Pipe Smokers Glossary

The process of ageing tobacco is when either a tobacco leaf or a sealed tin of tobacco is left over a period of time to mature. This usually results in more prominent flavours as the tobacco naturally blends and develops over the resting period.

Air-cured is a term used for certain Burley that has been harvested and hung in shade (most commonly in a barn) with good air circulation. The leaves are then left for a number of months, turning from green through to a rich brown indicating they are ready for processing or further fermentation techniques.

Vastly popular among modern pipe smokers is the ‘American Blend’. A combination of Virginia, Burley & Oriental tobaccos that are further topped with a wide range of aromatic essences. These could range from fruit flavours to coffee, nuts, chocolate or alcohol and everything in between.

A style of pipe, the ‘Army Mount’ is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Military Style’. At a glance the ‘Army Mount’ is easily recognisable by a prominent metal ring (usually sterling silver). The stem has no tenon and is directly inserted into the morise. Size and shape can still vary after these few specific traits.

Aromatic is the term defining all blends that have been cased or topped in flavourings, deviating from the original tobaccos natural flavour. Commonly favoured by new smokers and any inhabitants residing with a pipe smoker as the room note is likely to be sweet and pleasant in comparison to harsher traditional blends. Due to the addition of flavourings and molasses if smoked too fast some aromatics may burn hot and cause tongue bite (a sensation similar to that of a sugar blister on the tongue).

A ‘Balkan’ blend is a loose definition given to a blend consisting of Latakia, Oriental and a lesser amount of Virginia in comparison to most traditional ‘English’ blends. Whilst not an officially recognised term amongst academics, pipe smokers and tobacconists frequently use this description and many popular ‘Balkan’ blends are found on the market.

A ‘Bent Pipe’ is a simple definition referencing the shape of the pipes shank or stem having a drop from the mouthpiece to the bowl. For a smoker who expects to mainly use the pipe outside, often a bent one will be recommended as it is easy to keep the smoke out of the users face when facing the elements.

The No.1 material used for pipe manufacturing is Briar, a root harvested from the Erica Arborea tree found in the Mediterranean. Only once the tree has reached an age of around thirty can the roots then be taken, dried out and cut to then be sold on to pipe makers globally. The material is very robust and great at absorbing heat through the many minute air pockets naturally found through the wood.

Burley is the most common tobacco found globally but is mainly produced in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, predominantly for cigarette manufacturing. Light in flavour and low in sugar, Burley often needs the addition of sweeteners to fit with most blends.

Casing is the flavouring, whether sauce or spray, that is applied to unfinished tobacco to sweeten it. On the other hand, top flavour is when the flavours are only added to the finished blend.

Cavendish is a type of tobacco that has been pressed and heated into a cake and then stored for a maturing/fermentation period. Whilst being pressed, more often than not, flavouring is added to the cake resulting in a distinct taste for each batch. This is a curing process.

From the early days of European pipe making clay was the original material used. The potter would hand roll and shape the pipe or through a technique using slip casts which are moulded like plaster into a cast. Clay pipes are still bought today but many smokers find they burn too hot.

The Corncob or ‘cob’ as its sometimes called is a simple, primitive pipe made from burrowing a bowl out of an ear of corn and a simple wood shank being inserted. Great for beginners and people sampling new tobaccos without tarnishing the taste of their everyday pipe. Some people also claim that the dry and cool smoke produced by a corncob is preferable to other materials.

A style of tobacco that has been pressed into a cake and then cut into even shaped and sized cubes.

Curing is the term given to the ageing of tobacco and all tobaccos will have had to go through some form of curing process. There are many different forms of curing; fire-cured, flue-cured, air-cured, sun-dried and fermented are all examples of curing processes.

A tobacco that has been curly cut has been pressed and twisted into a rope before being cut into slices. This cut is smaller and thinner than a traditional flake cut or coin.

Though opinions may differ on the definition of an ‘English Blend’ the one thing universally agreed upon is that it must contain a generous portion of Latakia. Virginia & Oriental are then blended to varying degrees and Perique is often added to round off the blend.

An English Cavendish usually consists of Virginia tobaccos that have been either fire or flue-cured. Afterwards they are pressed and allowed to sit for an ageing process resulting in a tobacco that has a subtle, rustic and earthy flavour.

Fire curing is a process by which the tobacco leaves have been hung in bundles over an open flame causing a chemical reaction in the leaf in response to the heat. The result is strong, dark tobacco with an intense flavour. The most common tobaccos to use this technique are Dark Fired Kentucky and Latakia.

Flake tobacco is a popular old traditional cut of pipe tobacco. Cut from large pressed cubes of tobacco, flakes retain a much more deep flavour than most shag cuts. To prepare flake for use most people rub it down to a more favourable consistency whilst others choose to smoke it as is, just rolled and placed in the chamber.

Flue cured tobacco shares some similarity to fire cured tobacco in that it is heat that is the driving force in the process. The difference between the two is that where fire cured tobacco has the leaves being open to the smoke produced from the fire, flue cured tobacco has the smoke diverted through an intricate ventilation system allowing the tobacco to remain unflavoured by the smoke. A tricky technique to master requiring a lot of space, it is one of the less common methods used. The tobacco ends up a vivid yellow or orange and has a natural sweetness in comparison to tobacco that has been fire cured.

