What is rertonasal smoking?

Retronasal smoking, also known as retrohale, can greatly enhance the enjoyment of a cigar. However, many cigar lovers have never heard of it. In this article, you'll learn what it's all about and how to get the most out of your cigar.

How does the sense of taste work?

The tongue is able to perceive the basic tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. The latter refers to the spicy or savory taste. But the sense of smell plays an equally important role in enjoying cigars.

The olfactory bulbs in the nose are equipped with olfactory nerves that are responsible for the perception of odors. When you emit smoke through your nose while smoking, you stimulate these olfactory nerves and perceive more flavor. The art of retronasal smoking stimulates aroma perception.

4 facts: Retronasal smoking

In the nose at the very top, the olfactory bulbs are located on the left and right. The olfactory bulbs are equipped with nerves of smell. It is these olfactory nerves that considerably increase the enjoyment for us cigar connoisseurs - if only we knew how to stimulate these olfactory nerves. The art of retronasal smoking takes some practice.

There are four facts that explain why retronasal smoking can improve the taste of cigars.

First, the sense of smell influences all other taste sensations.

Second, chewing food releases volatile aroma compounds that enter the nose through the throat.

Third, spicy foods like whiskey or wasabi tickle and irritate the nose.

Fourth, retronasal smoking cools the smoke in the oral cavity and blows it slowly through the nose, which optimally stimulates the olfactory nerves.

4 Retronasal Types. Which one are you?

There are four types of retronasal smokers. The first type immediately blows the entire smoke through the nose with great force, which can lead to an uncomfortable feeling of heat and tears in the eyes. The second type first allows the smoke to cool in the oral cavity and then blows the rest through the nose. This method is more pleasant and results in a better taste experience. The other two types are a mixture of the first two. The art of retronasal smoking takes practice, but it brings more richness of flavors when enjoying a cigar.

Retronasal type 4: R+ technique: I did not invent this technique. Roli, a reader of Zigarren.Zone, has been visiting Cuba several times a year for decades. One day he saw a tobacco farmer "sucking" on his cigar. The tobacco farmer explained the technique to him. This is the consummate enjoyment of a cigar. Hard to describe. I'll try. Here's an example: a baby sucking on a pacifier. Try this technique with a cigar. Very little smoke enters the mouth. But this passes over the tongue and goes right through the nose. I tried it on about 10 cigars before I mastered it. Please be very careful with this technique when practicing: the smoke got to the back of my larynx several times when I did this. It was really bad. But now that I can do it, it's an accomplished technique for enjoying a cigar.

The art of retronasal smoking takes patience until you can do it.

How to rate cigars professionally: The Tasting Tool

Here you can download the tool

Resources on the topic

Restronasal aroma perception, Wikipedia article.

Do you have any questions? Contact me, I will be happy to answer your questions

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~ Vasilij Ratej