Newby News - My First Bite

[Old_Newby]

Well I had my first bad experience pipe smoking today. I will share what occurred and my self analysis. If anyone has an alternate theory please share.

Yesterday I received my new and first briar pipe. I was excited about trying it out. I am dedicating it to Virgina (Cobs are Latakia, VaPer). I have Amphora Virginia in jar for about 2 months that I have not tried yet. I have smoked 1 straight Virginia earlier this week in my cob (Newminster 400). I have some good samples from a few of you that I am holding off til I learn how to smoke better. The 400 was cheap ($2.50 ounce) but it was good tasting like sweet bread dough with hay notes. Since that went well I assumed I know how smoke it slow enough.

My Golden Grabow has a larger circumference bowl compared to my gentlemen cob. Just something I noticed but not sure if this makes it more difficult to load, light, tamp. I did not dry out the tobacco and loaded directly from jar. To be honest I rarely dry out my tobacco and did not dry out the 400.

It was windy and I had trouble lighting it and off the bat I became a little impatient. I had to tamp and relight more than my cob. I seemed to battle it too much. Then bam my tongue started feeling like I ate a teaspoon of black pepper. I figured yep this is tongue bite.

I wanted to smoke my new pipe so I poured out the Amphora and loaded Carter Hall, but nope that good flavor was missing, so I poured it out and loaded with a burley I like. Nope still not good.

I have deducted that once I got to tongue bite it was over. Anything I tried after was not going to taste good. I also think the Amphora needed to be dried out, and maybe it’s not as tasty as the 400. I figure it was multiple issues contributing. First I was too eager, then became frustrated, on a new unfamiliar pipe, with a unfamiliar tobacco. I am NOT blaming my pipe yet. That would be like when I blamed my putter for missing that birdie.

 

[JKoD]

Well I had my first bad experience pipe smoking today. I will share what occurred and my self analysis. If anyone has an alternate theory please share.

Yesterday I received my new and first briar pipe. I was excited about trying it out. I am dedicating it to Virgina (Cobs are Latakia, VaPer). I have Amphora Virginia in jar for about 2 months that I have not tried yet. I have smoked 1 straight Virginia earlier this week in my cob (Newminster 400). I have some good samples from a few of you that I am holding off til I learn how to smoke better. The 400 was cheap ($2.50 ounce) but it was good tasting like sweet bread dough with hay notes. Since that went well I assumed I know how smoke it slow enough.

My Golden Grabow has a larger circumference bowl compared to my gentlemen cob. Just something I noticed but not sure if this makes it more difficult to load, light, tamp. I did not dry out the tobacco and loaded directly from jar. To be honest I rarely dry out my tobacco and did not dry out the 400.

It was windy and I had trouble lighting it and off the bat I became a little impatient. I had to tamp and relight more than my cob. I seemed to battle it too much. Then bam my tongue started feeling like I ate a teaspoon of black pepper. I figured yep this is tongue bite.

I wanted to smoke my new pipe so I poured out the Amphora and loaded Carter Hall, but nope that good flavor was missing, so I poured it out and loaded with a burley I like. Nope still not good.

I have deducted that once I got to tongue bite it was over. Anything I tried after was not going to taste good. I also think the Amphora needed to be dried out, and maybe it’s not as tasty as the 400. I figure it was multiple issues contributing. First I was too eager, then became frustrated, on a new unfamiliar pipe, with a unfamiliar tobacco. I am NOT blaming my pipe yet. That would be like when I blamed my putter for missing that birdie.

Throw it all in the trash and start over. ?

The bite sucks… it’s not the pipe. I’ve not smoked either of those tobaccos, so no help there. But, the more you light the more likely you are to burn the hell out of your tongue… you’re drawing a combination of smoke and steam through a relatively small hole that concentrates an abrasive stream of searing pain. It’s like a sand blaster without the sand.

Yup, my experience with bite is that it’s over for a day or so. And that location on your tongue where the stem pours it’s flesh eating evil…likely will impact flavors of foods you eat and beverages you drink…

Only theory I have - you learn pretty quick how to prevent it or you stop smoking certain blends. ?‍

 

[Brewfan]

I can see it. I love Newminster 400, but i dry it a lot. Sounds like you smoked it damp and fast, so, you know, don't do it like that anymore. I use biotene or peroxyl mouthwash when my tongue gets a little spicy and I'm good as new the next morning.

After seeing numerous "dry your tobacco" threads on here the message finally sunk in. It seems especially important with straight Virginia.

 

[Jacob74]

Smoking a pipe in the wind is like a vegetarian learning how to grill a steak. It's rare when they get it right.

 

[Old_Newby]

Thanks Brewfan on biotene. I also found an old thread about tongue bite and aloe juice was mentioned. Never heard of it but it does show available at grocery stores. It’s supposed to also be good for you. Anyone else use it?

 

[Old_Newby]

Smoking a pipe in the wind is like a vegetarian learning how to grill a steak. It's rare when they get it right.

I like steak analogies. Good one. I describe Latakia as the steak of tobacco.

 

[JKoD]

Thanks Brewfan on biotene. I also found an old thread about tongue bite and aloe juice was mentioned. Never heard of it but it does show available at grocery stores. It’s supposed to also be good for you. Anyone else use it?

I will drink it on occasion, but not regularly. Generally, it has aloe juice/drinks have “chunks” in it. It’s different.

 

[Old_Newby]

Well since I still feel a little bite on my tongue this morning I am going back to 100% cavendish chocolate mousse. It’s an easy smoke with no thinking.

 

[pappymac]

Smoking a pipe in the wind is like a vegetarian learning how to grill a steak. It's rare when they get it right.

I would have thought the steak would have been burnt to a crisp and not rare.

