Pipe tobacco and cigarette tobacco share some pretty obvious things in common – they’re both smoked all throughout the world, and they often come from the same types of tobacco, many of which are grown here in the United States. However, there’s a reason why virtually every smoker strongly prefers one over the other. So, let’s compare the two to see why they differ in so many ways.
Pipe Tobacco vs. Cigarette Tobacco: An Introduction
Smoking tobacco is an ancient tradition that dates back thousands and thousands of years. It has even been enjoyed by various cultures all over the world. Throughout history, tobacco has evolved through different techniques in cultivating, harvesting, fermenting, and processing, to create different styles of tobacco, such as cigarette tobacco and pipe tobacco. So, what are the key differences between the two types of tobacco?
Well, for one thing, the flavors are quite different from one another. Pipe tobacco is intended to be more flavorful, and many pipe tobaccos on the market have been flavored with additional ingredients and sweeteners, while even fermentation processes are developed in order to alter the flavor of the tobacco itself. Cigarette tobacco, meanwhile, is typically more neutral in taste.
Pipe tobacco is also longer in terms of its cut, with thicker strands, while cigarette tobacco is noticeably finer and shorter. Pipe tobacco is also moister, so that it can smoke properly in a pipe.
Some of the more critical differences are important to note, such as the fact that cigarette tobacco has more additives in order to maintain a longer shelf life. Besides that, cigarette tobacco has a much higher nicotine content, which makes it more addictive, and more impactful on the nervous system.
Now, let’s go into a bit more detail.
Differences in Flavor
Of course, pipe tobacco and cigarette tobacco taste very different from one another. And, pipe tobacco has a broader spectrum of flavor profiles that you can pick from than cigarette tobacco, which isn’t to say that tobacco connoisseurs don’t also appreciate the subtle differences between different cigarettes.
In general, pipe tobacco is much richer, and often sweeter, than cigarette tobacco. Besides that, pipe tobacco is usually sold as a blend, which means that a variety of tobaccos have been blended together to create a distinctive flavor profile. While smoking pipe tobacco, you’ll notice a lush bouquet of individual flavor notes, while cigarette tobacco is flatter – and again, that can often be what a person is looking for, so there’s nothing wrong with that, per se.
One major reason why cigarette tobaccos vary less in terms of flavor profile is because most of them are grown in the same general location, in Virginia, while tobaccos used in pipe tobacco are grown all over the world, with each region impacting its taste as it’s grown.
Differences in Profile
Pipe tobacco is also smoother than cigarette tobacco, which is a big part of its appeal. A lot of that comes from the higher moisture level of tobacco, which does need to be dried a bit, but still offers a smoother draw. It’s also because pipe tobacco has fewer chemicals in it that are harsh to the throat. Even a full-bodied pipe tobacco is going to likely feel smoother on the inhale than a cigarette tobacco, while giving you generally denser smoke than cigarettes.
Differences in Processing
Cigarettes are known to contain many chemicals, like we’ve said before, that are used to prolong their shelf life. These chemical additives also have a tendency to make cigarette tobacco more addictive, while enhancing the feeling of satisfaction that the user derives from it when they smoke. Overall, the use of these chemicals makes cigarettes more toxic to the body than pipe tobacco. Pipe tobacco does contain chemical additives as well, but typically they’re solely to enhance the flavor, and can vary in terms of quality and safety. In fact, most pipe tobaccos that are high in quality use natural flavoring which is added during the fermentation process.
Differences in Cut
Cigarette tobacco is cut shorter and finer, which allows it to burn faster. Some would argue that this is done, at least in part, so that the smoker goes through more cigarettes in a day, as a faster burn means a shorter length of time smoking, leading to the person wanting to smoke another one. Pipe tobacco burns more slowly due to its thicker and longer cut, making for a more leisurely smoke.
Differences in Association
You’re far more likely to encounter a person smoking cigarettes than smoking pipe tobacco in a pipe – and that’s despite the fact that cigarette tobacco is more expensive. Of course, cigarettes are more travel-friendly, and easier to buy in stores. Pipe tobacco, meanwhile, is more of a niche hobby, and to find good-quality pipe tobacco, you need to do some research, develop a palate to know what your preferences are, and know where to buy it since you can’t just walk into any convenience store to find it.
Of course, pipe tobacco is also more common among real tobacco hobbyists. The diverse selection of blends and flavor profiles makes the act of exploring new tobaccos exciting, and there’s something to be said about the enjoyment of collecting pipes, as well. And, of course, smoking out of a pipe is regarded as an upper-class activity, so simply partaking in it can change how you’re perceived in social settings.