plant is the same. The region of growth and aging process gives each type its unique flavor. Each tobacco blend contains a unique crop and mixture of crops to give it a distinct flavor. While it may not be chemically complex, the characteristics of each type are unique.

There is a blend out there featuring just about every combination of tobacco imaginable. To help us understand this complex field better, it is helpful to separate the blends into different family classifications.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it is long enough to give you an in-depth look at pipe tobacco blends.

Aromatic Blends

Aromatic tobacco is the blend most smokers begin with. As its name implies, this is a family of tobacco with a pleasing, usually sweet, aroma (that bystanders tend to adore). For tobacco to be considered an Aromatic, some sort of added flavor must top it. For example, Comoy’s Cask No. 2 is complemented with aged port wine, giving it a slightly alcoholic and rich fruity texture.

A large majority of Aromatic blends contain Cavendish tobacco and are then supplemented by Virginia and Burley. Because aromatic tobacco is an oily substance, it is prone to causing tongue bite. We suggest that first-time smokers avoid heavy aromatics.

Non-Aromatic Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Aromatic and Non-Aromatic blends are incredibly similar. The difference between them is that Non-Aromatic tobacco is not topped with additional flavor. This blend type relies on the natural sweetness of each tobacco type to deliver sweet taste, varying texture, and aromas to the smoker.

Non-aromatic blends, compared to Aromatics, are usually dry and easy-smoking, which is why we suggest Non-Aromatic tobacco for a first-time smoker. Not only will the blend be easy on the tongue, but it will also deliver a pleasant experience for those nearby.

We should note that not all Non-Aromatic blends have an intrinsically sweet nature. Some unique blends that cannot be labeled in other categories are listed.

Virginia/Perique Pipe Tobacco

Virginia/Perique tobacco may be the most common unknown blend around. This mixture is often called Va/Per for short. Many smokers who have a delicate palate, but love tasting exotic rich flavors, find themselves attracted to Va/Per blends.

The name of this tobacco variant hints at its two main components: Virginia and Perique tobaccos. Va/Per blends typically have a sweet and sour flavor and can come across as a bit swampy in their tin note.

English Tobacco Blends

After aromatic, English is the most common pipe tobacco blend style. English tobacco blends can range from soft and delicate to full-flavored and nicotine packed. When choosing an English blend, it is important to read the product description to ensure that it is a mixture that will appeal to you. Particularly when you’re first starting out, it’s important to pay attention to the strength level. No one ever enjoyed a headache from too much nicotine!

A significant portion of Latakia tobacco defines English blends. The Latakia gives English tobaccos a strong smoke flavor, very similar to the smell of a campfire. An English blend nearly always has a combination of Virginia and Oriental tobacco to complement the Latakia. Often the proportions of an English blend’s three main components are tinkered with, and a new family, like Balkan, of pipe tobacco blends is created.

Choosing your Tobacco Cut

Blend types are only part of the equation when it comes to choosing your pipe tobacco. The next step is to learn about the different forms of tobacco. Each family of tobacco blends can be found in different shapes and sizes, and each smoke a little bit differently.

Loose Cut Pipe Tobacco

The majority of pipe tobacco mixtures, and probably all the ones you have ever seen, come packaged loose. This means that there are little ribbons of tobacco leaves scattered about. Often called Ribbon Cut, loose tobacco is made by shredding the individual tobacco leaves (like shredding paper) and then mixing them together.

Ribbon Cut is the easiest pipe tobacco to light and smoke, which is why we suggest it for beginners. It is easier to control the pack of the bowl and intensity of flavor when working with ribbon cut tobacco.

Flake Tobacco

When you first see a flake of pipe tobacco, you might be confused. It doesn’t seem like the paper-like flat piece would fit in your pipe.

Flake tobacco is a sheet of pressed tobacco, containing all the different components of that blend pressed together. Flake tobacco is usually denser than ribbon cut, which results in a more concentrated flavor. It can burn at a hotter temperature and usually give the smoker a longer-lasting smoke.

Flake is made by packing different leaves in a high-pressure press and exerting tons of psi for hours at a time. The pressed leaves are then vertically sliced, giving the smoker a single sheet of cut tobacco.

To smoke flake, rub the sheet in between your fingers or hands until it falls apart. Then load it into the chamber and smoke.

Cake Pipe Tobacco

Tobacco in cake form shares many characteristics with flake. A cake is just pre-sliced flake tobacco. Many times whole tobacco leaves are pressed together, and in this case, we call it a plug.

The easiest way to smoke a cake is to take a knife to the brick. Shave off a corner, or even make your own flake. Then proceed to rub it out to your desired size, load it into the bowl, and begin smoking.

What is Coin Tobacco

Coin tobacco is the least common form of pipe tobacco we will cover here. Coin is similar in form and function to flake tobacco, even though it looks quite different. Coin happens when tobacco is rolled into a tightrope, called a twist, aged for a time, and then sliced (imagine a pepperoni being sliced).

