Smoking pipe

:This article describes a pipe used for smoking. For other uses of the term, see pipe.

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A smoking pipe is a device used for smoking combustible substances such as tobacco and cannabis. The smoking pipe typically consists of a small chamber (the bowl) for the combustion of the substance to be smoked and a thin stem (shank) that ends in a mouthpiece (also called a bit). More recently, a smokeless design called the Ubie became available.

Related Topics:
Smoking - Tobacco - Cannabis - Combustion - Mouthpiece - Bit - The Ubie

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Pipes are made from a variety of materials, the most common being (in order of use): briar, corncob, meerschaum, African block meerschaum, clay, cherry, wood, glass, gourd, and various other materials, such as morta. Glass pipes in particular have become an art form.

Related Topics:
Briar - Corncob - Meerschaum - African block meerschaum - Clay - Cherry - Wood - Glass - Gourd - Morta

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Tobaccos used for smoking pipes are often carefully treated and blended to achieve flavour nuances not available in other tobacco products. Many of these are blends using staple ingredients of variously cured Burley and Virginia tobaccos which are enhanced by spice tobaccos, among them many Oriental or Balkan varietals, Latakia (a fire-cured spice tobacco of Cypriot or Syrian origin), Perique (uniquely grown in St. James Parish, Louisiana) or blends of Virginia and Burley tobaccos of African, Indian, or South American origins. Traditionally, many U.S. blends are made of American Burley flavoured with aromatic ingredients to produce "sweeter" smokes whereas "English"-style blends are based on natural Virginia tobaccos enhanced only by Oriental varietals. There is a growing tendency towards "natural" tobaccos which derive their aromas from artful blending with selected spice tobaccos only and careful, often historic, curing processes. Pipes can range from the very simple machine-made briar pipe to highly-prized handmade and artful implements by renowned pipemakers which are priced as very expensive collector's items.

Related Topics:
Latakia - St. James Parish, Louisiana - Burley

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