Hi everyone, I have a question to more experience guys here. Is it even possible for you to smoke a certain tobacco blend without any tongue bite at all? I understand that each blend can cause a tongue bite to some people and not to others and that with a better technique you get less bite, but is no bite at all even possible to achieve for even one tobacco blend for you?
Is it even possible to not get any tongue bite at all?
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I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, but I am very fortunate and almost never get 'bitten' by anything. I assume it is more of an individual thing. Everyone's tastes differ as well as body chemistry, so what bites you may not bite everyone.
Find what works for you and enjoy.
Find what works for you and enjoy.
Yes, I smoke frequently without tongue bite. The trick is to experiment and see what works for you. There are so many variables it boggles the mind but after awhile, it gets easier as you learn what works and what does not.
Off hand, try to dry the tobacco out as much as you can. Moist tobacco can release steam which will cause bite. This does not bother everyone the same but I need my tobacco just a step or two above crispy.
Some tobaccos can cause bite, like red Virginia's, for instance. Some blenders can cause it as well for some reason. I cannot smoke anything by Hearth and Home without getting bit. Not sure why and they have excellent tobaccos, my chemistry just does not mix for some reason.
Off hand, try to dry the tobacco out as much as you can. Moist tobacco can release steam which will cause bite. This does not bother everyone the same but I need my tobacco just a step or two above crispy.
Some tobaccos can cause bite, like red Virginia's, for instance. Some blenders can cause it as well for some reason. I cannot smoke anything by Hearth and Home without getting bit. Not sure why and they have excellent tobaccos, my chemistry just does not mix for some reason.
Some of the MacBarren tobaccos seem to be real bity for whatever reason. Moisture is a large part of bite as noted earlier. I don't get it real often but is due more to wearing my tongue out a little from smoking a lot but seems to retreat when I swish my mouth out with Biotene.
I notice a burn when I brush my teeth. This occurs mostly with multiple bowls, and mostly with
aromatics of various kinds. I can get a little bite with some English blends. The surprise is, I get
little bite or burn with hearty burley blends like C&D Dark Burley, Old Joe Krantz, Billy Budd, and
the Belgium Tabac Manil Semois, a burley variant. Part of it may be the lack of flavorings and
preservatives, relatively low moisture, and sufficient flavor so I smoke at a slow pace and generate
less heat. Also, a number of Virginias and Va/Per give me little problem, like OGS, PS Luxury Navy
Flake, Mac Baren's Modern Virginia and others, despite that Virginias have a reputation for bite. I think
it is partly individual, and partly moisture, flavoring and preservatives, and pace, and strength keeps
down the pace and reduces bite.
aromatics of various kinds. I can get a little bite with some English blends. The surprise is, I get
little bite or burn with hearty burley blends like C&D Dark Burley, Old Joe Krantz, Billy Budd, and
the Belgium Tabac Manil Semois, a burley variant. Part of it may be the lack of flavorings and
preservatives, relatively low moisture, and sufficient flavor so I smoke at a slow pace and generate
less heat. Also, a number of Virginias and Va/Per give me little problem, like OGS, PS Luxury Navy
Flake, Mac Baren's Modern Virginia and others, despite that Virginias have a reputation for bite. I think
it is partly individual, and partly moisture, flavoring and preservatives, and pace, and strength keeps
down the pace and reduces bite.
When I stared everything bit, but I would only smoke a bowl a week, maybe less. Once I started to smoke more often, dry it out a little, and smoke something with more flavor so I didn't over puff, it's backed off. I still get but if I smoke 4 or more bowls but I think that's just mouth fatigue. Also, a stinger pipe, like kaywoodie, helped a lot in the beginning as well.
Lestrout gifted me with some great advice: Smoke dry. Do not attempt to smoke moist tobacco.
It was sage advice on multiple levels.
Too much moisture causes steam-induced mouth burn. Any temperatures over the 140ºf scald point cause damage to the tongue.
But steam also masks flavors. I suspect that the taste buds are only flavor receptive within a certain temperature range, probably well below the scald point, but until the research is completed, I can only tell you that smoking dry is smoking good.
It was sage advice on multiple levels.
Too much moisture causes steam-induced mouth burn. Any temperatures over the 140ºf scald point cause damage to the tongue.
But steam also masks flavors. I suspect that the taste buds are only flavor receptive within a certain temperature range, probably well below the scald point, but until the research is completed, I can only tell you that smoking dry is smoking good.
Lots of variables for sure, but the right blend, dried properly and packed correctly, smoked slowly in a well broken-in pipe will not bite. All of those factors will be different for each smoker and each tobacco. Some blends will always bite some people. Those that bite me are discarded,
Don't confuse burn with bite. You can scorch your tongue if tobacco is moist and you smoke too aggressively, too hot. The steam will burn your tongue. Smoking too much in one day, particularly when you are not used to it (like the first day in spring when you can sit on the porch all day long and smoke - ah, can't wait for that), even if you don't smoke too hot can burn your tongue. Bite is a chemical reaction, and is mostly due to the alkalinity of certain tobaccos, most notably burley blends because burley tends to give an alkaline smoke.
Yes, it is possible, and highly desirable, to smoke without bite, or burn. Experiment with different blends. Smoke slowly. If the tobacco you like is moist, let it dry a little (less water equals less steam, with the added benefit of less chance of gurgle) and see if that makes a difference to you.
