stone
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Post by stone on Apr 29, 2019 19:24:24 GMT -5
I just finished a bowl of McClelland Blackwoods Flake and while it seemed there was an awesome flavor buried in there I got so much bite it was hard to enjoy. This was 10 year old tobacco and had a nice mellow taste but the bite and burnt taste overshadowed it. I smoked it in a Dr Grabow Omega 3/4 bent.
I've read that excess steam will cause bite and I am just trying to figure out how to enjoy what seemed like a great taste.
Any thoughts?
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 29, 2019 19:27:19 GMT -5
Your Ph might be the culprit...10 Year Old Blackwoods Flake has had time to mellow the red Vas. so I doubt it is that. I have the same problem...sometimes I am able to smoke it, most times I have to give it to Josh, a good friend.
If it is the Ph. you might as well gift it to a friend, as you most likely, like me, not be able to smoke it.
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Post by Baboo on Apr 29, 2019 19:29:22 GMT -5
I just finished a bowl of McClelland Blackwoods Flake and while it seemed there was an awesome flavor buried in there I got so much bite it was hard to enjoy. This was 10 year old tobacco and had a nice mellow taste but the bite and burnt taste overshadowed it. I smoked it in a Dr Grabow Omega 3/4 bent.
I've read that excess steam will cause bite and I am just trying to figure out how to enjoy what seemed like a great taste.
Any thoughts?
Perhaps some drying out might help... and also if you have a Churchwarden smoker, give that a try. |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 29, 2019 19:41:29 GMT -5
I just finished a bowl of McClelland Blackwoods Flake and while it seemed there was an awesome flavor buried in there I got so much bite it was hard to enjoy. This was 10 year old tobacco and had a nice mellow taste but the bite and burnt taste overshadowed it. I smoked it in a Dr Grabow Omega 3/4 bent.
I've read that excess steam will cause bite and I am just trying to figure out how to enjoy what seemed like a great taste.
Any thoughts?
Perhaps some drying out might help... and also if you have a Churchwarden smoker, give that a try. I think this is the answer! I went back and read dozens of reviews and I'm assuming now that I just didn't give it enough drying time before packing the bowl. Thanks |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 19:44:46 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Apr 29, 2019 19:51:38 GMT -5
Dry it more than you think you should and smoke it slow, really slow. If that doesnt help the bite, then I'd just move on to another blend. I smoke a pipe to enjoy it, lava mouth is not joyous.
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 29, 2019 19:53:21 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK. Is there anything that can be done to counteract the pH issue prior to smoking? |
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Post by Baboo on Apr 29, 2019 20:03:56 GMT -5
A Churchwarden can do wonders to cool down/tame a hot damp smoke... they are comfortable too at half an arm's length...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 20:17:06 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK. Is there anything that can be done to counteract the pH issue prior to smoking? McClelland Blackwoods Flake is a straight Virginia blend. Adding some perique or burley to it should help ease the bite. Straight Virginias can bite my tongue too, some like a rabid dog. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 20:21:34 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK. Is there anything that can be done to counteract the pH issue prior to smoking? Here are the five tips I use to help control my Ph How do I keep a balanced pH in my mouth? 1...Avoid sugary soft drinks. But if you can't resist, drink them quickly and follow up with a drink of water. 2...Avoid black coffee. Adding dairy, not a sugary flavored creamer, can help counteract the acidity. 3...Don't brush before smoking 4...Chew gum, keeps mouth moist. 5...Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water. You can purchase a kit at your local pharmacy and check you Ph level. You may have a high amount of acids in your mouth. This is a simple fix......bicarbonate of soda and water is an excellent method for neutralising the acids......gargle and rinse your mouth. |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 29, 2019 20:24:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips, Ted...I'll give them a try, also.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 20:26:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips, Ted...I'll give them a try, also. Walt, I stay clear of fresh Virginia’s......they have a tendency of biting me like a 🐍 snake 🐍 |
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Post by monbla256 on Apr 29, 2019 22:25:40 GMT -5
"Back in the day" as they say I smoked a lot of BF and for me found it did not smoke well fresh with the fold and stuff method wouldn't stay lit and when it did it bit like the proverbial dog. Fully rubbed out and allowed to dry some seemed to "... tame the beast" for me. Right out of the tin it was a very moist 'baccy but after allowed to dry some, man , was it a flavorful straight va ! I'm sure it's probably a combination of all the things said so give it another try ! 
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chasingembers
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 29, 2019 23:14:22 GMT -5
There are Red Virginias in that one. Some folks just can't smoke them just as some can't smoke Perique.
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on Apr 30, 2019 0:32:46 GMT -5
I'm lucky in that I never have a problem with Red Virginias, or pretty much any Virginias. A lot of people can't smoke Reds. It just tears their mouths up, and nothing will help with that. Drying the flake may do a lot to reduce the bite, as will smoking it very slowly. But if your body chemistry really reacts badly to Reds, that's just the way it is.
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chasingembers
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 30, 2019 1:28:02 GMT -5
I'm lucky in that I never have a problem with Red Virginias, or pretty much any Virginias. A lot of people can't smoke Reds. It just tears their mouths up, and nothing will help with that. Drying the flake may do a lot to reduce the bite, as will smoking it very slowly. But if your body chemistry really reacts badly to Reds, that's just the way it is. I love them too as I hoarded McClelland reds like crazy. Haven't came across a tobacco type yet that I've had an adverse reaction to. |
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Post by elric on Apr 30, 2019 1:35:31 GMT -5
MacBaren Plumcake would be my favourite blend except for one thing, it bites like a bitch.