Just like flake, coin can be smoked by rubbing it out in your hand before loading your pipe.

Pairing a Pipe with a Tobacco Blend

The most important thing for a new smoker to learn is what exactly they love to smoke, not what they should smoke it in. That being said, many smokers appreciate a bit of in-depth guidance on the issue. Use this short guided section to help you. It is not an absolute guide, merely our own opinions.

Billiard Shaped Pipe Pair

The Billiard is the most recognized and common tobacco pipe. It is perfect for beginners who want to learn about pipe smoking and perfect for the distinguished pros who enjoy smoking a few bowls every night.

Any tobacco blend will work in a Billiard. With its straightforward design, thick bowl, and long stem, it’s a flexible shape. If you are looking for a pipe that can handle any blend, choose this shape.

Poker Pipe Pairing

Experienced smokers love pokers. The Poker shape is one of the smoothest smoking pipe shapes. It is also notorious for being the working man’s pipe because the short shank makes it easy to hold in the mouth, and you can set it down while working with your hands.

Due to the short and straight stem on a Poker, it’s often suggested that Virginias and heavily coated tobaccos are poor choices for this shape. When smoking a Poker, you are more likely to produce a buildup of spittle in the shank. If you tend to do manual work while smoking, odds are you will be in a position where the spittle can run up the shank, a most unpleasant experience.

We prefer smoking a strong Latakia flake in a Poker. Pokers also work well with high nicotine blends. The Poker’s thick walls help absorb flavor, and after a few uses with the blend, the taste will start to amplify and develop with every bowl.

Tobacco for a Bulldog

The bowl of the Bulldog resembles two cones stacked on top of one another. The bowl’s thick center allows an exceptional amount of heat and oil to be absorbed into the pipe. This cone shape gives this shape a thick briar bowl, which makes it the perfect choice for smoking heavier blends.

The suggested minimal thickness of your bowl-wall is a fourth of an inch. While the Bulldog keeps a quarter-inch thickness at the top of the bowl, the cone shape expands the thickness of the bowl towards the bottom, usually becoming around half an inch thick. The thicker bowl makes The Bulldog the perfect shape for smoking flake tobaccos.

Tobacco for a Bent Pipe

There are a plethora of pipe shapes that come in bent versions: Apple, Billiard, Calabash, Rhodesian, Bulldog, Pear, and Freehand, to name a few. While there are differences in each of these, what matters here is the bend in the stem. Bent pipes are, without a doubt, the best pipe for smoking Virginia blends.

Virginia blended tobaccos are notorious for giving smokers tongue bite. The chemical make-up and the hot burning temperature require a patient smoker. When smoking a bent pipe, the stem is generally built longer so that the bowl is still the same distance from the mouth. The longer stem allows the smoke more time to cool off and to disperse its energy through the stem before hitting the tongue.

Bent pipes are also perfect for smoking heavily cased aromatics.

The casing on some aromatics is what gives the pipe smoker the occasional spittle attack. The bent nature of the pipe sets physics out against runback. Most of the time, the spittle will be unable to travel upwards toward the bit. When you find that your favorite Aromatic smokes super wet, try smoking it in a bent pipe.

How to Smoke your Pipe

Part of what makes pipe smoking so special is the ritual of gathering your tools and sitting down for a smoke. Unlike other forms of smoking, where you can light up with only a moment’s notice, smoking a pipe requires a thoughtful plan and decisive action.

Since the path to proper smoking is full of trepidation and a bit mystical, frustration can arise. With a pipe mentor (or this handy guide) and the proper tools, you can easily get a jump on the process and immediately begin enjoying a relaxing new hobby.

Packing Your Pipe

The pack is critical to enjoying a satisfying bowl of tobacco.

Packing—or how the tobacco goes into the chamber—can be done in many different ways. The method we recommend trying first is by far the most popular, and in our opinion, the most flavorful way.

Preparing the Tobacco

Ribbon or loose cut tobacco does not require any preparation. But if you are smoking a flake, coin, cake, plug, or twist, then the tobacco will need to be manipulated.

The sure-fire way (pun intended) to prepare these blends is to take an amount and place it between your palms. Slowly rub your palms together. After a few seconds, the tobacco will fall apart and is ready for loading in the chamber. If you find that the pieces are too large, simply repeat the process. If the tobacco is too small, then reduce the pressure and intensity with which you rub the tobacco out.

Packing your Pipe

The Three Pack Method is our favorite and the most popular way to pack a bowl. As the name hints, there are three steps to loading up the perfect bowl of tobacco:

2nd Pack: The second step to packing your pipe will begin the same way as the first.

This process works because it causes the tobacco to be evenly packed from the top to the bottom of the chamber. If the tobacco is uneven, then it will not remain lit throughout the bowl. A bowl packed too tightly will also reduce the flavor of the tobacco. The unsmoked portion acts as a filter in the sense that it dilutes the flavor.