If you've burnt your tongue, it is hard to have a nice smoke before it heals. Lighten up for a day or two or three.
Yes, it is possible, and highly desirable, to smoke without bite, or burn. Experiment with different blends. Smoke slowly. If the tobacco you like is moist, let it dry a little (less water equals less steam, with the added benefit of less chance of gurgle) and see if that makes a difference to you.
If you've burnt your tongue, it is hard to have a nice smoke before it heals. Lighten up for a day or two or three.
I haven't burned in years. I smoke a lot and use the blends right out of the tin or pouch, always. "Bite" to me means a reaction to the chemicals in the smoke irritating the skin. "Burn" denotes damage from the heat and there will probably be discernible damage to the tongue which may be seen in the mirror.
I'm probably writing about a distinction without a difference. But, I think some have tongues more sensitive than others to chemical irritation, I can devour jalapenos no problem, my wife couldn't tolerate a one, even seeded.
This is an observation offered based only on anecdotal evidence and I really would like to see a more considered observation from someone more versed in the area.
I'm probably writing about a distinction without a difference. But, I think some have tongues more sensitive than others to chemical irritation, I can devour jalapenos no problem, my wife couldn't tolerate a one, even seeded.
This is an observation offered based only on anecdotal evidence and I really would like to see a more considered observation from someone more versed in the area.
skarabox, yes is the simple answer. I smoke quite a few bowls a day and I usually have no tongue issue. For me what helped was, I started smoking my pipe consistently so my mouth got used to the smoke. My thinking was until my mouth got used to having rather warm (no matter how cool we say the smoke is a thermometer indicates not so cool.) smoke introduced frequently I was susceptible to tongue bite. That helped, but then I figured out that aros and I do not get along very well. My belief is this is caused because I puff rather quickly when smoking a aro to find the flavor I have become accustomed to when I smoke my pipe. So once my mouth was acclimated to smoke and I found tobaccos that had the flavor I am looking for and can get that flavor at a nice slow cadence, I pretty much have not gotten bitten. Hope this helps, it is so worth it to push on and keep trying!!
I very seldom get bit, but occasionally it happens. With me, it is always either an aromatic or burley that is the culprit. Slower smoking usually will get around blends that tend to bite you. It is also important to identify the ingredients that don't agree with you so you can use extra caution with blends that contain these.
For the first month and a half of me starting to smoke a pipe, I almost always got bitten, then after that as I learned to pack my pipe better, stop puffing like a steam train and enjoy my pipe as I would a really nice glass of port, the tongue bite went away and I have only had a nibble here and there since. I mainly smoke Aro's and most say they bite the worst but like anything in life it's about relaxing and enjoying the moment instead of rushing so fast you forget to savour the niceties that's on offer.
I always follow the two-step guide to not suffering from any tongue bite
Step 1: open your tin
Step 2: let it dry
Step 1: open your tin
Step 2: let it dry
My take on it is that pipe smoking is about like anything else that you do just once in a while, or all the time. Take playing a stringed instrument for example. While learning to play the guitar, you have to build-up callus material on the tips of your fingers. Until you do, your fingers are gonna be sore. I'm not saying that you'll build any extra meat in your mouth, but you will toughen your tongue, gums and cheeks. I smoke just about all day long. But during a recent hospital stay I didn't smoke for 8 days. I had tongue bite the first day out and had to re-regulate the way I smoked until I re-antiquated myself with my old smoking routine/habits.
Now you can burn your tongue if you smoke away without thinking, as I do sometimes if I'm working away and not thinking about my pipe. I'm a 'clencher' and while woodworking, I have to keep my mind on my pipe or I'll be regretting it later.
Now you can burn your tongue if you smoke away without thinking, as I do sometimes if I'm working away and not thinking about my pipe. I'm a 'clencher' and while woodworking, I have to keep my mind on my pipe or I'll be regretting it later.
"Is it even possible to not get any tongue bite at all?"
Yes! Avoid anything produced by MacBaren or Borkum Riff
The advice given above is good but for me personally, I've found that my mouth prefers a more moist smoke then dry. Over dried tobacco nips me FAR MORE then moist tobacco.
Yes! Avoid anything produced by MacBaren or Borkum Riff
The advice given above is good but for me personally, I've found that my mouth prefers a more moist smoke then dry. Over dried tobacco nips me FAR MORE then moist tobacco.
It's definitely possible. As noted above, "bite" and "burn" are different, and if you're sensitive to certain varieties of tobacco (Red Virginias are usually mentioned as a culprit), there may be nothing you can do about "bite" aside from avoiding that particular variety. If you're getting bitten as a result of more general body chemistry, you can try adjusting your own ph balance with water, baking soda toothpaste, Biotene, etc...
If you're getting "burn", the news is even better - as noted, try drying out your tobacco a little more and smoking it more slowly. It took me a while to learn how to slow down to the point that I was not getting burned hardly at all (and I'll still occasionally puff too fast), but it's now the exception for me rather than the rule.
If you're getting "burn", the news is even better - as noted, try drying out your tobacco a little more and smoking it more slowly. It took me a while to learn how to slow down to the point that I was not getting burned hardly at all (and I'll still occasionally puff too fast), but it's now the exception for me rather than the rule.
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