Tobacconist University : Taste College : Human Senses

TOUCH
There is a lot to say about Touch. First, it is the physical sensation of feeling. The way a cigar or pipe feels in the hand is paramount. With our hands we can sense whether a cigar or pipe tobacco is at the proper humidity. We can even use our fingers to determine the silkiness of a cigar wrapper as well as the firmness, construction, and much more. But the key to understanding Touch, is realizing that it is not limited to the hands:

We feel with our mouth, tongue, and nose as well.

As Tobacconists, we often hear: “What size should I smoke?” or “How do I pick a size?” and the answer to that question is different for everyone, but the same principle applies:

Pick a size and shape based on what FEELS
Comfortable in your hand and mouth.

The Feel of a Pipe

To say that Pipes are heavily scrutinized by their potential owners would be an understatement. While a visual inspection is necessary, the most important feature of a Pipe is the way it feels in the hand and mouth.

A Pipe must be perfect to the touch: Pipes must be scrutinized for size, weight, length, balance, mouth-feel, bit size, construction, finish, grain, and bowl size.