Pastorpiper,
Sorry to hear about your scalded mouth. Toungue bite is the worst. I would agree with the guys that being careful with straight Virginias is the best policy. One thought I would add is that if you decide to try the red Virginia again, either use a small pipe or only pack a partial bowl. In that way, if you have a similar experience, you can limit the scorching. Another idea might be using a 9mm filtered pipe. I really like MacBaren Plumcake, but, it blisters my mouth something fierce. A filtered pipe saves my mouth and I can enjoy my tobacco.
On the upside, tongue bite is one of those milestones in a piper's career and, I figure, if you really smoke a pipe, French frying your mouth is an occupational hazard that goes hand in hand with incinerating your favorite shirt because you forgot to get your pipe out of your mouth before laughing, breaking the stem on your favorite pipe because you weren't really paying attention when you almost set it on the table, explosively opening a new tin because you were over anxious to remove the lid, waking up to realize you left an open tin on the back porch where it could be rained on all night, or arriving at your favorite fishing spot, settling in, and realizing you have everything for a joyful day except your tobacco, which is either in the car, a mile or so away, or, more likely at home. Pipe smoking is marvelous and all of our mishaps only make the good times better. Don't be discouraged. Above all, don't be afraid to get back on the horse that threw you!
Cheers,
Chili
