Tobaccos that Won't Bite your Tongue...At All!

[Gimlet]

Thank you for your reply and for the tip regarding troublesome charcoal granules -- different brands of filters do feature different number/size/shape air holes at each end.

Variation in 9mm filter width is an interesting topic. I have identified three variations, from wide to narrow:
white elephant, everybody else, and Dr. Pearl.
Dr. Pearl, being narrowest, will fit any 9mm filter pipe, but I don't like how the filter moves back&forth in pipes other than Vauen, so I wrap some scotch tape around the filter, so that it fits snug, and prevents smoke from slipping around the filter.
On the other extreme, white elephant filters are too wide for my Vauens, and my Chacom!

Yes, Dr Pearl can shuttle to and fro in some pipes giving an odd thocking noise, but I've always found them the most reliable choice. Oddly enough, I got a box of 250 White Elephant charcoal when I bought my latest Chacom. I'm hoping they'll be compatible..
I normally buy Dr Pearl in boxes of 180 but they didn't have any so fingers crossed the WE will do the job until after the new year. Spent up for now..

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I find the dark-fired strong Lakeland flakes and plugs don't bite at all. They might sock you on the back of the head with nicotine but they do smoke very cool.
It's bright virginias I find the bitiest.
I don't get bite form perique blends. There's always a bit of peppery prickle in the sinuses, but I quite like that. It carries the spicy perique flavour with it and the pepperiness lets me know I've had a proper smoke without going as far as the mustard burn I get from Irish twists (though I quite like them from too time to time, but not every day).

It is true, though seemingly contradictory -- stronger blends smoke smoother than lighter blends

 

[bullet08]

Smoke enough to build a quality callus on your tongue. Then, start biting back at those tobacco!

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Yes, Dr Pearl can shuttle to and fro in some pipes giving an odd thocking noise, but I've always found them the most reliable choice. Oddly enough, I got a box of 250 White Elephant charcoal when I bought my latest Chacom. I'm hoping they'll be compatible..
I normally buy Dr Pearl in boxes of 180 but they didn't have any so fingers crossed the WE will do the job until after the new year. Spent up for now..

I think the white elephants will fit your chacom, though they may require a slightly dangerous twist of the paper tubing.

 

[Gimlet]

btw, what is the difference between English and Scottish blends? There is some ambiguity in opinion.

As far as I know English tends to feature latakia and Scottish have a scotch whisky casing.
But then, for anything traditionally described as "English" the Scots will have a Scottish equivalent which is the same in all but name.
Everyone knows what a "full English" breakfast means. In Scotland you'll be served a "full Scottish" version which, other than the addition of a slice of haggis is exactly the same. The only difference on the day is that a Scottish breakfast usually comes with a larger hangover in my experience...

I can say this as I live in England but have a house in Scotland so I have a dual cultural passport. And my house is in Ayrshire where you need some residual Scottish gene to understand what people are saying.

 

[Gimlet]

I think the white elephants will fit your chacom, though they may require a slightly dangerous twist of the paper tubing.

That's not a bad idea.

 

[samuelgawith01]

Cornell and Diehl Burley Flake mixtures.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Cornell and Diehl Burley Flake mixtures.

Thanks for your suggestion! I recently purchased this:

an HH burley flake from Mac Baren. Have not opened it yet, as I am first working my way through every OTC codger blend

 

[Professor Moriarty]

the star of my burgeoning 9mm filter pipe collection at the moment.
From smokingpipes.com:
"Originally a German marque, Charles Fairmorn can trace its roots back to the Lübeck tobacco company. However, Charles Fairmorn also commissioned Danish pipe-maker Age Bogelund to craft a series of handmade pieces. Although we cannot definitively say this Charles Fairmorn pipe was made by Abe Bogelund, the "Handmade In Denmark" nomenclature makes it highly likely the Danish artisan crafted this Billiard. Moreover, this Billiard showcases classic shaping, as it possesses a slender shank and tapered stem that imbue this piece with a sleek disposition. At the fore, the bowl is set at a slight forward-cant, emphasizing the plump heel at the fore and adding a bit of whimsical dynamism to the composition. Furthermore, the bowl is dressed in a chestnut smooth finish that highlights streaks of flame grain on the walls and tightly-packed birdseye on the trim rim. Additionally, this piece also features a handcut vulcanite stem and a 14K gold band on the shank end, a truly elegant flourish."
6.45 in./163.83 mm.

