Frustration !!!!

[changojoe]

Ahhhhh!!!! i am so frustrated with tongue bite!!!! everything was going well but then i ventured in to trying different blends and my tongue got baked!!! ever since that happen its not the same, my tongue es sensitive and i have to take long breaks for it to recover !!!!oh well, hope to here from some of you're experiences.

 

[searock]

Hi changojoe; I wrote this for another forum but I think you might find it of use.
Smoking slowly to avoid tongue bite is good advice. However, the problem can be caused by other factors. Some tobaccos just naturally are high in acid and other things that will bite the tongue. Also, the pipe can make a huge difference. You can take the same tobacco and smoke it in two differnt pipes and the difference in the results can be like night and day. One might smoke cool and nice and the other can be nasty and bite like a bulldog.
* * *
Some tobacco, and Virginas are famous for this, are just hard to light and bite. The up side is that when you once get them lit they sometimes stay lit and burn slow... not always, it depends on the blend. Try some other blends or you might mix some of the Virginia with another blend. As to packing, there is an old saying. First pack it with the hand of a child, then with the hand of a woman, then with the hand of a man. In other words, firmer as you fill her up. Try to eliminate any air pockets. Also, you might try filling the pipe only 3/4 full. That way the walls of the bowl will make a chimney you can draw the flame down into. Light the tobacco around the edges of the bowl, the center will take care of itself. After the tobacco glows tamp it lightly and re-light. Do this a couple of times if you have to till it will stay lit. Having to re-light now and then is a part of pipe smoking. Afterall, you're trying to get a fire to burn downward when it wants to burn upward. Remember, any moron can light a cigarette and turn it into ash, but it takes some skill to smoke a pipe! Patience is what is required. Stick with it, you'll get the hang...

 

[spacecowboy57]

use a churchwarden, or another longer pipe. i enjoy CBW and the only problem i have had with that blend is the bite. I now use a clay tavern pipe that is longer than any of the briars i own, and it eliminated all tongue bite.
also pack it a bit tighter, perhaps you have left some looser parts in your bowl which can burn hotter.
best of luck

 

[igloo]

To me Virginia and Oriental has always been the better of the baccys vs Burly . In quality anyway with thier high content of natural sugars and natural aromatics . But the Burley is easier to grow so it gets treated up and sold cheaply with a myriad of toppings and flavorings . Then the PH factor comes into play . Virginia and Oriental tobacco belong to the same type, Virginia has a pH value of about 4.5 but can go as low as 3.0 . Burley has a pH of about 7. This makes Burley more neutral . Burley has a larger cell structure that readily accepts added sugars and humectants and without them can be quite bland . Saliva normally varies in pH balance between 6.2 to 7.4, with higher pH levels often seen during increased secretion of saliva, for instance, when smelling food or for that matter smoking . If you can drink OJ and sodas without getting heartburn you can smoke Virginia blends .If you can not , try smoking some good natural burley blends and see what works for you . I for one do not much care for drug store brands as the humecants and bother me .

 

[fred]

The most common culprit of 'bite' is chemical, which is something that I've heard

for many years and believe. For me, there are popular blends that are a blowtorch

for me, despite widespread lack of my experiences. Another cause is moisture content

of the blend, as a high moisture content produces steam. Frequently, 'bite'

occurs when a blend is smoked quickly and the smoke doesn't have a chance to cool

before reaching the button of the bit. A common source can also be a Pipe that

hasn't been given enough time to rest, resulting in the Pipe being overloaded with

moisture. Many discover that slow smoking blends in a clean, well rested Pipe

in concert with skilled packing and tamping decreases the incidence of 'bite.'

When I smoke a new-to-me blend that bites, I'll try drying it out, smoke it in different Pipes

and let it sit for awhile to allow the components to marry. If I cannot find the key to enjoying the blend,

then I'll accept that it's just not for me.

 

[searock]

I couldn't agree more with all you guys said! Another trick I use with a harsh blend is smoke it in my calabash. That pipe seems to soften any tobacco.

