Pipe Smoking 101 Videos – Introduction to Pipe Smoking

Here are some videos intended to help my fellow pipe smokers, especially those new to the hobby, get ahead of the considerable learning curve we face when new to pipe smoking

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Submit Your Pipe Tobacco Review

I would like to invite you to submit a review to be posted here at SmokingPipeTobacco.com. While I would like to see as many quality reviews of pipe appear here and a variety of perspectives, I will be maintaining editorial control to maintain consistency and a certain level of objectivity.

A little about my philosophy behind Smoking Pipe Tobacco:

There is another "reviews" site for pipe tobacco that many pipe smokers consult. It is one of the largest contributions to the online pipe smoking community available. As good as it is in some ways, nothing can be all things to all people. So, with Smoking Pipe Tobacco I began working toward a goal of providing an alternate resource for folks researching pipe tobacco blends. I don't want to, and could probably never compete with the other site, especially not in terms of volume, but I would like to provide an additional option.

Quality, Consistency, and Objectivity - Not Quantity

That site will always have have Smoking Pipe Tobacco beat in terms of quantity. A gap I'd like to fill with Smoking Pipe Tobacco is where quality, objectivity, and consistency is concerned. Smoking Pipe Tobacco isn't anonymous. I have to answer for everything I write here in one way or other. People can disagree or differ with reviews found here or add their own two cents in the comments.

The other thing is I try to be somewhat objective. Notice I don't grade or rate blends, I just try to describe them as objectively as possible. It is not my intention to persuade or dissuade someone from trying a blend, just to tell them what it is like the best I can so they can make up their own mind. Rather than say something like "this has too much Perique" I try to say something more relative like "this has a generous amount of Perique" or "Perique plays a big role in this blend."

Finally, I believe readers here will appreciate consistency. If every review includes the same broad categories of information, follows a similar structure, and omits needless information, pipe smokers will more easily glean useful information about a blend they are researching.

Interactivity

As far as I know, Smoking Pipe Tobacco is the only resource where pipe smokers can comment on a review. This serves several purposes that benefit the reader. First, it "keep the reviewer honest." Second, it allows others to fill in gaps, add amplifying information, and even offer opposing viewpoints or correct perceived discrepancies.

What I'm looking for in contributed pipe tobacco reviews:

With the "philosophy" part out of the way, what I am looking for in a pipe tobacco review is mainly objectivity. Here are some things I like to see included in pipe tobacco reviews:

Descriptions of the overall taste and character.
General proportions of the components.
Strength in terms of natural and/or added flavors
Strength in terms of nicotine
Body
Burning characteristics and cut
How the chamber size of the pipe effected the smoke

Do not include:

Pipe brands or carvers - pipes in your collection
Discussion about extinct blends
Discussion about the blender or manufacturer

This hasn't been an exhaustive list, but the idea is stick to providing information about the blend that will help someone decide if they are interested in trying it.

What's in it for you:

For now, the recognition and satisfaction of helping out the community. When you sign up there you get contributor status automatically. I prefer you use a real name. Your first paragraph can be introductory information about you that you want to share - if you have a site of your own, link to it. The point is I want you to get full credit for the review.

How to submit your review:

1. Contact me by email - PM me for my email address or use the contact form. Let me know what you want to do.

2. Register here at Smoking Pipe Tobacco if you haven't already.

3. Set up your avatar using the Gravatar service.

4. Go into the admin section and write your review following the format suggestions above. (I'd appreciate you including the official tin description in your review. Also, do not select any tags or categories.)

5. Hit post and the review will go into the que. Send me an email letting me know you added a review. I'll go edit it and post it to the site.

6. Once it I have posted it, go to Tamp & Puff Pipe Smoking Discussion Forums and wherever else and let the world know you wrote a review.

As the "publisher" of the site, I do reserve the right to edit your pipe tobacco review but I won't change the substance if I can avoid it.

One last thing: Don't feel like you have to be some sort of "expert" to write reviews. If you can describe a blend somewhat intelligently, you can write a review for Smoking Pipe Tobacco. You also don't have to be an English major. I'm not, but I'll try to help during the editing process.