Estate pipe. It looks as if the previous owner was in the habit of smoking only the first 2/3 of the bowl.
This is another thing I have only recently learned--many smokers stop at the 2/3 point.
As a youth I was taught that it was important to smoke all the way down to carbonize the entire bowl.
Now, I see this as a silly goal. Often that last third is most unpleasant portion of the smoke, so why bother?!

I shall henceforth fill the bottom third of my non-filtered pipes with silica "crystals" from Denicool so that I may enjoy them with minimal tongue bite.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

I've yet to be bitten by anything from C&D, Gl Pease, Drucquer&Sons(basically all C&D stuff), Esoterica, Robert McConnell's, or any of the Dunhill/Peterson stuff. I think you have to build up to it to a certain extent, but even with Virginia's from those companies I don't get bitten. I've never had an English bite me, though I have had some Virginia's bite.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I've yet to be bitten by anything from C&D, Gl Pease, Drucquer&Sons(basically all C&D stuff), Esoterica, Robert McConnell's, or any of the Dunhill/Peterson stuff. I think you have to build up to it to a certain extent, but even with Virginia's from those companies I don't get bitten. I've never had an English bite me, though I have had some Virginia's bite.

I envy your sturdiness.
I have been smoking all types of blends for decades. They all bite my tongue -- some more, some less.
Oral chemical burn is not something I wish to 'get used to'

 

[Chasing Embers]

btw, what is the difference between English and Scottish blends?

Scottish blends tend to have unflavored black or brown cavendish added.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Tobaccos that won't bite your tongue...at all!

Any of them if they're packed lightly and you don't try to fill the room with clouds of smoke.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

How many smokes does an average filter last for?

 

[yanoJL]

View attachment 269798
the star of my burgeoning 9mm filter pipe collection at the moment.
From smokingpipes.com:
"Originally a German marque, Charles Fairmorn can trace its roots back to the Lübeck tobacco company. However, Charles Fairmorn also commissioned Danish pipe-maker Age Bogelund to craft a series of handmade pieces. Although we cannot definitively say this Charles Fairmorn pipe was made by Abe Bogelund, the "Handmade In Denmark" nomenclature makes it highly likely the Danish artisan crafted this Billiard. Moreover, this Billiard showcases classic shaping, as it possesses a slender shank and tapered stem that imbue this piece with a sleek disposition. At the fore, the bowl is set at a slight forward-cant, emphasizing the plump heel at the fore and adding a bit of whimsical dynamism to the composition. Furthermore, the bowl is dressed in a chestnut smooth finish that highlights streaks of flame grain on the walls and tightly-packed birdseye on the trim rim. Additionally, this piece also features a handcut vulcanite stem and a 14K gold band on the shank end, a truly elegant flourish."
6.45 in./163.83 mm.

Estate pipe. It looks as if the previous owner was in the habit of smoking only the first 2/3 of the bowl.
This is another thing I have only recently learned--many smokers stop at the 2/3 point.
As a youth I was taught that it was important to smoke all the way down to carbonize the entire bowl.
Now, I see this as a silly goal. Often that last third is most unpleasant portion of the smoke, so why bother?!

I shall henceforth fill the bottom third of my non-filtered pipes with silica "crystals" from Denicool so that I may enjoy them with minimal tongue bite.

Not to belabor the issue, but...
When I first started with pipes, I bought a kindle ebook for $0.99 called 101 tips for the Pipe Smoker. One of this tips was about Denicool crystals and Nording Keystones. The author suggested that uncooked rice in the heel also works. The idea being that the rice in the bottom would absorb steam moisture and mitigate tongue burn/bite.
I tried it. And the rice that I dumped in the end did seem to have soaked up some moisture.
Worst case, it would be a pretty cheap experiment should you care to try it.

 

[Gimlet]

How many smokes does an average filter last for?

Nine times out of ten I replace the filter after each bowl. That's largely because I like to run a pipe cleaner through between every smoke, mostly to keep the mouthpiece and stem dry, and to do that the filter has to be removed so it might as well be replaced.
The filter will continue to do its job for two or three bowls but I find it imparts progressively more of that acrid dottle taste the longer it stays in, so for the price of the things I prefer to replace them each time.
Sometimes I don't bother with lighter, milder tobaccos in small pipes or if I'm smoking two bowls in quick succession, usually when I'm out somewhere and have only taken one pipe and no spare filters with me, but with strong dark blends and large bowls I always replace with every smoke.
I have a large Chacom Robusto that lasts for well over an hour and I smoke strong Kendal flakes in that one. The filter will come out feeling distinctly damp to the touch and a dark leather brown in colour so it's always replaced.

