Developing your palate

**PuffTheMagicDragon** · 05-02-2005, 10:42 PM

So how long did it take you to develope your palate? I have tried a few smokes so far and I have not really been able to pick up the different nuances. After smoking them, I read reviews on the cigar I just smoked and it would have this fantastic decription of having a hint of this and an undertone of that, hell if I could pick that up. So I guess my main question is, will my ability to taste these things develope over time and experience?

**mglantz** · 05-03-2005, 11:33 AM

Well, Puff, to be honest, your palate may become discriminating enough to be able to taste the various elements in the cigar but it's just as possible that it won't. I've been smoking cigars for quite a few years and I still cannot break the flavors down into the various elements. Many of my cigar smoking friends, including a few that I consider very knowledgeable smokers, do not have that ability either. Here's the thing, though...I know what I like and what I don't like. Line up a dozen cigars, let me smoke them with a blindfold on and I'll not only tell you which I like and which I don't, but I'll rank them for you in order of taste preference. I won't be able to tell you which smokes have hints of chocolate, leather, wood or old dog's hair, but to me, that doesn't matter. I don't amoke cigars to enjoy chocolate and leather undertones. I do smoke them to enjoy the overall flavor and experience. When I ask a friend his opinion of a cigar, I'm basically looking for him to tell me if he likes the smoke or not, is it mild or full-bodied, etc. If there are hints of orange Frapple in there, so be it. I wouldn't be able to taste it anyway.

My advice is don't worry or get hung up about be able to analyze the smoke into its molecular structure. If it happens, fine. If not, it doesn't make you any less of a cigar smoker. Just enjoy them. That's what they're made for.

( I am now stepping off my soapbox)

**JStrider** · 05-03-2005, 12:42 PM

the main flavor ive been able to notice is the spicyness... havnt really been able to pinpoint the other flavors... just smokey goodness

**Drake** · 05-03-2005, 01:08 PM

i can taste spicey, coffee, nutty, chocolate, and even apple in opus x

don't really know what earthy tastes like

**PuffTheMagicDragon** · 05-03-2005, 02:17 PM

Yeah, I taste tobbacco with a hint of tobbacco and undertones of tobbacco

**labmonkey** · 05-03-2005, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by PuffTheMagicDragon

Yeah, I taste tobbacco with a hint of tobbacco and undertones of tobbacco

that's funny....

In some cigars I can really describe the flavors more than others, and at different times, I think my sense of taste is better than others, but I still haven't figured out what the deal is with my taste buds.

But I do feel like even though I may not always be able to give a name to those flavors and undertones, I can still pick a lot of them out and enjoy them....that's all I care about ultimately is the enjoyment anyway.