Types of Tobacco Pipes

Tobacco pipes are tools that have been used by smokers for many centuries. While the designs of various types of pipes might vary considerably, most pipes consist of a stem, mouthpiece and a bowl, which is where the tobacco is placed. There are many types of tobacco pipes, some of which are discussed below.

Briar Pipes

• Most modern tobacco pipes are made from briar. Briar wood is resistant to fire and can absorb moisture.

Meerschaum Pipes

• Meerschaum is a white mineral found mainly in central Turkey. The plasticity of meerschaum allows the pipes made from this medium to be carved into decorative shapes and figures. Meerschaum pipes were popular up until the nineteenth century, when briar wood became the chosen pipe material.

Clay Pipes

• Clay pipes are made from a very fine white clay that has been beaten, hand-rolled, molded and fired. Clay pipes burn "hot" compared to other types of tobacco pipes, and many pipe-smoking beginners find them difficult to use.

Calabash Pipes

• Calabash pipes are made from calabash gourds and typically have porcelain or meerschaum bowls inside. Calabash pipes are labor-intensive to produce and tend to be far more expensive than other types of tobacco pipes.

Corncob Pipes

• Corncob pipes are made from corn cobs that have been dried for two years and then hollowed out to make a bowl for the tobacco. The pipes are then lacquered or varnished on the outside. Corncob pipes are generally considered to be cheap and inelegant.

Hookah Pipes

• Hookah pipes originated in Middle Eastern cultures, where they were used to smoke a combination of tobacco and honey or molasses. Hookah pipes are water pipes that cool the tobacco smoke by filtering it through a chamber full of water.