The key to making sure this process works is to periodically draw (to puff on the stem of the pipe) and make sure that it does not become more difficult to draw at any point. It is important to note that you are not inhaling the smoke. A tobacco pipe is not a cigarette, and you should not smoke a pipe the same way you do with a cigarette. You want to allow the smoke to rest in your mouth, swirling around so you can appreciate the flavor of the tobacco.

If there seems to be a block or the draw is significantly thicker than it is with an empty pipe, then it would be best to empty the bowl and begin again. When the chamber is filled and ready to be lit, it should feel as if there is no air-flow resistance.

If you have difficulty with this technique at first, don’t get discouraged. It takes some smokers years of daily smoking to perfect this packing method. But once they have it down, it is obvious that all the work was well worth it.

Lighting the Tobacco

Now we come to the last step before you can finally begin enjoying pipe smoking: lighting the tobacco. Unfortunately, lighting a pipe isn’t as easy as firing up a cigarette or even smoldering a cigar. But with a little thought and intention, you will have absolutely no problem.

Deciding on a Flame

Many smokers believe that choosing the proper flame source is nearly as important as packing the pipe. Whether or not you have an opinion on the issue, it is helpful to be familiar with the most common style of lighters people use.

Matches: Matches are the most common choice. To use a match, simply strike it and hold it until the sulfur is burned (usually about one count). Then, bring the match to the surface of the tobacco and gently puff through the mouthpiece while moving the fire around the filled bowl in a slow circle.

Fluid Lighters: The lighter you’re most likely to think of when imagining a fluid lighter is the famous Zippo brand. These lighters hold up well and are the most reliable, in pretty much any weather. But, be careful! These lighters may char the rim of your pipe bowl, and if you use them too liberally, they will give your tobacco an unpleasant taste.

Butane Lighters: Butane lighters are an attractive and convenient way to keep your fire with you wherever you go. Unlike fluid lighters, the risk of hurting your tobacco’s flavor is much lower. Using a butane lighter, specifically designed for pipes, will help you avoid burning your fingers and keep the flame right where you want it. A butane lighter can be a bit of an investment, but it’s a pipe smoking accessory you’ll have for the rest of your days if you treat it right.

How to Light your Pipe

Just as packing well is crucial for a good smoke, so is the actual lighting process. There are three simple and easy to understand steps to light your tobacco:

The Charring Light: The first light, called the Charring Light, is done with a gentle circle of fire at the top of the tobacco applied in a lazy circle while puffing gently at the mouthpiece. This light will char the top of the tobacco, hence its name.

The Preliminary Tamp: After the tobacco has been subject to fire for the first time, it will expand and slightly rise from the top of the chamber. To keep the tobacco tighter together, lightly push down with a tamper (we should note that you will need to repeat this periodically through smoking the bowl, on an average of 2-3 times).

The Second Light: Now it is time to wait. We suggest giving the tobacco a 60-second break before implementing this third and final step. Light the pipe tobacco again, in the same lazy circle as before.

Finally, you can smoke your pipe.

Smoking Your Tobacco Pipe

We made it to the point where you can sit back, relax, and smoke decadent tobacco leaves in your new pipe. At this point, you could stop reading and just enjoy your smoke. If you want the best experience possible and set up for success, our tips and guidelines for pipe smoking will greatly benefit you.

Consider Smoking Pace

The rhythm of your smoking is paramount to your experience. As a new smoker, don’t get discouraged. It takes practice and patience to get the pace just right. No two smokers do it exactly the same way.

In general, your goal is to take a puff often enough to keep your tobacco lit but slowly enough to keep the smoke fairly cool.

Smoking hot will cause the dreaded tongue bite and could damage the bowl of the pipe. Hold your pipe by the bowl. If your fingers are too hot, slow down. It’s always better to relight than to smoke too hot.

Learning how to light and pace your puffs properly takes practice and experimentation. Don’t get discouraged if your first few dozen smokes require dozens of relighting or cooling stops. Just like anything else worth doing, you’ll improve with practice.

What about a Relight?

Sometimes your tobacco will go out. Despite what you might read, it’s no big deal (well, unless you’re trying to win a competition). This could be due to a bad pack, inconsistent pace, tobacco that was too moist or too dry, or a plethora of other reasons. It happens to new smokers, and it happens to smokers who have been practicing the hobby for decades.

Of course, you don’t want to waste your tobacco and only smoke the top half of the bowl. So how exactly should you go about relighting it?

The first thing you should do is softly tamp down the remaining ash. Then, turn the bowl upside down and gently let the ash, also known as dottle, fall out.

Don’t force anything out of the chamber. You wouldn’t want to lose any good tobacco!

At this point, we suggest letting the pipe rest for about a minute. This allows the pipe to cool and to have a more consistent temperature in the tobacco.

