Burley was the first tobacco I really enjoyed in a pipe. At first I couldn't smoke VAs without getting tongue bite. About 6 months in, I adjusted my technique and started to enjoy VAs and orientals much much more. I also learned how to smoke aros and actually taste them by sipping nice and slow. I picked up several balkan and english blends and didn't touch burley for a week or so. When I decided to come back to my old friend burley I noticed it gave me a pretty rough catch in my throat. I didn't think much of it but the next morning I had a really bad ear ache. I laid off the pipe for a couple days and it went away, but ever since that day, whenever I smoke a blend with burley my ears hurt and they pop when I swallow. I'm not sure if I developed some kind of allergic reaction or if I just pull a lot harder for flavor now that I've taken to smoking other tobaccos. VAs give their tongue tickling warning before they bite and Lat blends(without burley) don't seem to bother me at all. If I only smoke 1 bowl with burley per day, I just feel a twinge of irritation, but if I double up or smoke a straight burley blend my ears ache for a day or two. I guess I should just avoid burley, but I like the taste, and I have quite a few burley containing blends in the cellar. I really miss SWR, LLRR, Murray's Belfast, and John Bull. Interestingly, Kentucky dark fired and the African burleys used by SG/G&H don't seem to affect me as much. If I smoke several bowls of those back to back I will feel the tingle, but no where near as much as from common American burleys. Has anyone else noticed anything like this? Could it be the casings/toppings used on white or light burleys?