 

[ernest]

Fred said>>> "Another cause is moisture content

of the blend, as a high moisture content produces steam."......I agree with Fred on this point especially.

 

[colonelmcmuf]

that reminds me of the time I smoked two ounces of tobacco in a night. I was a bit drunk and just kept switching out between pipes. I couldn't taste anything for about two weeks. Freaked me out. Since then I've always been very mindful of smoking slowly.

 

[python]

Lots of good advice in this thread so far. As everyone has already said; there are a lot of different factors that can cause tongue bite. A lot of the time, tongue bite is caused by packing technique.
Once you feel that a you are starting to get bit, slow down your smoking cadence. Sometime this works and sometimes it doesn't.
Since a lot of them have already been touched on (there are many more) I will give you few tips on how to relieve some of the discomfort of tongue bite.
Until you figure out what is causing the tongue bite, try rinsing your mouth with one of these solutions to relieve some of the discomfort.
Warm Salt Water Solution

50/50 Water and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Biotene Mouthwash
You can also try drinking a Warm (not hot) cup of tea while smoking your pipe.

 

[fred]

Biotene is the best help a fried mouth can get.

 

[buck67]

I sometimes drink iced sweet tea while smoking my pipe. That seems to help a little bit.

 

[searock]

Iffen it git 2 bad tri hard licker.

 

[colonelmcmuf]

I drink something carbonated after a good smoke to let me know what parts of my mouth are getting close. It helps to let me know when to take a break.

 

[fred]

Yes, I agree with you Buck67. Keeping a beverage handy while smoking

is a good idea, and so obvious that we have ignored mentioning it. For me,

cold spring water, ice tea and coffee are good choices, A dry mouth can

be a big factor not being able to enjoy the smoke due to 'bite.'

 

[changojoe]

AWESOME ADVISE !!!! thanks guys appreciate all the valuable info. put together, it really helps.

 

[bubbadreier]

Is it weird that I like to drink a big ice cold glass of milk while I smoke? I love the flavor of the milk and tobacco together, it also helps cut down on the tongue bite! My wife thinks I am nuts though...

 

[doclinn]

I appreciate this thread! After being away from my pipes for years, I recently got back into them (my wife says “addicted”). I just bought some of P&C “Match My Mixture 965” and for the first time ever learned what Tongue Bite is - more like whole mouth Bite. No fun!! I’m NOT sure that it’s the blend. But I’ve gotta get some relief. Afraid that I have to give up the hobby and my new rescued estate pipes. No fun!

 

[thesmokindragon]

Here is a great link ( https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/advanced-pipe-smoking-techniques-have-you-learned-everything )
I have found a few things that will help to avoid "The Bite" - When I started almost 10 years ago, coming from 20+ years of cigar smoking I have learned a great deal from the wonderful folks here at PM. I made a great deal of mistakes when I started out ; smoking WAY to fast and smoking the tobacco too wet is a sure fire way to burn the crap out of your mouth. The entire process of tobacco pipe smoking IMHO is to "Slow everything down", take your time, enjoy the process which then will automatically translate into you enjoying the smoke and tobacco. Some of us have smoked for years before really appreciating the blends or the experience. It took me over a year to get the process down - now I can prep/pack and smoke without really thinking about it, but one thing is certain after all the work...I have a great experience about 99% of the time.
1. Enough air time on the tobacco - Aromatics are tough because most of them are loaded with PG ( Propylene glycol ) and they are very wet - so a combination of smoking too fast and wet tobacco equals steam and the steam is going to burn your mouth up real good.
2. Breath Smoking will slow you down and help the efforts to really enjoying your smoke
3. Prep and packing the tobacco correctly - this takes time and practice

 

[npod]

I do believe that dry tobacco vs very moist tobacco does minimize tongue bite. Many other variables, but that one does ring true.

 

[coyja]

Savinelli balsa wood filters.

They do wonders for reducing moisture.