Freehand pipes, sometimes also called ‘free form’ pipes have been crafted exclusively by hand and are one off pieces. The individuality of these pipes can be very appealing due to the sheer variety offered by different pipe makers. A good example of a manufacturer frequently making freehand pipes would be Erik Nording.

Kentucky tobacco, often known as ‘Dark Fired Kentucky’ from the fire-cured process it often goes through is a smoky, strong tobacco.

Latakia is named after the port city in Syria where it originated and is by far the most common Turkish tobacco. This blend is cured over either a wood oak or stone pine fire, giving the tobacco a bold smoky flavour.

Maryland is an American tobacco that is light and easy going, often added to American blends to bring a nutty aromatic flavour.

Meerschaum translates from German to English as ‘Sea Foam’. An incredibly effective material for pipes as its hard to burn out due to its heat absorbing qualities. It starts off it’s journey coming from the Black Sea, and when wet is easy to carve making it a favourite for craftsman in Turkey to display intricate patterns. Over a period of time it absorbs the nicotine, changing colour from an ivory white to a brown speckled tortoise shell pattern. The meerschaum also vitrifies over this time period, becoming ever more durable.

Mellowing is a term that refers to tobacco’s natural tendency to become less potent while ageing. A mellow tobacco is usually smooth and easy going.

Olive Wood is another material used in pipe manufacturing. The tree is preferred for use in the production of olives the wood can be rather difficult to acquire, usually being small off cuts, and has recently being going through somewhat of a renaissance. Olive Wood has a unique scent and distinct grain that can be favoured by certain pipe smokers.

A broad term used for tobaccos ranging from the Mediterranean all the way to Indonesia. Traditionally sun-cured and strong with an exotic aroma and flavour.

True Perique tobacco is grown in only one place: St. James Parish, Louisiana. The tobacco is stored in large wooden barrels at high pressure and allowed to age and ferment for years at a time. This process produces a full-flavoured potent tobacco praised by pipe smokers.
Genuine Perique tobacco can only come from one place, that being St. James Parish, Louisiana. The tobacco is harvested and left in pressurised barrels to ferment and age for up to multiple years. The result is a strong tobacco with a very distinct taste and aroma.

The P-Lip is a patented design specific to one brand: Peterson of Dublin. A P-Lip is a stem that has an air hole on the top of the stem, rather than on the end. This redirects the ribbon of smoke away from the tongue, which decreases tongue bite.

Plug is a form of pipe tobacco utilising full tobacco leaves that are pressed and then aged. The result is a brick of tobacco, highly condensed that requires slicing before smoking.

A cut of tobacco, thin and long strips that are light and often easy to burn, requiring no preparation.

Rubbed out or ‘Ready Rubbed’ refers to the end product of a cake, coin, plug, flake or medallion that has been agitated by the fingers of the smoker, resulting in a product easier to fill in the pipe and to get smoking. Many blends come ‘Ready Rubbed’ for smokers who find this process irritating or taxing.

A decorative texture applied to the pipe, differing from sandblasted this style is usually done with an abrasive tool. Wood is stripped from the pipe and then brushed off usually with wire before the pipe is then finished. The rusticated effect offers better grip for some smokers. Some claim the heat is dispersed more efficiently through a rusticated pipe offering a cooler smoke.

A technique using pressurised air to direct sand onto the pipe to create a textured effect. The machinery used can be rather expensive and requires a good knowledge of the process, thus it is rarer to see smaller artisans performing this technique.

A ‘Scottish’ blend is more synonymous with an English blend than anything else, usually only differing slightly, most notably less Latakia is added to the blend.

A cut of tobacco, shag is less coarse than ribbon cut and looks large in portion size. Commonly used for cigarette smokers who roll their own.

Type of pipe with name given to the meeting of the tenon and shank on an army mount pipe. Usually both will be coated in a precious metal, sterling silver being the most popular.

The term to define a pipe with no curve or angle, having a linear horizontal axis from the bowl through to the mouthpiece.

A traditional curing technique, sun curing allows the leaves after harvest to be aged in exposure to sunlight. Over time the oils contained in the tobacco leaves dry out as the shade of the leaf changes. By the time this process is complete the tobacco is rich tasting and easy to combust. Sun curing is still used by many tobacco manufacturers around the globe. Oriental tobacco is famed for this technique.

Tamper is a tool employed by a pipe smoker to flatten and prepare the tobacco in the chamber for smoking. Once lit the tamper is then used to keep forcing ash towards the bottom of the chamber whilst the smoker keeps puffing the tobacco on top. During this action the burning tobacco from the top will kindle the yet to be burning tobacco underneath.

Topping is a term used in the pipe community for the process of adding flavourings to a finished blend to turn it into an aromatic. Be it cherry, whiskey, coffee, walnut, vanilla, chocolate or any other aromatic these mixtures have all had the addition of topping.

Turkish tobacco is popular for both production of pipe and cigarette tobacco. Light in colour and with a natural sweetness, Turkish tobacco is used in many different pipe blends, usually coming in a shag or ribbon cut.

A very traditional form of blending tobacco into a rope that can then be sliced into smaller portions. Chewed as well as smoked by the working class miners of the 1900s, this tobacco still enjoys popularity to this day.

Virginia or ‘Brightleaf’ as its sometimes called is an extremely popular, mellow tobacco from the United States. The most common pipe tobacco across the globe Virginia tobacco is found in 8/10 blends. A great tobacco for ageing, Virginia is most synonymous with North Carolina, where the farmers grow it in a sandy soil.