Once the tobacco has set, simply light it with a match or lighter. You will notice that it no longer tastes good—rather, it tastes like an ashtray. That is simply because the ash at the top chamber is transferring the embers down to the tobacco below. If you want to avoid a few puffs of this sour taste, very gently exhale through the pipe. The added oxygen will speed up the burning process, and the smoke will go away from your mouth while the ash is burning, not towards it.

At this point, you should be able to resume smoking your pipe as usual. If the tobacco goes out again, simply rinse, lather, and repeat. If the tobacco is going out over and over again, it may be a good idea to experiment with your pack, light, and type of tobacco you use.

Breaking in a Tobacco Pipe

From this point forward, cake is no longer a yummy treat.

Okay, it still is, but not in our world.

In the pipe world, cake refers to the buildup of carbon and other materials on the inside walls of the pipe’s chamber. It is the thick black stuff you see on the inside of tobacco pipes. To break in a pipe means to slowly introduce tobacco to the pipe so that a healthy and beneficial cake can build up.

But Why Develop Cake?

Developing a proper cake is a critical step in ensuring your pipe lasts for years to come. This can be one of the most frustrating parts of learning to smoke a pipe—knowing when you have just the right thickness.

The cake creates a barrier around the entire bowl chamber. Cake refers to the carbon deposits that are left behind by the smoked tobacco. These carbon deposits insulate the chamber and keep the briar from charring.

In addition to protecting the chamber, cake helps make your smoking experience sweeter. The carbon builds up forms from the sugars in the tobacco. These deposits blend with some of the flavor of the briar, resulting in a mellow smoke.

How to Develop Pipe Cake

To develop the initial cake, you will use a gradual buildup process that is a little different than a regular smoking experience. Learning how to do this properly takes time and patience. Follow these steps carefully for the best results:

Fill the bowl a quarter full with tobacco. We start with a partial bowl to give the carbon room to form evenly. This process ensures that every bit of the chamber will be exposed to charred tobacco.

Light the partial bowl evenly. Take your first draw, then tamp with your tamper and do your second light.

Smoke the bowl slowly and completely. Take your time, even more so than usual, with this smoke. Draw slowly and methodically, which will help you form an even cake. Make sure to smoke the whole bowl, all the way to the heel, which is the bottom of the bowl. Developing cake at the bottom of the bowl is the most difficult part of the process.

Continue this process for 3-5 smokes.

Next, follow steps 1-4 with a half-bowl, then three quarters. By increasing the amount of tobacco in the bowl gradually, over time, you will build a more even cake, from bottom to top, inside the chamber. Most pipes need at least a dozen smokes to begin forming a nice cake.

The last and possibly most crucial step in developing a pipe cake is to be careful when emptying your pipe.

When the smoke is complete, let the tobacco smolder in the chamber for a few minutes; don’t immediately dump it out. After a few minutes, gently dump the bowl, and if possible, tap the pipe on a cork knocker to dump out the rest.

DO NOT scrape out the tobacco with a pipe tool. This will reverse much of the caking process that took place during the last smoke. If you have to loosen the ash with a pipe tool, that is fine. Just refrain from scraping the inner walls of the chamber.

Maintaining Your Pipes

Now that all the jargon is out of the way, you can enjoy smoking your tobacco pipe time and time again.

At this point, the mere act of smoking ends, and the fantastic hobby of pipe collecting and pipe smoking begins.

Most new pipe smokers are looking for more than just a new way to smoke tobacco. In fact, many newcomers aren’t looking for a way to smoke tobacco at all! Most people enter the community of pipe smoking because they feel it is a compelling lifestyle.

To get the most out of every pipe you own, taking preventative measures will keep them healthy, beautiful, and smoking great! We can do this with the proper pipe accessories and tools for consistent and needed maintenance.

How to Ream a Pipe

We just talked about building up the carbon, or cake, of your tobacco pipe. But like everything, you can have too much of a good thing.

Building up too much cake in your pipe is a bad thing. When cake heats, it expands. Once there is too much cake, it will expand a bit too much and could crack your pipes.

We believe the optimal cake thickness is 1.5mm, or about the thickness of a dime. Once the cake exceeds 2mm, it is time to ream—remove some cake.

The Tools of the Trade

Before we go into what types of pipe reamers you should consider, a word of warning: DO NOT use a knife.

We know it is tempting. So tempting, in fact, that a few of us may have learned this lesson the hard way by ruining a perfectly good pipe. We know you probably have some sharp pocket knives lying around. But we want you to say no! Using a knife will strip the carbon from your pipe rather than sand it off. Besides, you are likely to stab or scratch your briar bowl, which is bad news.

Pipe Tool Attachment: Most smokers have an abundance of 3-in-1 style pipe tools nestled around their home, office, and car. These tools come with a tamper, pick, and a reamer. While the scoop tool is called a reamer, its purpose is to loosen and shovel out the ash. The reamer attachment was not designed to scrape the carbon from the inside of the bowl. Attempting to ream with this tool can result in taking out chunks and damaging the briar underneath the cake.