It's ok when smoked in a small/medium meerschaum lined Dublin or a Falcon also with a smallish bowl. One bowl a day is fine. Two & my mouth starts to feel it.
I'm saving for a reverse calabash (with medium bowl) & am hoping that this will work even better.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 1:59:20 GMT -5
chasingembers...........my issue is caused by a few of the meds I take on a daily basis. Prior to becoming ill in 2011, no pipe tobacco’s or cigars ever effected my mouth or tongue. Meds as well can play a role in this equation for many smokers.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 2:32:43 GMT -5
Perique comes close to duplicating a sinus attack for me, but I like it in condiment amounts.
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chasingembers
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Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 30, 2019 3:07:21 GMT -5
chasingembers ...........my issue is caused by a few of the meds I take on a daily basis. Prior to becoming ill in 2011, no pipe tobacco’s or cigars ever effected my mouth or tongue. Meds as well can play a role in this equation for many smokers. Now that is interesting. I've known a few pipe smokers that were actually allergic to Red Virginias and Perique, but the medication issue is a new one to me. Do the meds make your stomach more sensitive to acidity too? |
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chasingembers
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Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 30, 2019 3:09:15 GMT -5
MacBaren Plumcake would be my favourite blend except for one thing, it bites like a bitch. It's ok when smoked in a small/medium meerschaum lined Dublin or a Falcon also with a smallish bowl. One bowl a day is fine. Two & my mouth starts to feel it. I'm saving for a reverse calabash (with medium bowl) & am hoping that this will work even better. I love Plumcake and its sibling The Solent Mixture. Have you tried smoking it in a cob? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 3:45:33 GMT -5
chasingembers.........Now that is interesting. I've known a few pipe smokers that were actually allergic to Red Virginias and Perique, but the medication issue is a new one to me. Do the meds make your stomach more sensitive to acidity too? Most definitely, I’m chewing on simethicone daily every few hours. I have no issues smoking red Virginia’s or Perique to this day if aged 5 plus years. Prior I was able to smoke them fresh if dried properly.
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 30, 2019 6:02:51 GMT -5
All good information! I love learning  |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 30, 2019 7:12:29 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK. I have ordered PH test strips which I think can help in many ways regarding my diet. What PH level works best for pipe smoking? |
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chasingembers
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First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 30, 2019 10:21:38 GMT -5
chasingembers .........Now that is interesting. I've known a few pipe smokers that were actually allergic to Red Virginias and Perique, but the medication issue is a new one to me. Do the meds make your stomach more sensitive to acidity too? Most definitely, I’m chewing on simethicone daily every few hours. I have no issues smoking red Virginia’s or Perique to this day if aged 5 plus years. Prior I was able to smoke them fresh if dried properly. That could be an interesting investigation into exactly what effects the medication is having on your digestive system to cause that. Possibly even other effects they have on other bodily system other than the ones intended. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 10:23:37 GMT -5
I agree with both above me....might have to due with your Ph or more dry time is needed to accommodate your Ph level. Every pipe smoker has their own preference. Also try drinking cool water, make sure your mouth is not dry.......works for me.......GOOD LUCK. I have ordered PH test strips which I think can help in many ways regarding my diet. What PH level works best for pipe smoking? Healthy saliva is neutral or slightly alkaline, which is at the opposite end of the spectrum to acidity. Acid and alkaline are measured on a logarithmic scale of "pH" running from 1, which is very acidic, to 14, which is intensely alkaline, with a pH of 7 being "neutral". Mine lately has been around 5.5, of course I’d much prefer a neutral level of 7 to 8, not to alkaline as well. |
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Post by AJ on Apr 30, 2019 11:10:54 GMT -5
Tongue bite, while smoking my dearly loved McClelland Tobacco, is the reason I started buying pipes that have filters. I prefer using a 9mm charcoal filter. For me it made tongue bite a thing of the past. Haven’t had an issue with it in years. Savinelli and Dr. Grabow pipes use a 6mm filter and I find they do a good job eliminating tongue bite. YMMV
AJ
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Post by monbla256 on Apr 30, 2019 18:41:44 GMT -5
I'm lucky in that I never have a problem with Red Virginias, or pretty much any Virginias. A lot of people can't smoke Reds. It just tears their mouths up, and nothing will help with that. Drying the flake may do a lot to reduce the bite, as will smoking it very slowly. But if your body chemistry really reacts badly to Reds, that's just the way it is. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 30, 2019 19:45:26 GMT -5
MacBaren Plumcake would be my favourite blend except for one thing, it bites like a bitch. It's ok when smoked in a small/medium meerschaum lined Dublin or a Falcon also with a smallish bowl. One bowl a day is fine. Two & my mouth starts to feel it. I'm saving for a reverse calabash (with medium bowl) & am hoping that this will work even better. I love Plumcake and its sibling The Solent Mixture. Have you tried smoking it in a cob? No, I haven't. I'm trying to remember why not. The meerschaum lined Dublin worked for me so I didn't venture further. I'll give it a go & I'll report back. Edit to add. Haven't tried the Solent mixture. Looking at reviews, as an inhaler it looks like it would be a bit too strong for me. It does sound nice though. |
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chasingembers
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First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 30, 2019 20:05:33 GMT -5
I love Plumcake and its sibling The Solent Mixture. Have you tried smoking it in a cob? No, I haven't. I'm trying to remember why not. The meerschaum lined Dublin worked for me so I didn't venture further. I'll give it a go & I'll report back. Edit to add. Haven't tried the Solent mixture. Looking at reviews, as an inhaler it looks like it would be a bit too strong for me. It does sound nice though. Solent's got a very similar profile to Plum Cake. In some ways I prefer it to Plum Cake. |
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