How to smoke a pipe

Smoking a pipe is first and foremost a pleasure, but for those who are new to the art of smoking it can easily become difficult and thus lead to their abandonment. Precisely for this reason, Savinelli has decided to create a guide for those new to the world of slow smoking, listing some 'rules' and advice that we hope you will find useful...

01 Trickle the tobacco..

Take some tobacco and let it trickle into the bowl until it is full. Using a pipe tamper, gently push down the tobacco until it feels springy. Repeat this process until the bowl is full; the proper tension with each successive level of tobacco will determine the amount of resistance when drawing smoke through the pipe. The proper tension will result in an easy, cool smoke; packing the tobacco too tightly will require a stronger draw of air, which may cause an overheating of the pipe.

02 Light the tobacco surface:

When lighting the tobacco, apply the flame to the entire surface while drawing frequently but gently. The initial lighting will cause the tobacco to rise; tamp the tobacco, level it and then relight the pipe. Re-lighting your pipe several times during the course of a full bowl is a normal procedure. If you observe expert pipe smokers, you will notice they periodically re-light.

Yes, your pipe will go out.

03 Drawing should be slow..

..measured, calm and spaced. The smoke coming out of your pipe should be barely visible. With a hard and hurried draw you defeat the purposes of pipe smoking - enjoyment and relaxation. Slowly you will develop your own unique rhythm. Occasionally, you will have to tamp down the tobacco and reverse your pipe to remove the ash that goes out; the remaining active ash contributes to a regular and slow combustion of the tobacco.

04 The smoke of the pipe is not inhaled..

..or swallowed (where is otherwise the difference with smoking a cigarette which causes a higher physical damage?). It is tasted between nose and palate. A pipe smoker does not burn the tobacco, he savours it. Do not try to smoke the last buts of tobacco. If it is too compressed and/or moist, discard it.

05 After you have finished smoking your pipe..

..gently use a pipe pick to remove any remaining tobacco from the bowl. It is risky to remove the mouthpiece while the pipe is still hot; this can result in a cracked mouthpiece. Never knock the top of the bowl against a hard surface.

When the pipe is cold, it may be opened by turning the mouthpiece - without pulling. Remove the filter. Blow strongly through the mouthpiece and stem to remove remaining bits of tobacco. After re-assembly, run a pipe cleaner through the mouthpiece and into the bowl several times.

We suggest letting the pipe lay-by for at least 24 hours before reuse.

Ideally, you should have one pipe for each day of the week!