Sandpaper: Some people love the direct, hands-on approach. They like to take a thin piece of sandpaper, apply it to a finger, and slowly sand down the cake. This tool can be precise, but only in the hands of experienced woodworkers and crafters who know how to properly sand. If you’re a novice with sandpaper, we don’t recommend this method.

Dremel Tool: Another tool favored by woodworkers is the Dremel tool method. A rock sander attached to the end of the tool can be a quick and easy method, but only in the right hands. This is a dangerous way to ream. It takes a steady hand and perfect attention to detail to do it correctly. We advise you not to try this method unless you are a very experienced restoration expert.

British Buttner: The British Buttner is a classic tool and the most economical at that. This reamer is spring-loaded, causing it to always fit snugly in the bowl. These are typically three-quarters of an inch thick, which fits most standard pipes. This tool is perfect for pipes with a U-shaped chamber. What makes this tool so popular is its ability to reach the bottom of most chambers quite easily, a characteristic which most other tools have trouble with.

Multi-Tool T-Reamer: A Multi-Tool reamer is the preferred tool of restoration artists and those who have multiple sized pipes to care for. The advantage here is the T-Reamer’s flexibility in accommodating various. The downside to this is the lack of adjustability. If you happen not to have a reamer that fits your pipe, you are out of luck.

Senior Pipe Reamer: The Senior Pipe Reamer is the most popular quality pipe reamer. With tapered sharpened edges, and a V-shaped bottom (which obviously works well with V-shaped chambers), this reamer is perfect for most every pipe. This reamer is beloved because with a little torque, the diameter of the reamer changes. As you ream, you can slowly enlarge the reamer to match the cake, making it the safest reamer to use on your pipes.

Reaming a Pipe

Once you select your tool of choice, it is a bad idea to jump in and start reaming your favorite pipes right away.

We suggest you go to eBay or a local antique market and buy a few beat-up estate pipes with loads of cake. Use these to practice. If you haven’t practiced, the odds are pretty high that you will mess up your pipe instead of repairing it. Please practice first.

First and foremost, have a stable and secure workplace. You will want to have a steady hand when reaming. The couch, in your lap, car, or some other unstable place can keep your hand from being steady.

The key to reaming is gentle and consistent torque. When you insert your tool, you only want a small amount of friction between the cake and your tool. At this point, you will twist until the friction disappears. Dump the dust out, expand your reamer, and continue the process. You should be creating a fine dust of carbon. If you are taking out chunks, scrape more gently and see if you can decrease your reamer’s size.

It is tempting to ream inconsistently around the bowl, such as pushing harder on the shank side of the pipe. Avoid this—Ream equally all around the diameter of your bowl.

Do not ream all the way to fresh wood! This is a mistake many, including us, have made. Even professional pipe restorers don’t always ream down to the fresh wood. It is best to leave a light layer.

When you make your way to the heel of the bowl, be careful! There is often only a little, if any, cake at the bottom of the bowl.

Once you have completed reaming, you will want to clean the pipe carefully. Dump the carbon dust out and begin running pipe cleaners through your pipe. For those of you that use alcohol to clean your pipes, Everclear is a great place to start. If using alcohol is not your thing, then using a pipe cleaning solution will work well as an alternative.

Cleaning a Tobacco Pipe

There are three different levels of pipe cleaning.

The first is a quick clean after each bowl, and the second is a more thorough method used periodically as maintenance, and the last a special treatment for severely dirty pipes.

Quick Clean

This level of cleaning is not strictly necessary.

You can, and many do, skip this step and have a perfectly fantastic smoking life. But if you follow this simple step, we believe that your next bowl in the same pipe will be significantly more flavorful than if you skip it.

All you need for this step is a pipe cleaner. Then, follow these two simple steps:

This method removes unnecessary sludge from the stem, shank, and heel of the pipe, which clears up the flavor of the tobacco the next time you smoke the pipe.

Note: It is a bad idea to remove the stem from the shank of the pipe right after smoking. If you plan on running a pipe cleaner through the two pieces separately, it is crucial that you let the pipe cool down completely before removing the stem. Taking the two apart while the pipe is hot will cause the stem to expand and contract at a different rate, resulting in a loose joint.

Regular Pipe Cleaning

You should give each pipe you smoke regularly a good cleaning treatment every month in an ideal situation.

The process we will outline below promotes the long-term health of each pipe and reduces small amounts of grime that build up in the nooks and crannies of a pipe.

Tools you will need:

Once you’ve gathered your tools, follow these steps to get your pipes back in tip-top shape:

1. The first step is to prepare your set-up. Lay down a rag or paper towel to work on. Then, disassemble your pipe.

2. To clean your stem, dip the tip of a pipe cleaner into the alcohol. Insert the cleaner into the bit of your stem, and push it through in one direction. Repeat the process until the cleaner is no longer attracting grime.

