How To Snork / Retrohale

Originally Posted by akumushi

Also, one thing I find myself forgetting to do when the nose exhale is really good on a cigar, is to swish the smoke a little and blow out with just my mouth on occasion in order to concentrate on the taste/mouthfeel. I find that alot of NCs fair better with this treatment, while CCs are richer in the nose.

Yes definitly. Eventual saturation of the whole entire mouth cavity and nose is my ultimate goal. The whole interplay between the smoke mixing with fresh air as it sweeps the plate is the idea I try to concentrate on. Nothing better than just getting that whole mouth full, leaning back in the garden/pool chair, letting a good thick portion of freshly drawn smoke drift towards the heavens then ferme la bouche and snork the rest.

[issues]

Nice video for sure!

This was the video that taught me how to retrohale. I do it with every cigar and it really depends on the stick when it comes to how much smoke I blow through my nose. Some of them are too harsh to push more than 5-10% of the smoke from any given puff through the sinuses but there are sticks you can do it on every puff with a full mouth of smoke.

The only NC I can think of off the top of my head right now is the OR El Triunfador. Every other stick I can think of are CCs which, from my limited experience, seem to be much smoother than NCs.

[kenstogie]

Would you not get some of the aroma in your nose by just being around the smoke?

[akumushi]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

Would you not get some of the aroma in your nose by just being around the smoke?

A little, but not the same as when you snork. The sensation is actually pretty deep in your sinus because you're pushing smoke up the back of your throat and into your sinus (think shooting milk out your nose when you laugh while drinking). Because the smoke is less dilute than when you're sniffing it out of the air, and because it is hitting the sense receptors directly rather than going in through the nose first, you get a much more nuanced aroma when snorking.

[montecristo#2]

OK - I watched that 5 minute video and while is explained the process, it didn't give me any advice on how to actually do it.

I figure this is like riding a bike, once you figure it out you can do it again. My wife used to smoke cigarettes, so it is easy for her.

I try this every time I smoke a cigar and nothing. Anyone have some real advice?

[akumushi]

Originally Posted by montecristo#2

OK - I watched that 5 minute video and while is explained the process, it didn't give me any advice on how to actually do it.

I figure this is like riding a bike, once you figure it out you can do it again. My wife used to smoke cigarettes, so it is easy for her.

I try this every time I smoke a cigar and nothing. Anyone have some real advice?

For starters, while you're reading this, try snorting air out of your nose like a bull, your nose should crinkle up and your nostrils will pinch up a bit. Once you have that feeling, blow some air into your mouth so that your cheeks puff out (think Louis Armstrong) then keep your lips sealed and snort out of your nose while deflating your cheeks like emptying a bellows. The only place for the air to go is out up and out your sinus. Try it a few times until it's a smooth motion. Now, forget all of that crap, go light up a mild cigar and experiment with that feeling until you get it right. The first time you get some through, you'll feel a burst of spice in your nasal cavity. I tend to blow half of the smoke out before closing my mouth and snorting the remainder through my nose as it's too much to do 100% like the guy in the video. The trick is pinching your nose muscles to open up the airway, using your mouth to force the smoke through, and breathing some air out (exhale) at the same time, which will push the smoke through and dilute it a bit so it doesn't fry your sinus tissue.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by montecristo#2

I try this every time I smoke a cigar and nothing. Anyone have some real advice?

Swallow. Remember the action of your tongue. When you smoke, do the same action but without swallowing. Like you are tasting food and chewing food or gum. I retrohale much like I am chewing food or gum and the smoke will leave through the nose.

Doing this will burn in the beginning but the more you do it, you get used to the burn and will not bother you anymore. I couldn't imagine smoking a cigar without doing it. It's pretty much involuntary at this point. I don't think about doing it, it just happens.

Most of your taste is in the olfactory system. If you don't do it, you are simply missing out on alot of flavors.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Most of your taste is in the olfactory system. If you don't do it, you are simply missing out on alot of flavors.

I agree with the first part, but the second part about snorking isn't absolutely needed to gain these flavors. Take for example wine tasting. Would one try to shoot wine through their nose retronasally? There is also the research showing how orthonasal plays a large factor as well. I say another method if one can't 'retrohale' is to gain more mental connections to flavors. If that is your goal, more flavor.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by wayner123

I agree with the first part, but the second part about snorking isn't absolutely needed to gain these flavors. Take for example wine tasting. Would one try to shoot wine through their nose retronasally? There is also the research showing how orthonasal plays a large factor as well. I say another method if one can't 'retrohale' is to gain more mental connections to flavors. If that is your goal, more flavor.

The smell of the wine is a part of what you taste, as is food. The tongue can only taste sweet, sour, salt and bitter. If you could not smell, you could not taste much.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

The smell of the wine is a part of what you taste, as is food. The tongue can only taste sweet, sour, salt and bitter. If you could not smell, you could not taste much.

I agree with your statement. But you don't HAVE to snork/retrohale to get these "other" flavors was my point.

BTW, that tongue taste map has been proven wrong:

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/sourtaste.asp

[CigarNut]

I tried snorking this afternoon (tried it before, but took in too much smoke) and I decided that it takes a lot of practice (practice that I am more than willing to do )

[bobarian]

I am sure it was said somewhere in this thread, but much of the burn comes from the prigin of you cigar. Cuban and Dominicans will less harsh on your nose than Nicaraguan or Honduran.

[Byaah]

Originally Posted by rgrecco

I found this video... I don't know if its anyone on this site or not but it was informitive...

I have never heard of this, but it makes perfect sense. I am going to try that tonight. Thank you for the advice!!!