Meerschaum Pipes--An Aromatic Topic

Long known as a gentleman's hobby, pipe smoking has been a popular men's pastime since ancient days.  In fact, European immigrants first discovered pipes from the Native Americans in the early 1600s; much of Asia and the Middle East were well acquainted with the practice long before the Europeans learned of it.  Pipe smoking is entirely up to the individual's taste--special unique blends of tobacco, as well as different materials for the pipes each lend a unique taste to the individual pipe.  Meerschaum pipes are perhaps one of the most popular pipes used today, and are held in high value for both their history and their beauty.

Meerschaum itself is actually a mineral, magnesium silicate, that has been hydrated.  This mineral comes from the Middle East, especially the central part of Turkey.  Originating from Germanic roots, meerschaum is basically translated as "sea foam," the perfect name for this amazingly lightweight and pearly mineral.  When smoked in meerschaum pipes, some of the mineral fumes are absorbed into the pipes themselves, gradually imparting a beautiful brown color to the pipes.  These old meerschaum pipes are considered a valuable collectible for antique shoppers.  If you wish to buy your own meerschaum pipe, make sure that it is made of one block of the mineral only, and not just the mineral powder mixed with a binder.  Authentic meerschaum pipes are the only ones that will turn that beautiful brownish color.





Pipe tobacco is classified both by its different blends and by the brands that sell it.  Tobacco blends use various species of tobacco leaves for unique and individual flavorings.  Some are spicy, such as those grown in Asia or Syria (Drama, Yenidje, and latakia).  Others are grown right here in the United States and the UK, such as the Virginia, Burley, and Cavendish varieties.  There are also Turkish and Cigar leaves that have their special taste.  To cure the leaves before sale, the leaves are harvested and laid out in the sun to dry.  Sometimes they are cured by a fire or hot-air flue.  But the tobacco leaves alone are not the only flavors available.  Culinary flavors from rum to fruit to chocolate or caramel are also added to some blends.

Instead of being inhaled, pipe smoking is accomplished much in the same way that cigar smoking is done.  Smoke is held in the oral cavity so that its flavors and aromas may be enjoyed with the taste buds while the nicotine passes into the blood stream in the oral cavities.  A match or special light for pipe lighting is used, by striking the match, waiting for the sulphur to burn off the match tip, and igniting the tobacco itself.  To hold a pipe that has been lit, hold it by the stem or the bowl.  If you have a meerschaum pipe, you will want a little piece of chamois leather to hold your pipe with so that the meerschaum coloring will be absorbed evenly.