3. To clean the shank, take another pipe cleaner and dip it into the alcohol. Insert it into the mortise (where the stem resides) and rub back and forth, picking up as much grime as possible. This may require more than one pipe cleaner. Once you are satisfied with the amount of cleaning, it is time to move on to the chamber itself.

4. It is at this point we prefer to switch to a paper towel. Ball up the paper towel so that it will fit in the chamber. Add a small amount of alcohol to the paper towel. Insert the paper towel into the chamber and lightly twist. This will remove a large amount of dirt and ash. Repeat the process until you are satisfied.

It is important to give the pipe time to dry out after cleaning. To be safe, we suggest waiting at least 12 hours until you smoke that pipe again.

Sour Treatment

Sometimes a pipe can go sour from all the moisture of the tobacco. This takes a while to happen, but it does occasionally occur. The solution to this problem is simpler than you might expect. All you need are a few inexpensive tools.

Tools You Will Need:

1. Insert a pipe cleaner through the stem all the way to the chamber. Be sure the cleaner is not in the chamber, just in the bore protecting the shank.

2. Fill the pipe to the chamber rim with non-iodized salt. It is important to use non-iodized salt. Salt with iodine can damage your pipe.

3. Once it is full, take 10-15 drops of Everclear and drop them onto the top of the salt (it is crucial to use Everclear in this situation, not other types of alcohol). The salt will instantly begin turning brown. Don’t be alarmed; that is what we want to happen.

4. Now it is time to wait. It will take 12-24 hours for all the alcohol to evaporate (which is why it is important to use a high-proof liquid, like Everclear). Once you believe the liquid is gone, you can scrape out the musky salt. Warning: if you do not get every last grain of salt out, you will most likely get a piece of disgusting salt on your tongue, resulting in one of the worst tastes you could imagine.

If this process fails to restore your pipe’s smoke-ability, it may be time to send it off to an expert pipe restorer for repair.

Making Pipe Smoking Unique to You

Congratulations! If you’ve made it to this point in the guide, you are now a pipe smoker. You have all the tools you need to love and enjoy this hobby for the rest of your life.

If you’re feeling pretty good and don’t have a lot of curiosity, you can stop right now and be perfectly happy.

If you are like us, you will soon be asking the question, “Isn’t there more?”

Absolutely! Pipe smoking is an art form that no one ever completely masters. There are so many facets to this lifestyle that make it unique. No two smokers have the same experience. The rest of the information in this guide is designed to help you make pipe smoking unique to you. From creating a tobacco cellar to pairing drinks with your favorite blend, these topics will help you customize your experience.

Assembling a Pipe Kit

Your pipe kit should include all the essential things you need to enjoy a great smoke. A few of these are constants, and no one will have any fun without a favorite pipe tobacco and something to light it with. Beyond the simple requirement of pipe tobacco and fire, there are a host of possibilities.

We think that every basic pipe kit should include at least three things in addition to your favorite pipe: a lighter, a sturdy 3-in-1 tool, and a great pipe and tobacco pouch. Here’s how to choose the right accessories for your needs:

Choosing a Lighter

Matches and/or a basic BIC-style lighter will get the job done—but with a few drawbacks. If you’re just getting started, use one of these.

If you are building a collection of pipes and spend a fair bit of time smoking them, we think the investment in a good-quality lighter is a sound one.

A reliable lighter will run in the same price range as a mid-range pipe. Just like your favorite pipes, the more artisan accents and stylish customization the lighter has, the higher the price will be. A perfect choice for lighters that are both beautiful and functional are Tsubota lighters. These lighters are made specifically for pipe smokers and will work even outside on a breezy day.

Finding the Proper Pipe Tool

A basic Czech tool will get you through, and the four dollar price point is hard to beat. We have these laying all over the office, and the car, and the house. The downside is their durability. You will have to spend that four dollars more than once. Just like a lighter, a good-quality tool is a small investment that can substantially enhance your enjoyment. Whatever type of pipe tool you choose, look for these signs of quality and durability:

Strong metal construction: Steel or other durable metals will last longer than aluminum or other cheaper materials.

Well-made joints: The most likely place for a 3-in-1 tool to break is at the joints. Look for smooth movement back-and-forth and sturdy construction here.

Simple construction: A few adornments might add enjoyment. However, we recommend staying away from tools with lots of decorations that are likely to break and/or show wear. Remember, a good tool is meant to be functional; if you want a fun additional element, spring for a handmade pipe tamper.

A Pipe/Tobacco Pouch

Once you put your pipe kit together, you will need something to hold it all in. Ideally, your kit will be convenient for travel, compact, and maybe even a bit stylish. At home, you may have a large pipe cabinet or a humble tackle box for storing your tools, pipes, and tobaccos. However, when you’re on the go, you’ll want something that you can hold in your hand without dropping your whisky.

