Pipe vs Cigar Tobacco

[Niela]

Hey Guys,

I had a few bad experiences in my youth with pipes. I never managed to make them produce much smoke and since I was smoking cigarettes anyway, they didn't really speak to me as much as they might today. Here's my question.

How does pipe tobacco compare to cigar tobacco in terms of quality? I'm under the impression that cigars get the best quality leaves of tobacco. Pipe tobacco often smells like it was flavoured and also appears to be more wet. Can anybody tell me what the differences are and if pipe tobacco can hold it's own against cigars?

[TonyN]

It's all trial and error. Pipe smoking varies from person to person. What Works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Just get some good tobacco and keep doing what your doing. If your smoke is still sub par, try a different technique. Don't be afraid to smoke good tobacco badly. By that I mean don't get upset if you buy something and it smokes bad. Just keep trying, you will find what works. Just be patient

Same thing concerning cigars.

[ValeTudoGuy]

It's soooo variable with Pipes. For example, Syrian Latakia was amongst the highest quality Tobacco produced anywhere in the world and was used almost exclusively for pipes... Alas it's for all intents and purposes extinct due to the war and a huge fire that destroyed almost all of the worlds remaining stock.

Turkish Latakia has almost completely replaced it and it is a lower quality product.

Belgian Semois is also considered an extremely high quality tobacco that is exclusive to pipes. I just havent developed the ability to appreciate it.

If your interested in trying high quality pipe tobacco, the man you need to speak to is Glynn from GQ tobacco. He really is one of the UK's artisans of blending and a fount of knowledge on the matter and he just happens to own possibly the UK's best pipe tobacco retailer who will sell you samples of pretty much any tobacco he sells, even blending tobaccos that are completely un altered from how the producers send them out.

[Niela]

I might have to give it a try some day then...

[ValeTudoGuy]

I might have to give it a try some day then...

Do you have a pipe?

[Niela]

Not anymore.... Have to check at my parents if my old one is in a box somewhere...

[ValeTudoGuy]

Was just thinking that the monthly forum pipe sampler club could be re-starting and it could be a good way to try some tobacco without a big commitment.