How to Smoke a Meerschaum Pipe
Meerschaum pipes are made out of compacted minerals from the sea. Meerschaum is a soft material when removed from the water, and once it has dried out it may be carved. Once the material has been carved it is usually covered in beeswax and heated thoroughly in a kiln to prevent it from cracking. Meerschaum pipes are unique because the meerschaum will slowly change to different shades of yellow, red or orange after time from the smoking process.
Instructions
-
-
1
Pack the meerschaum pipe by scooping a small amount of tobacco into the palm of your hand and dropping it into the opening of the pipe bowl. Do not press the tobacco down yet, let it fall naturally. Add tobacco until it reaches the rim of the pipe bowl.
-
2
Press the tobacco down with your finger so that the bowl is about one-third full. Drop enough tobacco into the pipe again to fill it back up to the rim of the pipe bowl.
-
-
3
Press the tobacco down so that the bowl is about two-thirds full. For the last time, drop enough tobacco into the pipe again to fill it back up to the rim of the pipe bowl. Gently press the tobacco down until there is about a quarter inch between the top of the bowl's rim and the tobacco.
-
4
Light the pipe by passing a lit match or torch lighter evenly over the bowl. Take slow draws from the mouthpiece of the pipe. Repeat this two to three times until the top surface of the tobacco is lit evenly.
-
5
Draw slow and steady puffs into your mouth. When smoking a pipe you do not inhale. Do not puff too hard, as this may burn the tobacco, which may ruin the taste. If the pipe goes out, it is acceptable to relight it.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If the pipe is new smoke only half-full bowls for the first 10 uses, until a carbon buildup begins to form inside the bowl.
References
- Photo Credit spilled matches image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
