I've been smoking some red virginia and was wondering if it burns hotter than other tobaccos? My bowl heats pretty hot when I smoke it and I smoke it the same way I smoke other tobaccos: slow.
Do Virginias Burn Hotter?
- Thread starter The Libertine
- Start date
That happens to me too. I have learned to combat this slightly by drying them a little bit extra, verging on crispy. Some oppose this strategy, but I've found it to make a bit of a difference.
As with anything on here though, YMMV.
As with anything on here though, YMMV.
I'll try that and get back to you on it. I love the taste of red virginia but the damn heat makes me worry about my bowl.
A legitimate concern, for sure. It's certainly worth a try. Love a good VA myself, and the extra dry time isn't really a problem for me, since I dry everything more than most folks do. But VAs get the most drying of them all, even more than I give some aromatics. Otherwise, it's a sopping wet blast of heat, no matter how light I pack or how slowly I sip.
Well, virginias do burn a bit hotter by themselves; I automatically adjust to very slow and gentle. Never worry about moisture level, although too dry sucks a lot of the flavour out. Reds seem to have something extra going on in terms of palate effects, but I've not particularly noticed hotter bowls other than occasionally, so I put the pipe down for a minute or two if that happens.
Virginia’s do burn hotter, especially the reds. They also burn nicely when smoked slow, which enhances the flavor as well.
I find both VA and Orientals are best when a tad dry and barely smoldering.
The alkaline PH Balance of Virginias is the problem. If Red VAs bother a particular person, then something in the process of creating Reds, the curing/aging, stoving, etc., is possibly exasperating the situation.
I have smoked Red VAs that were more robust/stout in character, and others soft and delicate.
Watch City Cigar - Rouxgaroux is a VaPer with Reds that tend to have a more stout profile, as well as Ken Byron Ventures many Red VA blends he makes, especially in the fashion of his Verge Engine Overdrive.
Now take C&D Carolina Red Flake, this is a fine example of a softer Red VA.
I don’t think we can categorize all Red VAs the same way, as it depends on how they were processed as Virginias into Red VAs.
Not sure if you saw/read it, I found a wealth of information online in regards to bite. It’s the last post on this link;
Any Advice? Killer Tongue Bite :: Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions
Roll up your driver's window but leave a just crack for ventilation. If you're filling up the cabin with smoke you're puffing too fast anyway but the draft from highway driving can be like a supercharger for a pipe
pipesmagazine.com
They don't fry my tongue, more make my mouth water like an Opal Fruit. This is the component of Cabbies that does that for me, delicious!
If I’m smelling a tin of something nice, and also food like, I certainly get a Pavlov salivation response.
Not sure if this is what’s happening to you, by the tastes and smells when smoking.
I’ve personally never read anyone else here having their mouth water from smoking.
Are you talking about the candy Opal Fruits?
Opal Fruits (History, FAQ, Flavors & Commercials) - Snack History
Many people are not aware that Opal Fruits is the original name for a much more familiar candy, Starburst. Many people also do not know that this candy was
www.snackhistory.com
Looks like it made a limited release come back too.
Iconic Opal Fruits return to British shelves for the final time
Alright, I slowed my cadence lower than my usual and dried it for about 30 minutes. The smoke took an hour and a half but no hot bowl. Thanks for all the advice.
Time is something that shouldn’t always be Equated with Pipe Smoking.
Hell if I wrote the Rule Book, I’d say Time has nothing to do with pipe smoking. LOL
Keeping a pipe lit, and how long a particular size lasts, is a common thought amongst pipe smokers, and there are certainly many reasons as to why…
Clenching while working, wanting to smoke and work with both hands free. Only a short period of time and want a quick smoke. Don’t enjoy letting the tobacco go out and constantly relighting, as if this is a hassle unto itself, or those that smoke a pipe for nicotine and nothing else, and the list goes on.
No matter what, we should simply enjoy our pipes and not allow ourselves to be restrained by time, or put time limits on the pipe. I believe many of us feel, this takes away a big reason why many people smoke pipes in the first place, to escape these types of restraints in life.
I also strongly believe if people experience various irritations and sensitivity while smoking, the last thing you want to be concerned with is keeping a pipe lit.
One last thing, I wonder how many new/newer pipe smokers think that smoking a pipe is like a cigar, that if you constantly relight it and smoke it over a longer period of time, instead of in one go, the tobacco turns bad.
The beauty about pipe tobacco, is you can smoke one bowl an entire day, or even let it sit overnight and smoke it the following day. Of course some blends do better with this then others, but some blends also take on something akin to a marination process and can become richer with time.