Pipe and tobacco pouches come in a plethora of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs. There are some leather tobacco pouches that do nothing other than hold tobacco for only a few dollars. Then, there are large multi-item bags that hold numerous pipes and everything in-between.

Pick the pouch that will best accommodate your needs.

Cellaring Pipe Tobacco

There are many benefits to aging and storing our tobacco. The main reason cellaring tobacco is a great idea is because tobacco—just like wine and wisdom—improves with age. When stored properly, the flavors and aroma of the blend mature and gain depth.

We are living in the golden age of tobacco blends. This is likely to be the cheapest pipe tobacco will ever be. With government regulations, inflation, and fewer farms, the price of tobacco is only going to go up.

Cellaring tobacco is a clear and wise investment in the future of your favorite new hobby. If you are a committed pipe smoker and plan to continue for years to come, it might not be a bad idea to stock up now. Think of it like a savings plan for your future happiness.

How Different Tobaccos React to Aging

Virginia Tobacco: The natural sugar content and unique chemical structure make Virginia ideal for aging. No matter how long it is aged, its quality will only increase, at least in our lifetime.

Orientals: After a few years in the cellar, Oriental tobaccos will move away from the intrinsic spice and begin picking up flavors of fruit. There is no universal “sweet spot” time for aging Orientals; they all age differently. However, it is safe to say that the peak will be sometime around 30-40 years in the cellar and will decrease in flavor after that.

Burley Tobacco: Burley is almost always blended with Virginia tobacco, so the same rules of aging apply.

WARNING: be careful in aging certain aromatics. Some tobacco companies put a heavy coating on their Aromatic blends. This coating, if too heavy, will actually hurt the tobacco with age.

Latakia: Like Orientals, Latakia will mellow out after a few years. It will start to lose its punch. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on the blend. If what we affectionately know as “Lat Bombs” are your thing, don’t age it. If you prefer a milder experience, aging will take the rough edges off.

The Do’s of Cellaring Tobacco

Cellaring tobacco is much easier than you may think. By following these simple steps, you will be on your way to building up your own personalized pipe tobacco storehouse!

Control The Temperature And Humidity: Controlling the temperature and humidity of your tobacco is the key to proper aging. Here’s how to do it: Store your tobacco in a place that is somewhere between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Too much heat will spoil the tobacco (a lot like meat), while not enough will prevent the aging process from really beginning.

Store your tobacco in a place that has the lowest amount of humidity possible. Storing your tobacco in places of high humidity can threaten the seal of your tins, jars, or whatever you store with. If the metal corrodes and the seal is broken, your tobacco can no longer age properly.

Store Your Tobacco In A Dark Place: Limiting the light exposure will protect your containers, thus protecting your tobacco. Your system doesn’t need to be fancy, do what is practical for you. Closed cardboard boxes protect the tobacco from light exposure. They also work well because a closed cardboard box will absorb the humidity before it has time to corrode the metal in the jars and tins.

Use Unopened Tins Or Sealed Glass Jars For Storing: Having an unopened tobacco tin is ideal. However, if you are storing bulk tobacco or did not buy a spare tin, we suggest using canning jars, such as mason jars. Canning jars easily create airtight seals, and they happen to look really good stuffed with tobacco!

Create A Plan For Smoking Your Tobacco: We recommend always taking taste notes. Not only will this be helpful, but it will enhance your experience. Have a set time when you will open your aged tobacco. A great place to start is to let tobacco age periods of six months, one year, two years, five years, and ten years. This is where taste notes will be helpful. Not many people can clearly remember the nuances of a tobacco five years after they smoked it.

Don’ts of Cellaring Tobacco

Do NOT Store with cigars or in a humidor: Pipe tobacco and cigars are both aromatic. Storing them together in a humidor is not a good way to store your tobacco. The last thing you want is for your tobacco and cigars to start taking on the taste of each other as they age. A humidor works for cigars because you need to keep your cigars at a balanced humidity. Too low will make your cigar dry out. A dry cigar loses its aroma and flavor. Too high, and your cigar will develop mold or rot. You will want to keep your tins in a low level of humidity. A humidor is meant to keep the humidity level balanced at a higher level than your pipe tobacco should be at.

Do NOT store in plastic: One of the worst crimes a smoker can commit is to store their tobacco in plastic long term. People believe it is acceptable to store tobacco in plastic, mostly because when they buy tobacco from their local tobacconist, they store the tobacco in a plastic bag. The intent behind that bag is that you take it home and store it in a jar or that you smoke it relatively quickly. We are never given plastic bags to keep as storage containers.

The chemicals in the tobacco will begin to erode part of the plastic. This is then absorbed into the tobacco (not good). On top of that, the plastic will itself absorb the tobacco. It will begin to ghost (change colors). Just like how you store chili in a tub container, and after a few days, the container is no longer clear but brown, your tobacco will do the same.

