American blends-- These blends have the following components: Virginia, Burley and Oriental in variable proportions to which a "sauce" consisting of humidifying and sugar elements is added. These blends are finally sprayed with aromatic flavours.

Apple-- This pipe has a round bowl and as the name suggests - like an apple.

Aromatics-- Originally mainly from Europe and America, these have been enthusiastically taken up by the younger smoker, with rich flavours like cherry, orange, chocolate, coffee, whisky and many more additives, (I'm personally looking for a tobacco with the flavour of my favourite food, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, that way I can smoke my pipe and feel as though I've had my lunch in one go and loose some weight in the process).

- B -
Bent-- The bent pipe is either half bent or full bent. The bowl varies in shape and may be like another model, e.g., "bent Bulldog".

Billiard-- A straight pipe with a high cylindrical bowl with upright walls. Well balanced.

Briar Pipe-- The name is a corruption of the French word "bruyere", or heath tree, a low shrub found throughout Europe, though mainly around the Mediterranean. The true briar is only made out of the very hard, dry root of the mature shrub which may be anything up to 250 years old.

British Flake and Ready Rubbed-- The tobacco leaves are compacted under great pressure and heat is applied for days at a time. The Cakes of tobacco are then removed from the press and cut on a guillotine into thin slices. The Pipesmoker breaks the flakes up in the palm of the hand to the texture that suits the pipe and ones own style of smoking. This type of tobacco produces a cool slow burning smoke, but does require skill and practice. More Pipesmokers are buying their tobacco in the Ready Rubbed form for convenience and it gives almost the same qualities as the original flake, but does provide more consistent, easy smoking, ideal for the new Piper.

Bulldog-- A squat pipe. There is an indentation around the widest part of the bowl. Has a square shank.

Burleys-- Are high developed plants, the culture of which has recently expanded. This type of tobacco does not ferment like the "Dark", but generally "matures". Burley, though not very aromatic, is very useful in blending.

- C -
Canadian-- This pipe is again similar to the Billiard but has a long shank and a short, oval stem

Clay Pipe-- These pipes do smoke quite hot but one trick is to dip the pipe in cold water and shake of the excess before filling and lighting, Clay's tend to give an earthy taste to the tobacco, quite unusual but not unpleasant.

Corncob-- Normally associated with the great smoking country of America. As the name suggests the corncob pipe is made from a corn cob, now specially grown hybrid cobs are cultivated for the making of these pipes. The cobs are dried for around 2 years before being treated and coated. One cob normally makes two pipes. The corncob pipe is very light weight and porous and adds a certain flavour to the tobacco smoked. It has a relative short life span but the small cost involved in purchasing these pipes do not make it such a problem. A very good 7 day smoke set can be obtained for very little money. Great for those outdoor pursuits where the likely hood of a broken pipe is quite possible.

- D -
Dark blends-- These consist of dark tobaccos from various origins (France, South America, Africa and Asia) and Oriental. Generally they do not contain additives or "sauce".

Dark tobaccos-- Are plants generally quite developed which initially were the most widely spread in the world. Also used for cigar making, the leaf is subjected to a second treatment-fermentation.

Dublin-- The bowl is broad at the top and becomes narrower further down. The bowl is at a slight angle to the shank.

- E -

- F -
Fire-cured-- Is a type akin to Dark, it's natural drying is completed by a wood-fired fumigation (oak is used by the traditionalists).
Flake and Plug tobaccos-- After the tobacco leaf has been prepared, it is put into moulding presses where it is put under tremendous pressure usually by means of hydraulics, here it is pressed into what is commonly known as Cakes. The Cakes are then placed into retaining presses, depending on the colour required of the tobacco it is cold or heated. The amount of pressure and heat will determine the final tobacco colour. Flake tobaccos can be recognised through the slices that are sold, there are a few exceptions such as ready rubbed flake and partly broken flake. Plug and Bar tobacco is produced by moulding under pressure.

Flue-cured-- Are represented by the majority of warm-air dried Virginia. The cultivation is expanding rapidly. The plant developed is average and six crops are produced. Each crop is taken to a bulk curing barn where it is dried by warm air for seven days. The leaves become yellow as a result of a rapid rise of temperature. Among the Virginia are the aromatics and the fillers, the latter used as a major ingredient to balance the mixture. The blends and the taste-lines: Each industrial blend is the result of the scientific compositions of several grades from the same tobacco and from different types (from 20 to 40 in commercial products).

Freehands-- These pipe are handmade pipe as the name suggests, they are not mass produced, but hand crafted pipes.

