As a new smoker, what kind of tobacco should I try? Aromatics? English Blends?
One reason I love the pipe is that the experience is unlike any other form of smoking. It is all about the amazing smells and tastes. Of course, everyone's tastes are unique, and it can take time to develop a "skilled palate" that is capable of discerning the subtleties of the different tobaccos. But most pipe tobaccos are wonderfully delightful in their aromas and flavors.
Many new smokers prefer to start with aromatics because of the sweet flavors and the very pleasing smells often associated with aromatic tobaccos. Tobaccos are called "aromatic" because of the flavorings and syrups (called "casings" and "top dressings") that are used to give these tobaccos their wonderful flavors and room notes (a "room note" is the odor everyone smells when the pipe is burning).
I started with aromatics myself and still love them. But I want to mention that many of the difficulties that new smokers encounter are directly related to issues associated with aromatics. Things like excessive tongue bite, difficulty keeping the pipe lit, pipe "gurgle" and problems with "goop" in the pipe, etc. are very common with aromatics precisely because of the casings and top dressings that are used to give aromatic tobaccos their distinctive tastes and smells. Not all aromatics are created equal, and some do not suffer from these issues, but as a general rule they can be more difficult to smoke than English blends, Oriental blends, and all-natural tobaccos. In other words, there is certainly nothing "forbidden" about jumping directly to English/Oriental/Natural blends if one is inclined to do so. Feel free to experiment with the different tobaccos. You may be pleasantly surprised by varieties you never would have expected to enjoy.
Non-aromatic or so-called natural blends (English, Orientals, Virginias, Burleys, etc.) can also be mild, but the tobacco flavors are much more pronounced and are not disguised by any added flavorings. These tobaccos tend to have tastes that many describe as woody, leathery, spicy, or peppery, although they surely are not limited to these flavor profiles. Even though conventional wisdom may tell you to start with an aromatic, if a more natural tobacco flavor appeals to you, by all means try an English blend to see how it suits you.
Even though starting with a non-aromatic tobacco is completely acceptable, I do recommend trying a mild English before jumping into to something with heavy amounts of Latakia or Perique. Both Latakia and Perique are strong tobaccos with distinct tastes/aromas that are popular among many long-time smokers, but they can often overwhelm the new smoker. (Latakia has a very potent flavor that reminds me of pine needles or a camp fire.)
Keep in mind that my comments here are merely suggestions. And don't be intimidated, so to speak, by some of the "tobacco snobs" out there. There is no rule about who may or may not try different tobaccos. Some beginners jump in to English blends and love it. Some life-long smokers still prefer heavily-cased aromatics. Of course, there is no "right" or "wrong" decision here; it's all a matter of preference. But in my experience, those that move too quickly to the stronger tobaccos tend to get discouraged and quit smoking altogether. While that may please the anti-smoking "terrorists," it's not what I would recommend.
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