Why do Aros Burn Hotter?

[zonomo]

I think lately Ive been smoking too fast. Been getting tongue burn quite a bit. Then I also read somewhere that you dont get the bite as much with English and Virgs. Why would they be cooler?

 

[bigvan]

The reason why aros are aros is LOTS of added sugar. Sugar burns hot.

 

[eaglerico]

I think the main reason is that most aeros come "wet." If they aren't dried enough when you try to smoke it, you will have to puff harder and longer thus resulting in a hot wet smoke. I would suggest letting it dry till you think it is too dry and try smoking it that way. It will burn faster but won't burn your tongue. IF you get some aeros which are on the low end of the quality scale...i.e. Captain Black and the like....it may take days for it to dry out because of the chemicals added to increase shelf life.
I also mix a wet aero with a dry virginia to even each other out and create a unique flavor profile.

 

[martiniman]

+1 rothnh

 

[bigboi]

I agree, I have been drying out my aros, sometimes up to 4 hours before I smoke them and I have found them to be ALOT more pleasant and cooler smoking. Because I am not trying to puff as hard or as often to keep it lit.
So really I am just reiterating what Roth, eagle, and bigvan have already said!!!

 

[judcole]

If you are gonna smoke aros, smoke good ones, not cheap ones.

 

[seakayak]

I find the same issue with my aeromatic blends...wet or dry, the English blends are consistently cooler.

 

[zonomo]

@rothnh: yep, you described me perfectly, except for the cigarette part. I went in the B&M, smelled the jar and took some home. Didnt take anything like it smelled. I think I must have been lucky because my B&M has 2 blends that I really love (a Hazenut and something called Seattle Best). Most of my Aros are what I'd consider decent to high quality (Boswells and Edwards). I dont care for 1Q. I do think I need to learn to dry out my tobacco before I smoke.
What are the best ways to dry out? Just put it on a plate?

 

[augaug]

Zonomo what's your local B&M? Is there a good one in Seattle? I've gone to the one on Corson and to tobacco patch in Kirkland, just curious.

 

[zonomo]

@augaug: Honestly, not really. I think the folks at Tobacco Path in Kirkland and Bellevue are nice people but they dont know much about pipes. They're really cigar people.