Finding a Balance with VaPer/Straight Virginia Blends

[fishmansf]

Newbie here again with more VA/VaPer questions. VA/VaPers give me the worst tongue bite particularly on the true light and somewhat (rarely) through the bowl. I have experimented with a couple of methods that have been helpful but have two completely equal and opposite tradeoffs and could use veteran's advice on how to find the right balance:

1. Dry the tobacco out for several hours until it's dryer than SNL's comedy - This completely eliminates tongue bite for me throughout the entire bow no matter what my cadence is at the cost of losing a lot of flavor of the Virginias and Perique's (still a nice flavor but too mellow for me).
2. Take the flake straight out the jar, fold it, roll it, stuff it and smoke it - I get the most flavor out of smoking fresh-out-the-jar flake/coins at the cost of getting quite substantial tongue bite on the true light and occasionally down through the bowl.
2.5. Taking the flake out, rubbing it out and letting it dry for 15 minutes - I get great flavor out of this and it burns fantastically through the bowl but still get just as bad tongue bite as I do from 2. (I don't puff like a madman either, I have been intentional about being more slow with my cadence)

Its a tough trade off because of course, I care about my long term oral health and want to avoid tongue bite for that reason but simultaneously, I smoke for a reason, that reason being the damn flavor! What are your suggestions from your experiences pipe smoking? Thanks!

 

[sablebrush52]

Newbie here again with more VA/VaPer questions. VA/VaPers give me the worst tongue bite particularly on the true light and somewhat (rarely) through the bowl. I have experimented with a couple of methods that have been helpful but have two completely equal and opposite tradeoffs and could use veteran's advice on how to find the right balance:

1. Dry the tobacco out for several hours until it's dryer than SNL's comedy - This completely eliminates tongue bite for me throughout the entire bow no matter what my cadence is at the cost of losing a lot of flavor of the Virginias and Perique's (still a nice flavor but too mellow for me).
2. Take the flake straight out the jar, fold it, roll it, stuff it and smoke it - I get the most flavor out of smoking fresh-out-the-jar flake/coins at the cost of getting quite substantial tongue bite on the true light and occasionally down through the bowl.
2.5. Taking the flake out, rubbing it out and letting it dry for 15 minutes - I get great flavor out of this and it burns fantastically through the bowl but still get just as bad tongue bite as I do from 2. (I don't puff like a madman either, I have been intentional about being more slow with my cadence)

Its a tough trade off because of course, I care about my long term oral health and want to avoid tongue bite for that reason but simultaneously, I smoke for a reason, that reason being the damn flavor! What are your suggestions from your experiences pipe smoking? Thanks!

My experiences are that I get MORE flavors from Virginias when I dry them down than when they are overly moist, but the amount of drying varies depending on who makes the blend and in some cases straight from the tin works best. My advice is to experiment with each blend until you find its sweet spot.

If you are getting tongue bit, it may be your body chemistry, or it may be that you're pushing the blend and need to slow it down even more. I keep the blend simmering at the edge of going out. That's when I get the best result. Try snorking (retrohaling) to pick up more flavor nuances. Your schnoz picks out more flavors than you will get by mouth alone.

 

[captpat]

Some folks report never getting along with VA's, concur with the above to try a bit dryer and be careful with cadence.

 

[AJL67]

4.78. Use a filter pipe.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I have a sensitivity to Red Va. It causes, in some cases, slight discomfort. Other times not so much. I put up with it because I love the flavors I get from Virginias. Some manufacturers bite me worse than others.

This will ultimately come down to what works for you and can only be determined through trial, error and experimentation. I do find that drying my tobacco not only lessens the tongue bite, but also provides a greater range of flavors. How much drying, or how little, depends on you. As has been said, Virginias need to be smoked slowly.

I wish you good luck in your quest.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If you're producing clouds of visible smoke, your tongue is going to pay the price.

 

[vosBghos]

All great advice above, as it pertains to the char light maybe try a succession of very light quick puffs with even quicker exhales, remember you are not tasting the baccy only running through the mechanical motions of getting it charred then on the true light the same thing once actually lit, slow and steady sipping never puffing. As so many have said on the verge of going out with little smoke and it takes a while with each baccy to get to know its particular sweet spot.

