I've been getting into straight lighter Va recently and liking it, but it seems to me that I can smoke a blend like 2-3 times and have great experience and smoke another bowl after and it sucks and taste like ash. I really like HU sunset and Brigham Klondike gold so I bought a couple of tins since I really enjoy the few bowls I had of each blend. Smoked a bowl of Sunset yesterday afternoon and I did not get any sweetness or good flavors I had before. I used the same pipe, same packing technique. Is it just my smoking technique maybe?
Getting into straight Virginias
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Vink, I too have the same issues as you. Taste from one time to another is very different. I agree with ashdigger that VA/VA-PER really do require a slow smoking cadence. I’m just learning how to smoke straight VA so I caulk it up to inexperience, much like my first girlfriend.
Besides cadence, for me I find there are a lot of external factors that affect the way I smoke Virginia's or Va/pers. I find what I was eating or drinking prior to smoking will affect my taste buds. Hydration, wind(outside only smoker), accompanying beverage, can attribute to the experience.
I've been primarily a burley smoker since I started smoking a pipe in 1967. For the past year I've been trying to get into straight Virginias myself. What I've found is it's all about cadence. I keep the amber almost to the point of going out. It has helped me with the taste and reduced my tongue bite greatly. I don't think I'll ever give up being a primarily burley smoker, but at least I have a diversion that I can enjoy.
I know it's hyped up beyond belief but my hands down favorite VA is FVF. I don't know why I bother with any other VA blends.
Hawky, I agree on FVF. It take a little patience to figure it out but it's auto pilot after that.
My favorites would have to be Newminster Superior Navy Flake and Aylesbury Luxury Flake. I also find that tall narrow bowls are a plus with Virginias.
I've been experiencing the same thing. One day a blend is just sublime and loaded with flavor and the next day it's a hot mess that just tastes of ash.
To get the most out of Va's I think I need to be completely focused on cadence and smoking slow, which is great because it leads to some awesome smokes. It's when I'm distracted or rushing to finish a bowl that the taste goes sideways.
To get the most out of Va's I think I need to be completely focused on cadence and smoking slow, which is great because it leads to some awesome smokes. It's when I'm distracted or rushing to finish a bowl that the taste goes sideways.
You got that right! In all honesty it took me about 7 years to figure it out. Lol. 'Twas worth the time and effort!
What I find funny is that the 2-3 times I really enjoyed HU Sunset or Klondike is when I went outside to take a couple of puff for like 15 minutes while I was working (working from home now). So I lit the pipe quickly and puff kind of fast. Went back to it for another 15 minutes break a couple hours later. Both session were great. The only moment it was bad is when I took my time on the weekend to really sit back and enjoy the moment 
I guess that's life. Same kind of thing with Vaper for me. I had a sublime experience with Deluxe navy rolls once and it never happened again!
I guess that's life. Same kind of thing with Vaper for me. I had a sublime experience with Deluxe navy rolls once and it never happened again!
These are a few tips and techniques that have helped me get the most out of VA's:
1-Use wooden matches
2-Breath smoke *
3-Use a clean, stink-free, untainted pipe (lat, aro's and even burley can overwrite va blends easily)
4-Char, light, set aside for a few minutes, then light again and smoke
5-Drink something neutral
6-Contemplate the winders of the universe and your place within it, optional.
So, breath smoking..this is a big one..
How to do it: the simplest explanation I've found comes from Russ O who credited Neil Roann who learned it from XXX and so on, ad infinitum...
Put the pipe in your mouth, breath in through your nose, take the pipe out and blow the smoke out. That's it.
Don't chuff on the pipe, don't puff, just take a normal regular breath through your nose. A surprising volume of smoke will result.
1-Use wooden matches
2-Breath smoke *
3-Use a clean, stink-free, untainted pipe (lat, aro's and even burley can overwrite va blends easily)
4-Char, light, set aside for a few minutes, then light again and smoke
5-Drink something neutral
6-Contemplate the winders of the universe and your place within it, optional.
So, breath smoking..this is a big one..
How to do it: the simplest explanation I've found comes from Russ O who credited Neil Roann who learned it from XXX and so on, ad infinitum...
Put the pipe in your mouth, breath in through your nose, take the pipe out and blow the smoke out. That's it.
Don't chuff on the pipe, don't puff, just take a normal regular breath through your nose. A surprising volume of smoke will result.
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