When people talk about smoking a tobacco pipe or a cigar, however, they mean a philosophy that unites them, namely that of slow smoking.
Slow smoking follows a completely different approach than cigarette smoking; in fact, we should talk about tasting rather than smoking in itself.
We do not have smoking as an end in itself, but much more.
Therefore, a fundamental factor comes into play: time.
In both cases, whether you smoke a cigar or a tobacco pipe, you have to spend time on it, just as you would for a quality distillate.
Of course, in this article we will not say whether it is better to smoke a tobacco pipe or a cigar, but we will compare their characteristics.
Tobacco Pipe: Pros and cons
Making a comparison with the cigar, we could call the tobacco pipe even more "slow," because the tasting is more preponderant.
This is given by the fact that the tobacco pipe itself very often imparts different aromatic notes to the smoke, in addition to the type of tobacco used.
This means that for the same blend of tobacco used, the aroma can change from one tobacco pipe to another.
The material of the tobacco pipe is decisive in this regard, a topic you can learn more about in our article on materials used in tobacco pipe making.
As for pipe tobaccos, the blends are really numerous and varied from each other, allowing you to experiment in no small part, having a very wide tasting range.
Unlike the cigar, you will be able to create your own tobacco blends on your own.
The tobacco pipe is thus the tool that allows you to taste the same tobacco in an ever-changing way.
To this we must add that the tobacco pipe is a personal object, reflecting the smoker's tastes and personality.
For this reason, we propose a phrase by Fabio that is very explanatory of this concept: "It is the tobacco pipe that chooses the smoker and not the other way around."
There are no cons to smoking the tobacco pipe; many believe that, unlike the cigar, it is less convenient to smoke when you are not at home.
This is actually nothing more than a commonplace, because loading it becomes an automatic process with use, considering that it is nothing demanding, as is cleaning.
In fact, charging and cleaning takes just a few minutes before and after smoking, but in between we have 40 minutes/1 hour of slow smoking.
Cigar: Pros and cons
Cigar smoking means carving out time for oneself, in the company of what we could almost call "a confidant" with whom to spend "intimate" moments.
In the case of cigars, time becomes even more crucial.
If we are talking about Tuscan cigars, you will be free to light and extinguish them whenever you wish, unlike Caribbean cigars, which, once lit, must be finished.
When you light a cigar, like the Caribbean ones, you decide to set aside some time, which can last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, perhaps to take an introspective moment, but also to enjoy a good smoke with friends.
Cigar blends are very different than pipe blends, so the smoker's personal taste comes into play.
Another advantage to note is the different formats in which cigars are offered, so you can choose your desired smoking time.
Clearly, smoking a cigar must always be accompanied by a willingness to taste it, otherwise it only distorts the smoke.
Is the tobacco pipe or the cigar better?
It is impossible to say which is better between the tobacco pipe and the cigar, partly because many tobacco pipe smokers are also cigar smokers.
The reverse, however, is less common.
Clearly, the tasting element is what unites them and leads many to appreciate both.
The real difference lies in the fact that the cigar is a craftsmanship that goes through a long supply chain, which gives rise to the smoke you will get.
In the case of the tobacco pipe, on the other hand, the smoker is more in control of the smoke he or she will have because, depending on the tobacco pipe he or she uses, the perception of the tobacco can change.
You should never consider these two types of smoking in competition, but rather as two different ways of tasting tobacco!
