I like Virginia Flakes, but . . .

[Morbius]

I have a problem that I don't understand. I used to smoke Marlboro cigarettes years ago and the nicotine didn't bother me at all. Now I'm over a year and a half into pipe smoking and I am still a nicotine lightweight. I get a nicotine hit off of Orlik GS that is about as much as I want to have so my sessions remain pleasurable.

So.. I really like OGS. and I think I would like other Virginia flakes, but I don't want to try any that are going to make me pray to the porcelain god. I have already made the mistake of trying crumble cakes and hockey pucks (the Bright Nights that Cigars and Pipes bundled with Orlik as a promotion) with wicked results.

Reviews talk about strength but not necessarily the nicotine hit. If you guys and gals would be so kind as to provide me a couple of suggestions that may expand my virginia flake tobacco chest so I don't get bored, I would appreciate it.

 

[jerry]

You might try Peretti’s Ampersand Flake.

 

[Day2Day]

G.L. Pease Ellipsis
Peter Heinrichs Golden Slice
C&D's Interlude
C&D Opening Night
Country Squire Faulkner Flake

Are some of my favorites there are others that I like but these are the one I usually reach for when I'm in the mood for a flake which is daily.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If OGS is too strong for ya… I got nothing to recommend. Wow
But, good luck and stick with it.

 

[sablebrush52]

Have a meal before smoking. Don’t inhale.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If OGS is too strong for ya… I got nothing to recommend. Wow
But, good luck and stick with it.

Have a meal before smoking. Don’t inhale.

I agree with both of these posts. It isn't a manhood thing, some people are more sensitive to nicotine than others. If also recommend smoking at a slow pace. If I puff a pipe like I used to smoke cigarettes, I'd get woozy myself. I hope you can resolve this issue, pipe smoking is immensely more satisfying than cigarettes.

 

[Chalaw87]

You could try mixing some un-flavored Cavendish in with your flakes. Typically that wont effect the flavor much and helps to smooth out most blends, and most bulk Cavendish has little to no nicotine.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Its Morbin time!

 

[Morbius]

I agree with both of these posts. It isn't a manhood thing, some people are more sensitive to nicotine than others. If also recommend smoking at a slow pace. If I puff a pipe like I used to smoke cigarettes, I'd get woozy myself. I hope you can resolve this issue, pipe smoking is immensely more satisfying than cigarettes.

I agree. It's way more satisfying than cigarettes! I already knew about having a full stomach and about slowing it down.

If there are any other methods that you know of, I would be pleased to hear them.

 

[burleyboy75]

how big a pipe are you using? Look for smaller ones.

Also, whats your packing method? You could try gravity filling till full, tap the pipe, and smoke. avoid the 3 bears method, etc.

You could also take a big bowl and fill 1/4 1/2 etc.

how long is your usual session?

Are you willing to span out of Virginia?

Lane 1Q, autumn evening for aros.

maybe latakia will treat ya better-presbyterian or EMP?

 

[Waning Embers]

You might want to try filters.

 

[Morbius]

how big a pipe are you using? Look for smaller ones.

Also, whats your packing method? You could try gravity filling till full, tap the pipe, and smoke. avoid the 3 bears method, etc.

You could also take a big bowl and fill 1/4 1/2 etc.

how long is your usual session?

Are you willing to span out of Virginia?

Lane 1Q, autumn evening for aros.

maybe latakia will treat ya better-presbyterian or EMP?

I do flake in a Falcon Dublin bowl. It has straight sides and is not huge. I either cube cut and gravity fill or fold and roll it into a ball. In either case I only use about half of a single one OGS flake.

Smoking less than a full bowl had never occurred to me. That may be a way for me to get more variety. Thank you for the suggestion.

Usually I smoke between 45 minutes to an hour or so.

Yes. I already do smoke more than Virginia. I like English and non aromatic blends as well. I'm fascinated by flakes though because they smoke so cool when you don't rub them to smithereens.

I started with Lane1Q and branched out from there to BCA but for the most part I don't care for many aros. The toppings get in the way of the taste of the tobacco.

Latakia is a great condiment when I am in the mood for an English.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I agree. It's way more satisfying than cigarettes! I already knew about having a full stomach and about slowing it down.

If there are any other methods that you know of, I would be pleased to hear them.

Try standing on one leg and jumping up and down while twirling one arm in a circle. Just kidding. I feel for you. The only solution I can think of is to grind it out for a while longer and see if you become accustomed to the nicotine. I remember the only time I ever got slightly hit by Nicotine, it was Rustica or some GH blend. It wasn't pleasant as I remember. Good luck resolving it.

 

[Sig]

Flakes are going to be stronger because its concentrated ribbon.
You can fit 6 grams of tobacco in a pipe that only holds 3 grams of ribbon.
OGS is about as low nicotine as you're going to find in flakes.
The only wise advice I can give is to NEVER smoke MacBaren ODF!!

 

[Brad H]

Flakes are going to be stronger because its concentrated ribbon.
You can fit 6 grams of tobacco in a pipe that only holds 3 grams of ribbon.
OGS is about as low nicotine as you're going to find in flakes.
The only wise advice I can give is to NEVER smoke MacBaren ODF!!

I don’t even smoke Mac ODF….. stout stuff.

 

[bobpnm]

I’m with @sablebrush52 . Eat something before you smoke. Might also try rubbing out the flake. I also find drinking something with sugar while smoking helps.

 

[Morbius]

You could try mixing some un-flavored Cavendish in with your flakes. Typically that wont effect the flavor much and helps to smooth out most blends, and most bulk Cavendish has little to no nicotine.

I recently read a blending book that talked about cutting strong tobaccos with weaker ones. I dismissed it because the author kept saying to use Lane 1 Q or BCA. I thought those would screw up the flavors of the stronger tobacco and I thought that would be a disservice to the artisans who created it.

But you mention there is an unflavored cav? Do tell - Details please. This could be the best answer yet.

 

[Morbius]

I’m with @sablebrush52 . Eat something before you smoke. Might also try rubbing out the flake. I also find drinking something with sugar while smoking helps.

Sugar? Really? The good stuff? My wife only buys that Splenda guano.

 

[Morbius]

You might want to try filters.

I live in a humid climate and the charcoal filters expand just enough so they won't fit in either of my 2 6 mm filter pipes. I put balsa filters in them to close down the draft and reduce moisture but they do nothing for nicotine reduction. Thanks for the thought.

 

[huntertrw]

I like Virginia Flakes, but . . .​

In the words of the late Pee Wee Herman, "Everyone I know has a big but..."