Stepping Outside of Aromatics

[vosBghos]

I

A burn is heat induced, what you are experiencing is Tongue Bite, which is not a heat causing burn, but the PH balance of VAs, that cause this chemical reaction.

When in doubt, just dry VA blends really crispy, or fairly crisp, don’t pack tight, and sip slowly when smoking, and you’ll be right.

hear that but my bowl heats up with VA too , I used to freight train a lot more it’s gotten better since I started gently sipping and dropped my cadence down to a yard loader from a silver bullet

 

[PipeIT]

hear that but my bowl heats up with VA too , I used to freight train a lot more it’s gotten better since I started gently sipping and dropped my cadence down to a yard loader from a silver bullet

I don’t understand what you mean, when you say your bowl heats up with VA? ?

 

[vosBghos]

I don’t understand what you mean, when you say your bowl heats up with VA? ?

In my rather limited experience straight Virginia or heavy Virginia blends tend to burn hotter in the hand and on the mouth but again I think it could be a technique issue

 

[PipeIT]

In my rather limited experience straight Virginia or heavy Virginia blends tend to burn hotter in the hand and on the mouth but again I think it could be a technique issue

VAs are more acidic on the PH scale, which makes them more irritating to the mouth/tongue with biting.

Some people, no matter what they do are also sensitive.

When in doubt, dry the VA blend pretty crisp, don’t pack tight, and sip it slowly.

 

[PipeIT]

Stay away for now from Red VAs until you figure it out, they are the worst of the bunch.

 

[Pipingntrucking]

get a bridge over like Half and Half. It's become my every day though I prefer more aro than non.

 

[jndyer]

You have a solid list. If you are going to try VA and VaPer blends you have to be prepared to slow down. One bit of advice I would give you, have a few small mason jars. With a few jars, you can always stash any of the blends that just are not right for you at this time. For example, if you try a couple of bowls or the HH Pure Virginia and it just does not work for you, then you can then just jar up the remainder of the tin to try later in your pipe smoking journey.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Read my above reply, and maybe Chasing was just simply placing typical Aros under this category, as many fall under.

No I was placing them all there. A new smoker typically won't have the technique down to fully enjoy them and I steer them towards more user friendly blends.

This is a blend, that doesn’t differ much in the taste department when compared to the likes of some Esoterica blends, but I’m assuming, by the way it was simply prepared, it’s classified as an Aro, but when you smoke it, compared to many Esoterica, you wouldn’t know the difference between which is the Aro, and which isn’t.

If you smoked it before they diminished the flavoring, there's no tobacco taste at all.

A lot of Aros have very strong tabac profiles, it’s just that, for whatever reason(s), most people seem to think all Aros will taste a certain way, how they are topped, with whatever they are topped with, and they won’t taste like real tabac

Unless you grow it yourself, you're not just tasting tobacco as all commercial tobacco is cased to ease its use.

tabac

That's a French tobacconist.

When i read Chasing's reply it didnt click and i thought it was a typo. I read that article and then this comment and now it makes sense.

Not a typo, all flavored blends aren't user friendly to the beginner and I often advise English and Burley blends to help new smokers for their ease of use. Virginias have a bit more of a learning curve and should be tried after developing good smoking techniques as their flavor is a bit more subtle than latakia and Burley.

I just know Chasing smokes like chocolate and mint Aros, so they might be more the sweet typical Aro people associate with.

I also smoke straight Virginias, Virginia/Periques, Virginia/Burleys, Virginia/Orientals, straight Orientals, Rustica, Mapacho, Tambolaka, Lakelands, Condor, and blends with latakia in condiment amounts. If you're going to start calling me out multiple times again in a thread, at least get the facts straight.

 

[Chasing Embers]

hear that but my bowl heats up with VA too

It's the tobacco's natural sugar content. Let them dry out overnight and they're easier to smoke with less heat.

 

[PipeIT]

@Chasing Embers yes, I certainly know you smoke a lot of blends, sorry for my miscommunication, I only meant that for some of the Aros I’ve seen you smoke is all.

Didn’t mean to make it seem like I was calling you out on anything, I just used the word ‘maybe’, as how you might of been talking about Aros, my mistake.

Tabac doesn’t take as many letters to type LOL, maybe because I used to think a lot about Vincent and his blends.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Let that Super Value Rum dry out until it's almost crispy. You might find that its good once it's dry. I have a bag of Super Value Vanilla and after drying it out it taste pretty damn good.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Let that Super Value Rum dry out until it's almost crispy. You might find that its good once it's dry. I have a bag of Super Value Vanilla and after drying it out it taste pretty damn good.

The buttered rum is pretty good too.

