Developing Palate?

[Chrisso]

Alright BOTL's,

This may be an open ended question, but what suggestions do you all have for developing your palate? I mean, is it just years of experience? Is there anything some of you suggest regarding eating something, or drinking something, while smoking, or just before?

Im only curious, as I have found certain things I already do pull out alot more flavor. Sometimes its even due to the mood im in that day, etc. Im just trying to make sure I get every enjoyable puff out of my sticks as I can.

Im going to start smoking more CAO's, etc, and work my way up to some of the sticks TravelingJ and JavaJunkie hooked me up with. Again in hopes that I can appreciate them more. Not saying I dont right now, but for instance I smoked a PSD4 last night, and enjoyed the hell out of it. The only issue I have is that I smelled more flavors coming from it than I tasted. Now, I also just finished grilling, and eating two burgers, so maybe my palate wasnt as prepared as I was hoping. Regardless, the smoke was incredible. Very smooth, I tasted alot more sweetish coffee flavors out of it than I was expecting. However I smelled allllllllll sorts of goodness from it.

Just trying to get the opinion of others. Again, this question may be too open....

Thanks guys,
-Chrisso

 

[kockroach]

If you want to make sure you can detect all the flavors you possibly can, then you should not eat or drink anything that is going to get in the way. Drink water, and don't eat anything that will mask flavors.

A trick I was told to help with picking up flavors when smoking is to rub your tongue on the roof of your mouth after a puff. Of course, performing a retrohale can give you a chance to detect other aromas.

The flavors/aromas are all chemical. We relate them to things we have tasted or smelled previously. If you have never smelled or eaten something, you won't recognize it if it is present when you smoke.

 

[vivalanation734]

this should help you describe what you taste/smell :

 

[javajunkie]

the most important thing in my mind is actually forming it in words. keep a journal, talk with a buddy while smoking, put out your thoughts here, but forming words around a fleeting sensory imput helps lock it in your brain. the more you do this, the bigger "vocabulary" you build of flavors, aromas, and textures.

oh, and smoke more. o)

 

[Tobacco Giant]

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/9072-Refining-Your-Pallette

Still a great reference.

 

[Chrisso]

Thank you guys! All great input.

Tobacco Giant, that article is something ive read, but obviously needed to re-read it again.

Again, ya'lls suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Chrisso

 

[StogieNinja]

Good info!

One thing that helped me was going through my wife's pantry and just smelling everything. All the chocolate, all the nuts, all the dried fruit, all the baking spices... helped me put names to some of the flavors and smells I was picking up. Once there was an identifiable name, the concept became more clear in my mind and easier to identify again later.

 

[mjohop]

In my experience its just been smoking. It helps if fellow botl or your local B&M tobacconist can make some suggestions based on what you already smoke to expand your horizons and help you discover some great sticks that you may not even think about smoking. Make sure you cleanse your palate with club soda though, even as you're smoking if you can.

I remember I used to dislike Tatuaje in a big way when I first started really getting into smoking, at that time I was stuck on CAO, Ashton, Perdomo, and Gurkha. Now I keep at least 2 boxes of Tatuaje in my tower at all times. I've moved away from my start brands but I can stil appreciate them on the rare occasion I smoke them.

 

[GeeRawkz]

Great post and tips! Recently, I have found myself wanting to diversify my palate since I have found myself over the past few years to be a big Fuente & Padron cigar fan. Through various cigar trades and talking to fellow cigar lovers / local shop owners I have found myself picking up flavors I hadn't previously detected. One tip someone told me was when attempting to detect the different flavors that comprise a certain cigar, to retrohale (if possible and doesn't hurt your lungs to much) the cigar at different points throughout the entire cigar. In doing this, you really pick up on a lot of different flavors you might not have picked up on previously.

 

[SDShark]

thanks for these references guys!