- G -


- H -


- I -


- J -

- K -

- L -
Latakia-- Again, a product of the eastern Mediterranean, and used in certain mixtures to give a distinctive flavour.

Lovat-- Another Billiard shape but with a long shank and a short, round stem.

Lugs-- Lugs are the leaves around the bottom part of the stalk. They are characterised by their small size, thinness and brightness. They make up 13% of the plant's total weight. The nicotine content is around 2.5%, and the sugar level varies from 12-20%.

- M -
Meerschaum Pipe-- Pipes have been made from this material since the beginning of the 18th century. Meerschaum pipes mainly originate from Turkey where the material is mined. It is actually a mineral, a rock made up of magnesium which can be found at a depth of around 30 feet. The qualities of this material in the use of pipe making is that it is lightweight and very porous, it is also very easy to work with as regards to carving. The meerschaum pipe takes on a lovely colour of a golden brown as it is smoked over the years, adding extra beauty to the pipes appearance. Meerschaum can also be found in other countries, one company that springs to mind is Barling who use Manx meerschaum which is harder than the Turkish variety, Barling meerschaums normally come pre-coloured and are more resilient against knocks and bangs.

Mixtures-- With these, their unique character comes from careful blending of many different exotic tobaccos and not forgetting plain natural Virginia and Shags. Some of the more exotic tobaccos in these mixtures have been previously pressed and darkened and may include rich flavourings to enhance the aroma and taste, they are generally lighter in character and easier to smoke.

- N -

- O -
Oriental-- Grown largely in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean: and providing a distinctively aromatic smoke.

- P -
Perique-- Grown largely around New Orleans, and subject to a curing process known to only one family, perique is used as a seasoner for other pipe tobaccos, providing a distinctive taste and aroma. Ultimately the pleasure of a good tobacco lies in the blending process: individual manufacturers jealously guard the secrets of their own brands, which are as numerous and distinctive as individual pipe designs - from the richness of Latakia-based mixture, to the mellowness of certain of the Virginia flakes. The beginner is faced with a surfeit of choice, and it is only by trial and error that he will find the exact blend to meet his taste.

Pot-- The pot is similar to the Billiard but it has lower and thicker walls. Suits the smoker who prefers an heavier pipe.

Priming (Sandleaves)-- These are the leaves at the bottom part of the stalk. They are the first leaves to ripen, and the first to be harvested. They make up about 12% of the plant's weight. Primings contain only 1.5 to 2% nicotine and 5 to 10%) sugar.

Prince-- Has a spherical flat bowl and a short round shank. The stem is normally long.

- Q -

- R -


- S -
Smoking leaf-- "Smoking leaves" grow just above the middle of the stalk. They make up around 7.5% of the plant's total weight. These leaves ripen to a bright orange colour and contain about 3% nicotine. The sugar content is about the same as in the lugs.

Sun-cured-- Represent almost the totality of Oriental tobaccos. Their cultivation is confined to Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and to a lesser degree to adjoining countries. The essential characteristics of oriental tobaccos are their aromatic qualities and a high sugar content (10 to 15%). The smoke is generally mild and this characteristic brings a binding and homogeneous effect used in most mixtures.

- T -
Tips-- The tips are the leaves growing at the top of the tobacco plant. They are relatively narrow and pointed, but are usually heavier-bodied than leaves lower down the plant. Tips represent around 18% of the plant's total weight, and contain a nicotine level of about 3.5%. Leaf These leaves grow just below the tips and are characterised by their relative length, and are firm and heavy-bodied. Nicotine content can range from 3% to over 3.5%, while sugar level is around 15%.

Tobacco Plant-- One of the commonest tobaccos is Virginia tobacco. It is often used in US and European 'blended' cigarettes, and in particular in the so-called 'English' Virginian-type cigarettes. The heavier grades are used in various kinds of mixtures for pipe smoking. Flue-cured tobacco is grown in more than seventy countries. The major exporting countries are China, the USA, Brazil, India and Zimbabwe. Around 40% of the world's tobacco is currently of a Virginian type plant. A well-grown plant reaches a total height of 160-190 cm, and will carry 18-22 harvestable leaves.

Twist and Spun Cut-- These are really tobaccos for the enthusiast, usually stocked by the specialist tobacconist. Full bodied, powerful and rich, they are made in the traditional style developed by sailors, spun to form a rope.

- U -


- V -
Virginia blends-- This taste is, with the preceding, the oldest known. It is characterised by the pure Virginia blends, originally without additives.

- W -


- X -

- Y -

- Z -

Cigars | Tobacco | Pipes

© 2004 Tobacco Bowl, Ltd.