Why add varnish to the tip of your clay pipe?

The main reason is aesthetic. Adding color to the tip of a white clay pipe will enhance the look of the pipe. Pipe smokers will also choose to add a clear or color varnish to the tip of the clay pipe in order to eliminate any taste of clay and/or to avoid the possibility of the clay sticking to the smoker's lip. In our experience, there is generally minimal sticking with clay especially if the tip is licked prior to smoking, but it is something to consider when purchasing a clay pipe. You may notice that some pipes already sport a color on the tip, or a terracotta tip. We do not recommend applying another color to these, but a clear varnish will work fine. Black clay pipes do not generally stick to the lips. The post-kiln process that turns the clay black seems to eliminate the tendency for the pipe to stick to the lip. If you want to add a varnish to the black clay pipes, we again recommend a clear varnish, however the choice is yours.