When it comes to smoking, there are many different types of tobacco that can be used. Pipe tobacco and cigar tobacco are two of the most popular, but they are quite different from each other. The type of tobacco used, the way it is processed and cut, and the way it reaches the palate are all factors that set these two forms of smoking apart. The main difference between pipe tobacco and cigar tobacco is the way the leaves are processed and cut.
Pipe tobacco is usually finely cut or processed, while premium cigars are made by hand with whole leaf tobacco. This means that pipe tobacco has a uniform flavor, while cigar tobacco blends several different crops, and even uses plants from completely different countries to create a complex smoking experience within a single cigar. The time and effort involved in smoking are also different between pipes and cigars. To enjoy a cigar, all you have to do is cut it, light it and throw in the ash from time to time.
Smoking a pipe requires more maintenance and hardware than smoking cigars. Pipes differ in design from cigarettes, which are made of tobacco wrapped in thin paper. Cigars are wrapped in tobacco leaves and, unlike cigarettes, do not usually have filters. Pipes can be equipped with filters if desired. Another type of pipe, the hookah, consists of a body filled with water, a container in which the tobacco is placed, and a tube and a nozzle attached through which the pipe is smoked.
You'll also need pipe cleaners, some type of pipe tool that has a tamper to hit the container and a special tool to remove excess tobacco from the sides of the bowl, so that it doesn't eventually crack. The strength of a cigar is determined by where the tobacco was grown, how it was blended and how long it has been aged. Those who prefer a non-aromatic experience that is more earthy, spicy and daring can opt for English blends that consist of stronger cigars that use Syrian latakia, perique from Louisiana and, occasionally, some varieties of oriental tobacco, such as Xanthi, Byzantium, Izmir and more. Cigarette smoke contains many of the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarette smoke, and people who smoke four or more cigars a day are exposed to an amount of smoke equivalent to 10 cigarettes; even people who don't inhale are exposed to their own environmental smoke. Smoking pipes or cigars wreaks havoc on the mouth and contributes to gum disease, tooth staining, bad breath, and tooth loss. Some believe that pipe smoking is more efficient and cheaper than smoking cigars, but it all depends on your budget. Cigars generally have a higher moisture content than non-aromatic cigars and smell and taste good. Once considered cool, elegant and attractive for the ladies' fair, it seems that smoking a pipe has gone out of style in some people's minds.
After you pack a bowl and start blowing, you'll soon find out if you prefer a pipe instead of a cigar. Cigars and pipes differ in many ways - from the type of tobacco used to the way it reaches the palate - but one thing remains true: smoking either one wreaks havoc on your health. Those who argue that their habit is harmless perpetuate the misperception that pipes and cigars are somehow safer than cigarettes.