Forget about keeping pipes lit and how long it lasts, just smoke however you enjoy.
But for those that always strive to keep a pipe lit, I give you a challenge.
Next time, if you have a very complex blend, barely light it to take a few small sips, doing like a wine taster, tasting around for flavors, then let the pipe cool down and relight over, and repeat again.
See now, how that complex blends tastes, compared to always keeping it lit.
I can tell you there are subtle complex blends, if you try to go to fast or keep them lit, you barely taste anything, or they taste like ash, and you have to smoke them this way.
To much constant fire and heat destroy complexity.
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I was just surprised it took me that long to smoke a pipe. I'm usually an hour guy no matter the tobacco. I don't let my pipes go out simply for the fact I can smoke all day long due to working from my own apartment. People seem to take therapy more seriously if they talk to a overweight balding guy smoking a pipe lolTime is something that shouldn’t always be Equated with Pipe Smoking.
Hell if I wrote the Rule Book, I’d say Time has nothing to do with pipe smoking. LOL
Keeping a pipe lit, and how long a particular size lasts, is a common thought amongst pipe smokers, and there are certainly many reasons as to why…
Clenching while working, wanting to smoke and work with both hands free. Only a short period of time and want a quick smoke. Don’t enjoy letting the tobacco go out and constantly relighting, as if this is a hassle unto itself, and the list goes on.
No matter what, we should simply enjoy our pipes and not allow ourselves to be restrained by time, or put time limits on the pipe. I believe many of us feel, this takes away a big reason why many people smoke pipes in the first place, to escape these type of restraints in life.
I also strongly believe if people experience various irritations and sensitivity while smoking, the last thing you want to be concerned with is keeping a pipe lit.
One last thing, I wonder how many new/newer pipe smokers think that smoking a pipe is like a cigar, that if you constantly relight it and smoke it over a longer period of time, instead of in one go, the tobacco turns bad.
The beauty about pipe tobacco, is you can smoke one bowl an entire day, or even let it sit overnight and smoke it the following day. Of course some blends do better with this then others, but some blends also take on something akin to a marination process and can become richer with time.
Forget about keeping pipes lit and how long it lasts, just smoke however you enjoy.
But for those that always strive to keep a pipe lit, I give you a challenge.
Next time, if you have a very complex blend, barely light it to take a few small sips, doing like a wine taster, tasting around for flavors, then let the pipe cool down and relight over, and repeat again.
See now, how that complex blends tastes, compared to always keeping it lit.
I can tell you there are subtle complex blends, if you try to go to fast or keep them lit, you barely taste anything, or they taste like ash, and you have to smoke them this way.
To much constant fire and heat destroy complexity.
You actually smoke a hell of a lot faster than me. If am smoking quicker on a chamber that’s around 45mm high, my quicker smoke would be 4 hours. My average smoke time on this pipe would be 6 hours, and many times I smoke one bowl all day. Or if I light up in the evening, I might only finish half, and leave the pipe overnight and finish it the next day.
If you are smoking an average size pipe, I’d assume your taking puffs every few minutes to keep it lit.
For me personally, with pipes and cigars, I’ll take anywhere from 2-5 puffs, every 15-30 minutes.
I also love cigars, but I smoke them extremely slow too. A Robusto size, I’ll smoke it for 3-4 days, granted I am not smoking very expensive ones, but still on average $8-$15 dollar cigars I smoke like this.
I personally don’t enjoy constant smoke in my mouth every few minutes. My mouth either gets irritated or it’s just not enjoyable.
To me, it’s also like constantly shoveling food down my mouth every minute. I am sure we have also experienced, when we have stuffed ourselves with to much food, just looking at food or the thought of food makes us sick. It’s like this too for me, constant smoke can either become sickening, or I’m getting burned out and need a break.
SO, I’m a Slow Ass Smoker! LOL
Oh yeah, you are really slow. I'll down a double corona in 4-5 hours. My pipes are all 1.5 inches deep so pretty average.You actually smoke a hell of a lot faster than me. If am smoking quicker on a chamber that’s around 45mm high, my quicker smoke would be 4 hours. My average smoke time on this pipe would be 6 hours, and many times I smoke one bowl all day. Or if I light up in the evening, I might only finish half, and leave the pipe overnight and finish it the next day.
If you are smoking an average size pipe, I’d assume your taking puffs every few minutes to keep it lit.
For me personally, with pipes and cigars, I’ll take anywhere from 2-5 puffs, every 15-30 minutes.
I also love cigars, but I smoke them extremely slow too. A Robusto size, I’ll smoke it for 3-4 days, granted I am not smoking very expensive ones, but still on average $8-$15 dollar cigars I smoke like this.
