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Drinking Tea and Smoking Pipes
Drinking Tea and Smoking Pipes are both ritualistic experiences. If you or someone you know enjoys smoking pipes, tea deserves consideration. Pipe smoking is typically a slower and more contemplative process. Pipe smokers often draw the smoke into their mouths and then exhale it slowly, allowing the flavors and aromas of the tobacco to be savored.
Coffee is a popular pairing, but higher caffeine levels make this unsuitable for evening. And pairing with Alcohol also is not always feasible. Tea can be used to complement the pipe smoking experience by combining these flavors and aromas. Best of all, there are many caffeine free varieties.
Suggested Tea & Pipe Pairings
Earl Grey Tea with English Blend Tobacco
Earl Grey's citrusy bergamot flavor complements the rich, smoky notes of English blend tobacco.
Try Russian Earl Grey for enhanced citrus flavor.
Darjeeling Tea with Virginia Tobacco
The floral and fruity notes of Darjeeling tea enhance the natural sweetness of Virginia tobacco, resulting in a delicate and nuanced pairing.
Another option is Silver Needle White tea, which has subtle sweet notes of apple.
Assam Tea with Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco
The robust and malty flavor of Assam tea complements the bold, earthy flavors of Dark Fired Kentucky tobacco, creating a robust and satisfying pairing.
Pu-erh tea also is a good alternative.
Oolong Tea with Oriental Blend Tobacco
Oolong tea's floral and fruity undertones pair well with the complex and spicy flavors of Oriental blend tobacco, creating a sophisticated and nuanced pairing.
Iron Goddess of Mercy or Milk Oolong are some of our favorites.
Chai Tea with Latakia Blend Tobacco
The warm and spicy flavors of chai tea complement the smoky and peppery notes of Latakia blend tobacco, creating a rich and aromatic pairing reminiscent of exotic spices.
Greek Mountain Tea with Cavendish Tobacco
Greek Mountain tea is a unique tea found only in the Mediterranean. It has a citrus mint like flavor that contrasts great with the sweet and creamy notes of Cavendish tobacco.
Herbal Tea with Flavored Tobaccos
Vanilla or Marzipan rooibos tea can enhance the smoothness of flavored tobacco blends, especially those with vanilla or dessert-like flavors. Mint tea can provide a refreshing contrast to flavored tobacco, especially those with chocolate, coffee, or menthol flavors. The cooling sensation of mint can also help cleanse the palate between puffs.
Of course, the fun is trying all the various teas in samples form to find the ones you like. We also recommend Chinese black teas like Golden Monkey, Ancient Forest, and Secret Village for their well paired flavor nuances.