 

[ADKPiper]

Some drying is needed for sure.
Personally I've found that I like Virginia forward blends better than pure Virginia blends. Mixing in some other components seems to tame the tongue bite substantially.
Stoving works good as well. I blended my own vaper and stoved some of it. The difference is apparent.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I prefer mine bone dry to get the most taste. However, even when you think you are smoking slow, you can always slow down more. Think small trickles of smoke, not clouds at all.

 

[bullet08]

Give it few years till your tongue toughens up like a shoe leather. I get most flavor right before the tobacco turns crisp. But with VA, turning crisp can work. As long as it's not bone dry. You have to time things, not just let the tobacco seat there and go "when!" and load them up. Flakes in my tobacco area takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to dry enough to be crisp. But ribbon cut blends only take 45 min. You gotta keep feeling it until you know when it's ready. Today will be rolled cakes, Kentucky, that takes about two hours of drying time. But I haven't smoked this blend in sometime, so I'll be pinching it starting after 1 hour of drying till it's ready. About every 15 min works.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Newbie here again with more VA/VaPer questions. VA/VaPers give me the worst tongue bite particularly on the true light and somewhat (rarely) through the bowl. I have experimented with a couple of methods that have been helpful but have two completely equal and opposite tradeoffs and could use veteran's advice on how to find the right balance:

Two things that helped me immensely: use matches or some other soft flame source, and keep your tongue out of the way when (re)lighting.

 

[shermnatman]

From what I have been told, Red Virginia - having the lessor sugar level - bites significantly less than Bright Virginia.

If so, I would focus on blends of Red VA; or, adding additional Red VA to those blends which feature both VA types, in an attempt to reduce the bite-factor of a VA blend.

Both C&D, as well as Sutliff both offer straight Red VA Ribbons for blending purposes. It might be worth your while to investigate those strategies. - Sherm Natman

 

[rmbittner]

Newbie here again with more VA/VaPer questions. VA/VaPers give me the worst tongue bite particularly on the true light and somewhat (rarely) through the bowl. I have experimented with a couple of methods that have been helpful but have two completely equal and opposite tradeoffs and could use veteran's advice on how to find the right balance:

If you’re only experiencing this with VaPers, it may not be “tongue bite” at all; you may have a perique sensitivity.

I’m very sensitive to perique and can only smoke it in the smallest of doses without discomfort. Otherwise, it feels like needles piercing my tongue.

 

[kcghost]

For some reason I really dislike straight Virginias but absolutely love VaPers. Take them out of the tin, let them for 20-30 minutes and stuff them into the pipe. Heaven.

 

[mingc]

Move on. There's no rule that says you have to smoke Va/VaPers. Find blends that don't bite you. Try burley and/or latakia mixes.

 

[sparker69]

What blend are you smoking in particular? It could be something specifically related to that blend as well. I agree with the above - I would keep an eye on the cadence - if you're puffing too quickly, Virginia can get really hot - not good for your pipe either.

 

[fishmansf]

This could very well be it

If you’re only experiencing this with VaPers, it may not be “tongue bite” at all; you may have a perique sensitivity.

I’m very sensitive to perique and can only smoke it in the smallest of doses without discomfort. Otherwise, it feels like needles piercing my tongue.

 

[BarrelProof]

One of the best smokes I ever got was when I forgot about a Cringle Flake 2020 flake that I’d sat out until the next afternoon. It was literally crunchy but I figured what the hell. That was an enlightening smoke.

I say dry it beyond what seems reasonable and see what happens. Also, the recommendation for a filter could solve your issue, too.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I prefer mine bone dry to get the most taste. However, even when you think you are smoking slow, you can always slow down more. Think small trickles of smoke, not clouds at all.

While I agree with this entirely, I wanted to add that your climate may influence the tobacco. Those who live down south could leave tobacco out for days in the winter and have a decent humidity, and summer may make it more moist. In the north, Winter is dry dry dry, and summer can be humid. Treat accordingly.

Moist - makes me giggle

 

[jndyer]

As most, if not all, of us know, there are just some blends that will not work for a particular smoker. I really love the flavor of Viprati; however, this particular blend just cause my mouth to wilt with pain.