“Pounds of tobacco are often delivered to shops in plastic,” you may say. The truth is is these plastic bags have been chemically engineered to store tobacco for up to five years. So they are safe from the effect.

Do NOT add moisture: If you add moisture to your tobacco, chances are you will find that your precious aged tobacco has molded. The tobacco has been stored and sold with the moisture content at the level the blender would like it to be. It is our personal opinion that if you want to get the most out of your tobacco, you should smoke it the way the “chef” intended.

Pairing Drinks with Tobacco

There are many reasons why you should pair your tobacco and drinks together. The key to a great recipe, whether it’s a tobacco blend or a dinner entree, is the correct combination of flavors. Tobacco and drinks work much the same way.

Consider a parallel in the culinary world. Few things in this world are as delicate and expertly crafted as homemade Italian pasta served with a homemade marinara sauce. While this entree is delectable and as perfect as it can be by itself, it is still missing something: a drink.

Of course, you could always eat this Italian dish while drinking water, but that doesn’t enhance the flavor. What you need is a decadent red wine. Red wine will act as a magnifying glass, making it easier to detect some of the more subtle flavors in the dish.

Without the right drink to match your food, you will forever lose some of the best flavors. In many ways, pipe tobacco works the same way.

You may have a perfect tin of Virginia tobacco that has been aged for 30 years. You can crack it open, smoke it, and enjoy it for what it is. But unless you are enjoying it under the right conditions, you will miss something.

Another reason to pair these two is that it makes your smoking experience more personal. Before you enjoyed smoking your tobacco in your pipe, and it was wonderful. But now you can start adding another layer of flavor to your already delicious hobby.

Now that you are motivated to begin refining your smoking experience, you have to figure out what goes well together.

Many of the same principles for pairing tobacco and drinks are overarching principles in the larger world of pairing food and wine. While the specifics may change, the basic principles of flavor pairings are similar. With this in mind, it is not as difficult as you may think to match your tobacco with a drink that enriches its flavor.

Flavors Should Have An Equal Body

Here are some examples of good mild, medium, and full-bodied combinations:

Mild: Mac Baren Modern Virginia and a lager, such as Yuengling.

Medium: McClelland Frog Morton and an Old Fashioned cocktail.

Full: Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake and bourbon, such as Woodford Reserve.

The whole purpose of smoking, and drinking too, is to taste as much as possible. You want to taste the subtle little notes that sometimes hide underneath more powerful flavors. If you do not balance the body of smoke and drink, then one will disappear, and the pursuit will become rather meaningless.

Here are some common drink classifications that will help you in choosing the right pairing:

Mild Bodied: Water, most tea, flavored waters, clear fruit juices, most lagers, pilsner beers, many dry white wines, light rums, gin, and vodka.

Medium Bodied: Enhanced teas, most other fruit juices, ambers, red beers, ales, heavier white wines and blushes, golden Rums, lighter Scotches and Whiskeys, lighter liqueurs and cordials, and most mixed drinks.

Full Bodied: Medium to dark roast coffees, dark juices (grape, dark berry), Stouts and Porters, dark Rums, full Scotches, Bourbons, and deep red Wines.

Match Complimentary Opposite Flavors

Perhaps the most well known pairing of opposite flavors is sweet and salty. When you take a bite of salted caramel brittle and then eat a piece of kettle-corn, you understand how well salty and sweet flavors complement each other. The same principle applies to pairing pipe tobacco and drinks. If you are smoking a very sweet aromatic blend, then a slightly salty drink would pair well.

Other great flavor combinations are smoke and oak, acid with richness, sweet and spicy, and even sweet with other sweets. Another great way to compliment is by using the tobacco’s or drinks’ origins as a means of pairing. For example, McClelland tobacco (made near St. Louis, MO) and a St. Louis crafted beer, like a Perennial Artisan Ale. They may not match together perfectly with flavor, but the theme and reasoning you put into the decision make it worthwhile.

Notice When and Where you are Smoking

This may seem like common sense, but there is a right place and a right time to smoke and drink.

For example, no matter what type of tobacco you smoke first thing in the morning, a good cup of coffee will always pair well. Conversely, when smoking late at night, a cup of caffeinated coffee may not be the best choice, even if the flavor is right. On the other hand, a stiff scotch may not be the best choice to pair with your tobacco in the morning or at lunch but should instead be enjoyed in the afternoon and evening.

It is also helpful to know where you are smoking. If you are traveling through Kentucky, it may be nice to smoke with bourbon. If you are on the coast of North Carolina or in the mainland of California, a good wine may be a good choice.

Conclusion

There has been a ton of information learned about smoking a tobacco pipe. This is a hobby filled with passionate people who eagerly enjoy it, and there are many ways to make it a hobby you love too. If you just want to collect smoking pipes, or if you want to appreciate the various flavors of different tobaccos from around the world, we hope this comprehensive explanation covered it all.