I personally don’t enjoy constant smoke in my mouth every few minutes. My mouth either gets irritated or it’s just not enjoyable.
To me, it’s also like constantly shoveling food down my mouth every minute. I am sure we have also experienced, when we have stuffed ourselves with to much food, just looking at food or the thought of food makes us sick. It’s like this too for me, constant smoke can either become sickening, or I’m getting burned out and need a break.
SO, I’m a Slow Ass Smoker! LOL
Oh, I forgot to mention, a lot of the blends I’m smoking are also expensive, like JF Germain & Son blends.
So several great reasons too why I don’t burn through these quickly, the costs, and then trying to replace these when running out.
I just got these in my last TAD the other week.
You can be damm sured, that my ass will even go slower with these. So flipping slow, I will have these 2 bags and 2 tins for several years to come. LOL
Actually I was planning to sit on them for a few years before opening, to age, also that will hopefully allow me to stock up for the next drop.
Oh, my mouth is also bloody picky, I am extremely particular on what I like smoke, so it really limits me, and another reason, when I finally find something, most of the time it’s what everyone else likes/wants, and always trying to replace these blends is like a job unto itself. If you understand the Unicorn World, you get what I mean about the scarcity of these blends.
I’m not a Budweiser kinda guy, I’m Micro Brew Boutique all the way! LOL
P.S. I forgot the Pic, so if you see this post before the pic refresh till you do…
So several great reasons too why I don’t burn through these quickly, the costs, and then trying to replace these when running out.
I just got these in my last TAD the other week.
You can be damm sured, that my ass will even go slower with these. So flipping slow, I will have these 2 bags and 2 tins for several years to come. LOL
Actually I was planning to sit on them for a few years before opening, to age, also that will hopefully allow me to stock up for the next drop.Oh, my mouth is also bloody picky, I am extremely particular on what I like smoke, so it really limits me, and another reason, when I finally find something, most of the time it’s what everyone else likes/wants, and always trying to replace these blends is like a job unto itself. If you understand the Unicorn World, you get what I mean about the scarcity of these blends.
I’m not a Budweiser kinda guy, I’m Micro Brew Boutique all the way! LOL
P.S. I forgot the Pic, so if you see this post before the pic refresh till you do…
Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course VA burns hot.
Yeah I'm a bulk tobacco guy. I try everything. My palate is expansive with tobacco but my taste for food is in your forte. It must be the French in me liking haute cuisine.Oh, I forgot to mention, a lot of the blends I’m smoking are also expensive, like JF Germain & Son blends.
So several great reasons too why I don’t burn through these quickly, the costs, and then trying to replace these when running out.
I just got these in my last TAD the other week.
View attachment 343473
You can be damm sured, that my ass will even go slower with these. So flipping slow, I will have these 2 bags and 2 tins for several years to come. LOL
Oh, my mouth is also bloody picky, I am extremely particular on what I like smoke, so it really limits me, and another reason, when I finally find something, most of the time it’s what everyone else likes/wants, and always trying to replace these blends is like a job unto itself. If you understand the Unicorn World, you get what I mean about the scarcity of these blends.
I’m not a Budweiser kinda guy, I’m Micro Brew Boutique all the way! LOL
P.S. I forgot the Pic, so if you see this post before the pic refresh till you do…
Oh I love to always buy and try something new. I’m always sampling new blends.
4 years coming back to pipes, there’s only a few blends I’ve purchased over.
90%-95% of all my smoking has been trying new blends all the time for the past 4 years.
Now, as I stated, I’m a slow ass smoker, so one blend, I might have it smoking for a year, which makes it seem like I’m always smoking the same thing when I’m not, just something I reach for on occasion.
I’m smoking 2021 Tilbury at the moment I started on last night, still only a quarter way through, and I’ve only smoked half of the tin in 2 years.
4 years coming back to pipes, there’s only a few blends I’ve purchased over.
90%-95% of all my smoking has been trying new blends all the time for the past 4 years.
Now, as I stated, I’m a slow ass smoker, so one blend, I might have it smoking for a year, which makes it seem like I’m always smoking the same thing when I’m not, just something I reach for on occasion.
I’m smoking 2021 Tilbury at the moment I started on last night, still only a quarter way through, and I’ve only smoked half of the tin in 2 years.
I believe Virginias burn hotter. Not so hot though you should see your bowl get hot. They're so tasty, hard to smoke slow. No matter how slow you think you're smoking a Virginia, smoke slower. Sip it like a fine bourbon.