 

[AcesAndEights]

I’m impressed you’ve made it this long without getting bitten! My tongue was sore for a week after my first day! Lol
I’m still pretty new myself, and I get tongue bite now and then too. And it seems as though relighting is the danger zone. I keep hearing that relights are ok, no shame in relighting. Well, I apparently need to keep practicing, cuz that’s usually when I get bitten. Took me a while to accept how much drying helps prevent relights and bite.

 

[monty55]

It's been said on here a thousand times... DRY YOUR TOBACCO OUT!
Smoking a pipe in the wind is a struggle for even the most experienced pipe smoker. Assuming you get it lit, it will burn hot. Don't do it.

To get your mouth and tongue right... brush your teeth AND TONGUE well with toothpaste. Gargle and flush with water. Make a paste of baking soda and water and brush your teeth AND TONGUE well again with the paste. Gargle and flush with water again. Gargle and spit out some hydrogen peroxide paying attention to your tongue, finally gargle and spit out with water one last time. Give it a rest for an hour or so and your mouth and tongue should be neutralized and back to normal.

 

[Old_Newby]

It's been said on here a thousand times... DRY YOUR TOBACCO OUT!
Smoking a pipe in the wind is a struggle for even the most experienced pipe smoker. Assuming you get it lit, it will burn hot. Don't do it.

To get your mouth and tongue right... brush your teeth AND TONGUE well with toothpaste. Gargle and flush with water. Make a paste of baking soda and water and brush your teeth AND TONGUE well again with the paste. Gargle and flush with water again. Gargle and spit out some hydrogen peroxide paying attention to your tongue, finally gargle and spit out with water one last time. Give it a rest for an hour or so and your mouth and tongue should be neutralized and back to normal.

I will try that.. I have both of those ..

 

[mso489]

Be patient with yourself. Being a beginner at anything will create problems you'll never have again, once you get past them. Smoking outdoors where the air is moving at all is a separate skill, so if you can be indoors or behind a substantial wind break, that will reduce the challenge. Just lighting up in even a modest wind is an art, a separate skill set. Your pipe is fine. It's just wrangling a few of the basics into line so things work out pretty well. Dry the tobacco. Pack fairly loosely. Get out of the wind or moving air (a fan) indoors. Tinker with it, and I think things will fall in place. Smoking a pipe is simple in one sense, but it isn't always easy, even for the experienced. Relax. Take a day off from the pipe. Things will move along for the better.

 

[JOHN72]

If it bit your tongue, that means the tongue is alive. That's a good sign. Glad you are enjoying your first briar pipe. Enjoy my friend.

 

[Old_Newby]

Is this a good result or did I just mess up my Amphora Virginia? So the amphora Virginia that bit me came in a pouch. When I got it 2 months ago I poured it into 2 jars (8 ounce jars) and it filled both up to near the top. No way it would have all fit into 1 jar. Yesterday afternoon decided to dry it out some and poured both jars onto a paper plate, covered with paper towel, and let it sit for 3-4 hours. When I poured it back into jars it only took 1 jar to hold it. Wow!!

 

[Old_Newby]

I’m impressed you’ve made it this long without getting bitten! My tongue was sore for a week after my first day! Lol
I’m still pretty new myself, and I get tongue bite now and then too. And it seems as though relighting is the danger zone. I keep hearing that relights are ok, no shame in relighting. Well, I apparently need to keep practicing, cuz that’s usually when I get bitten. Took me a while to accept how much drying helps prevent relights and bite.

When I smoked the Newminster 400 Monday I did relight a good bit, however I had notice several you tube videos where smokers relighting Virginia on gave it 1-2 small puffs. As if the tobacco was almost lost and only needed a flame to touch it for 1 second. So even though I remit the 400 about 6 times it worked great. I never puffed hard not fast. Yesterday on Amphora I had trouble lighting it and just got too aggressive along with relighting along with my tobacco was way too wet.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Sit down and smoke in peace.
Tobacco is your friend.
Let it take you where it wishes to lead you.

 

[anotherbob]

when you get tongue bite you do need to rest for a few days. that's important. Also from your description almost anyone would get some bite. Wind is our smoking enemy. The thing is you can do a few things with that. Learn how to make a hand tent/wind screen over the pipe chamber. Takes some practice but it's amazing how well it works. Also those caps they sell that are spring loaded work too. And you smoked a new briar right? After smoking cobs mainly? Did I get the story right? Well if so cobs are more forgiving then briar in a lot of ways. And one of those ways is no need to break it in. Briar needs to get broken in. Which just really means until it's been smoked a few times it's going to be harsher then afterwards.
Best to consider tongue bite an initiation.

 

[Old_Newby]

when you get tongue bite you do need to rest for a few days. that's important. Also from your description almost anyone would get some bite. Wind is our smoking enemy. The thing is you can do a few things with that. Learn how to make a hand tent/wind screen over the pipe chamber. Takes some practice but it's amazing how well it works. Also those caps they sell that are spring loaded work too. And you smoked a new briar right? After smoking cobs mainly? Did I get the story right? Well if so cobs are more forgiving then briar in a lot of ways. And one of those ways is no need to break it in. Briar needs to get broken in. Which just really means until it's been smoked a few times it's going to be harsher then afterwards.
Best to consider tongue bite an initiation.

Yes correct. Been smoking cobs. I guess I need to break in the briar. I will research breaking in a new pipe.

 

[anotherbob]

Yes correct. Been smoking cobs. I guess I need to break in the briar. I will research breaking in a new pipe.

just means smoking it for a while. You can do it traditionally starting with a half filled chamber and slowly adding a little more per smoke. I normally say just smoke it normally from the start but in this case why not try breaking it in old school.