 

[Amarkey]

Let that Super Value Rum dry out until it's almost crispy. You might find that its good once it's dry. I have a bag of Super Value Vanilla and after drying it out it taste pretty damn good.

I put the bag into a bowl and let it sit for a few days, tossing occasionally. Its nowhere near as moist but i may let it dry out some more.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I put the bag into a bowl and let it sit for a few days, tossing occasionally. Its nowhere near as moist but i may let it dry out some more.

Unless you live in a rainforest a couple days in a bowl should be enough.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Read my above reply, and maybe Chasing was just simply placing typical Aros under this category, as many fall under.

Aromatics aren’t all goopy wet sweet...

Check out Samuel Gawith Grousemoor as an example of a blend that is considered an Aromatic, but has a lot of typical VA profiles going on.

This is a blend, that doesn’t differ much in the taste department when compared to the likes of some Esoterica blends, but I’m assuming, by the way it was simply prepared, it’s classified as an Aro, but when you smoke it, compared to many Esoterica, you wouldn’t know the difference between which is the Aro, and which isn’t.

You’ll hear a lot of talk about those smoking Aros, that didn like them, because they want to smoke tabac that tastes like tabac, as if all Aros are like this, that is not true.

A lot of Aros have very strong tabac profiles, it’s just that, for whatever reason(s), most people seem to think all Aros will taste a certain way, how they are topped, with whatever they are topped with, and they won’t taste like real tabac.

Yes I enjoy Grousemoor along with many other "aromatics". I don't enjoy anything goopy, but do enjoy an aro with a tobacco profile. Alot of European tobaccos fit this bill for me. Some TAK blends come to mind, as do Gawith blends.
I just think it's common for new people to get goopy aros when starting (1Q and whatever Maple, Vanilla or Berry blend is on sale). I did. It's really not a great place to start, as these aros are harder to smoke than say EMP or something.
YMMV

 

[Amarkey]

I just think it's common for new people to get goopy aros when starting (1Q and whatever Maple, Vanilla or Berry blend is on sale). I did. It's really not a great place to start, as these aros are harder to smoke than say EMP or something.
YMMV

I have to agree. For me i was told to start with aros. It took a solid month to get where i wouldnt get tounge bite and could enjoy the smoke. I currently have a few wet aros including 1Q and Sutliff Vanilla Custard, that one being the goopiest. I have let all of the air out and dry and they have all been very pleasant to smoke. I wish i would have found this site prior to smoking but such is life.

 

[cigrmaster]

My advice is to get a tin from the different genres that are readily available.
Capstan Blue Flake- straight Virginia
Peterson Navy Rolls Virginia Perique
Mac Baren Old Dark Fired Virginia/Burley
Savinelli d"oro Virginia/Perique/Kentucky

I would do your due diligence on how to smoke flakes and how to prepare them. I recommend cube cutting at first and then learn the art of the fold and stuff. Many think this is too much for a newbie, but I always say go big or go home. If you can master those four blends then the entire world of pipe tobacco opens up for you. Also never light your pipe until you have tested the draw. You want a bit of resistance. If you pack too loose the pipe goes out all the time, burns hot and has no flavor. If you pack it to tight, just run a pipe cleaner into the bottom of the bowl and it should loosen up for you. If it doesn't loosen up start over. It takes practice and never light up before checking the draw even if you are half way done with a bowl and you have to dump some ash.

When I dump ash, I use the pick end of my tamper, loosen it carefully and then tilt the bowl gently so the ash falls out. Then scrape the sides of the bowl, tamp lightly, check the draw and then begin smoking.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I have to agree. For me i was told to start with aros. It took a solid month to get where i wouldnt get tounge bite and could enjoy the smoke. I currently have a few wet aros including 1Q and Sutliff Vanilla Custard, that one being the goopiest. I have let all of the air out and dry and they have all been very pleasant to smoke. I wish i would have found this site prior to smoking but such is life.

Glad to hear your enjoying em. It definitely takes some practice to get to enjoying aros. This is why I never suggest them to friends beginning to smoke. Instead, I gift them samples of English and Burley blends and a couple easy to smoke VA blends.
Hope you continue enjoying the hobby man. Welcome

 

[Chasing Embers]

For me i was told to start with aros.

Those are much better further down the road.

 

[Amarkey]

When I dump ash, I use the pick end of my tamper, loosen it carefully and then tilt the bowl gently so the ash falls out. Then scrape the sides of the bowl, tamp lightly, check the draw and then begin smoking.

Funny you mention that cause thats exactly what i have been doing. Also i alsways test draw before lighting. I compare to a thin milkshake and it has worked great. Ive been using the airpocket packing method and its my usual go to now. Also thanks for those recommendations ill look into those as well.