 

[Gimlet]

View attachment 269798
the star of my burgeoning 9mm filter pipe collection at the moment.
From smokingpipes.com:
"Originally a German marque, Charles Fairmorn can trace its roots back to the Lübeck tobacco company. However, Charles Fairmorn also commissioned Danish pipe-maker Age Bogelund to craft a series of handmade pieces. Although we cannot definitively say this Charles Fairmorn pipe was made by Abe Bogelund, the "Handmade In Denmark" nomenclature makes it highly likely the Danish artisan crafted this Billiard. Moreover, this Billiard showcases classic shaping, as it possesses a slender shank and tapered stem that imbue this piece with a sleek disposition. At the fore, the bowl is set at a slight forward-cant, emphasizing the plump heel at the fore and adding a bit of whimsical dynamism to the composition. Furthermore, the bowl is dressed in a chestnut smooth finish that highlights streaks of flame grain on the walls and tightly-packed birdseye on the trim rim. Additionally, this piece also features a handcut vulcanite stem and a 14K gold band on the shank end, a truly elegant flourish."
6.45 in./163.83 mm.

Estate pipe. It looks as if the previous owner was in the habit of smoking only the first 2/3 of the bowl.
This is another thing I have only recently learned--many smokers stop at the 2/3 point.
As a youth I was taught that it was important to smoke all the way down to carbonize the entire bowl.
Now, I see this as a silly goal. Often that last third is most unpleasant portion of the smoke, so why bother?!

I shall henceforth fill the bottom third of my non-filtered pipes with silica "crystals" from Denicool so that I may enjoy them with minimal tongue bite.

I generally bin about a quarter to a fifth of the bowl. But a lot of it comes down to how you've packed the pipe, how you've cleaned it (or not) beforehand, and how you smoke it. Smoke hard in a badly packed pipe that wasn't too dry or clean to start with and you can have enough of it only halfway through.
Hit the sweet zone when a perfectly cleaned and rested pipe that's perfectly packed and sipped gently and most blends in most pipes can be smoked down to almost nothing.
With some pipe and blend combos, when all the stars align the last portion kind of delivers a second wind and the dottle has a pleasing taste of its own that's different to the rest of the bowl and when you tap out there's nothing left but a thin shell of ashy carbon. You've had your money's worth then.

It takes a while for a new pipe to be smokable right down to nothing and you may not achieve it every time, but eventually any pipe ought to acquire a cake right down to the bottom.
Well, that's how it's worked out with mine anyway.

 

[upnorth1]

If you smoke them properly many ( not all ) tobaccos will not bite. It’s a learning process. Don’t limit yourself to what you read. My grandpas both learned without the internet and so did I. If we could do it I’m sure with the current resources you can too.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

How many smokes does an average filter last for?

Manufactures say 3 smokes. I, and most others say one smoke and gone.
If one is going to re-use a filter, it is essential to remove the filter after each smoke and dry out both the filter and pipe prior to re-use.
Also recommended, handle the soiled filter with needle nose pliers or something other than one's fingers!

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Not to belabor the issue, but...
When I first started with pipes, I bought a kindle ebook for $0.99 called 101 tips for the Pipe Smoker. One of this tips was about Denicool crystals and Nording Keystones. The author suggested that uncooked rice in the heel also works. The idea being that the rice in the bottom would absorb steam moisture and mitigate tongue burn/bite.
I tried it. And the rice that I dumped in the end did seem to have soaked up some moisture.
Worst case, it would be a pretty cheap experiment should you care to try it.

Thanks for the excellent suggestion! Yes, I have heard of the rice idea, but have not yet tested it.
In pipe filtering, the general distinction is between those substances which absorb only moisture, and those which also absorb tars and such.
As to the latter class of substances, most folks recommend denicool crystals in the bowl, or charcoal filters in the stem.
I am currently testing a new idea, adding charcoal granules (approx 5mm) to the bottom of the bowl. So far, so good.
These pure charcoal granules are sold for use in amending soil for house plants, particularly succulents.