Virginia Doozy

[Akoni808]

I’ve recently been trying some more Virginia forward blends such as Peterson DNR, Three Nuns, and even Capstan blue. I’ve noticed while I enjoy the flavors, these blends seem to be uncomfortable on my mouth. I’m not getting bit, but it’s just not a pleasant sensation as I work my way down the bowl. On the other hand, blends that have Virginia in them that play more of a supportive roll never give me this sensation. Any clues on to why this happens?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Let them dry out.

 

[Akoni808]

Let them dry out.

Do other kinds of tobacco just do better with moisture than virginias?

 

[Servant King]

I second Embers emphatically. For me, VAs need to be drier than any other blend type, crisp in fact. Any moister than bone dry, it just tastes like a hot wildebeest fart to me, regardless of cadence, packing, or any other factors. Dried just right, however...that's when you get those nirvana smokes that just knock your socks off.

 

[Akoni808]

I second Embers emphatically. For me, VAs need to be drier than any other blend type, crisp in fact. Any moister than bone dry, it just tastes like a hot wildebeest fart to me. Dried just right, however...that's when you get those nirvana smokes that just knock your socks off.

Haha! There were points where I was questioning how certain blends were rated so highly. This is encouraging. I’ll go ahead and leave the tin open in front of the AC. I guess I didn’t realize how much I really need to dry out these blends.

 

[Servant King]

Haha! There were points where I was questioning how certain blends were rated so highly. This is encouraging. I’ll go ahead and leave the tin open in front of the AC. I guess I didn’t realize how much I really need to dry out these blends.

It might take you a little bit to discover the "sweet spot" regarding dry time. It varies from blend to blend, even within a particular blend genre, you'd be surprised. A lot of VA lovers will stop quite short of what I do for my method, and they're just fine with it. Some will even go past it, to the point where the leaf literally crumbles into dust! It's all a matter of personal preference, like most everything in the pipe smoking realm is. I think that's the one thing anyone on here can agree on, along with the fact that Lakelands are the devil's spawn... ?

 

[Akoni808]

It might take you a little bit to discover the "sweet spot" regarding dry time. It varies from blend to blend, even within a particular blend genre, you'd be surprised. A lot of VA lovers will stop quite short of what I do for my method, and they're just fine with it. Some will even go past it, to the point where the leaf literally crumbles into dust! It's all a matter of personal preference, like most everything in the pipe smoking realm is. I think that's the one thing anyone on here can agree on, along with the fact that Lakelands are the devil's spawn... ?

Thank you very much for all the helpful advice! ?

 

[fireground_piper]

Agreeing with the others……if I’m patient I leave mine out for at least a few hours usually. If I’m not patient, under a heat lamp until almost crisp….30-60 minutes depending on the Virginia.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do other kinds of tobacco just do better with moisture than virginias?

Aromatics but generally no. I like all of my tobacco freshly bone dry.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Lakelands are the devil's spawn

That one you're newly in the minority on.

 

[Servant King]

That one you're newly in the minority on.

I'm used to that. ?

 

[anotherbob]

Do other kinds of tobacco just do better with moisture than virginias?

personally I like them all a bit dry but with Va the difference is more pronounced. If I don't like a burly the first time, drying it won't save it. With a VA I found I hate capstan until it's been dried and then love it. And even some aromatics will lose flavor and that can be good or bad depending on the particular blend.

 

[Akoni808]

personally I like them all a bit dry but with Va the difference is more pronounced. If I don't like a burly the first time, drying it won't save it. With a VA I found I hate capstan until it's been dried and then love it. And even some aromatics will lose flavor and that can be good or bad depending on the particular blend.

That is very interesting. I didn’t realize how dramatic the effects of moisture were on VA’s. I’m looking forward to trying some, “freshly bone dry,” VA’s!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I didn’t realize how dramatic the effects of moisture were on VA’s.

Imagine a drink with ice in it. The more moisture that is introduced as the ice melts, the flavor becomes diluted.

 

[Akoni808]

Imagine a drink with ice in it. The more moisture that is introduced as the ice melts, the flavor becomes diluted.

Wow, I had no idea it worked that way! I’m excited to retry some blends now.

 

[Akoni808]

I dried out my tin of three nuns in front of the A/C for around 5-6 hours, and gave it a try once again. I no longer get that harsh mouth feel, and I’m tasting sweetness from the VA’s that I did not taste previously. All to say, problem solved. Thanks everyone for the helpful tips and feedback.

 

[didimauw]

This is why I've stuck to burley blends since the beginning. Once every one or two years I attempt to try a Virginia tobacco. Regret it every single time. And you are right, it's not tongue bite, but it's just hot and gross. Burleys don't do that to me.

 

[dctune]

I second Embers emphatically. For me, VAs need to be drier than any other blend type, crisp in fact. Any moister than bone dry, it just tastes like a hot wildebeest fart to me, regardless of cadence, packing, or any other factors. Dried just right, however...that's when you get those nirvana smokes that just knock your socks off.

Just thinking about the kind of research that had to have been done to be able to compare the flavor of Virginias to hot wildebeest farts.

 

[bullet08]

Virginia, Virginia, Virginia. I do on occasions misspell her, Vagina, but never called her Vinegar.

I do love a good opening.

I do enjoy Va, but it takes whole bowl to do so. Doesn't matter what blend, high percentage Va blends are sharp at the beginning for me. After the first clean up (running pipe cleaner, drying the draught, cleaning the mortise, and dumping ash), the whole profile changes. Usually around top 1/4 of the bowl. After that everything just turns wonderful.

 

[Akoni808]

This is why I've stuck to burley blends since the beginning. Once every one or two years I attempt to try a Virginia tobacco. Regret it every single time. And you are right, it's not tongue bite, but it's just hot and gross. Burleys don't do that to me.

Burley blends are always easier on me, and require far less work. My stockpile always ends up having a lot of VA’s because I smoke through burley blends like it’s nothing. I just really want to appreciate VA’s, and VaPers. ?