Tongue Bite

[Soundwave13]

I was craving some Latakia last night & dug up some GL Pease Odyssey and some Esoterica Margate (to compare each other), both of which (when smoked slowly) are wonderful, classic 'english' blends... The Margate I found extreemly smooth but needless to say - I was a bit hasty (with the Odyssey) & ended up with a classic case of the dreaded Tongue Bite.

My understanding is that it results from a combination of factors including how fast you smoke a blend, yet certain blends are definitely more prone to leave your tongue feeling sore lending credibility to the theory that it's cause is more of a chemical root than simply 'operator error'.

I find that GL Pease & Cornell & Diehl blends tend to 'bite' quicker than many other blends that I've tried.

My question(s) are two-fold:

~ What blends do you find are either MORE prone or LESS prone to give tongue bite?

~ Are there any 'home-remedies' that particularly help or hinder the healing process?

Thanks guys!

 

[DSturg369]

For me, the more VA in a blend the worse the bite is.... Again, this could be just for me. On any given day at any given time, body chemistry has something to do with this. Can be worse or better depending. I'm not exactly sure of the details though. Smoking technique also has a factor, I'm sure.

Unfortunately, time is the only sure-fire cure for tongue bite, sorry.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

The only time I get tongue bite is for two reasons.....smoking to fast or it's been a while since I last smoked.

 

[hdroadglide]

The only time I get tongue bite is for two reasons.....smoking to fast or it's been a while since I last smoked.

or......stickin' your tongue where it doesn't belong!!!:hysterica

 

[Soundwave13]

For me, the more VA in a blend the worse the bite is....

I've heard that from a number of other people also - but interestingly enough, I don't ever get bit by Virginia's. It's something about the agressive spice (maybe it's the wood stock used in the 'smoking' process of curing the latakia leaf) that they use in GLP particularly that I must be weary of. Perhaps it's because it's smooth at first, yet gets more spicy as you go? Not sure... Margate seems the opposite - spicy at first, then mellows out nicely.

[Maybe (how I smoke) it has to do with the fullness of flavor or even nicotine content: when I smoke Hal O' the Wynd I sip it slowly because it's easy to satisfy the taste buds & has a nice kick also.]

Anyhow... From what I've read, keeping the mouth less alkaline and bacteria free assists in the healing process - makes sense. I usually stay away from carbonated beverages & spicy foods while healing. Another few things that help are Yogurt, alcohol-free mouthwash & toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate (foaming agent).

 

[sgresso]

For me something very acidic can cause it to flare up. I try to avoid stuff that have that in it. I found milk can help me out. Flavored tobaccos are a no go for me they will tear my mouth up.

 

[Soundwave13]

For me something very acidic can cause it to flare up. I try to avoid stuff that have that in it. I found milk can help me out. Flavored tobaccos are a no go for me they will tear my mouth up.

:thumbsup:

That's interesting - I've never been attracted to the aromatics, but I've had a few lightly cased blends like Bob's Chocolate Flake, DVC or other cavandish's. Bob's was smooth, but I've had a few cavandishes that were so distasteful, it made me empty out the bowl before it was 'tainted'.

 

[LiLo]

Aromatics are the only thing that burn me bad! Not to mention i get horrible gurgle when i smoke aromatics too. I tend to smoke a little fast and i can't get myself to learn otherwise. For the most part i don't smoke aromatics at all so it works out i guess.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Aromatics are the only thing that burn me bad! Not to mention i get horrible gurgle when i smoke aromatics too. I tend to smoke a little fast and i can't get myself to learn otherwise. For the most part i don't smoke aromatics at all so it works out i guess.

I agree 100% with that statement, any flavor, regardless of what it is, is not natural to any tobacco, whether it's pipe tobacco or cigars. I will run a pipe cleaner or two through my pipe while it is still warm to clean it and I do it after every bowl I smoke.

The bend of your pipe also has alot to do with whether or not you are gonna get a gurgle while your smoking, in my opinion. The moister the tobacco the more readily you will end up with a gurgle.

 

[boom]

Sip slow..... Very true with aros.....

 

[CWL]

As a new pipe smoker, I stumbled into MacBaren and learned why some called it "MacBite". After changing to other tobaccos, I have found that different tobaccos and blends will affect you differently. One guy on YouTube explained that it has to do with the different PH levels in every person and seems to make sense.

I have also discovered that pipes with small openings, either a round hole, or tiny slit will give tongue bit faster than stems with wide openings. They just focus that smoke into one small point on the tongue for a burn. I have a beautiful Petersons tankard with a small hole and it is a flamethrower on the tongue.

 

[TreeFrog Frank]

I've always heard (and experienced) worse tongue bite with aromatics. I think it has to do with how overly moist they are, and the heat causes some "steam" that will tend to bite your tongue more. Whenever I'm planning on smoking aromatics, I try to let them air out and get a bit drier before smoking. That seems to help. But sometimes you just don't know when the occasion will arise when you can get in a bowl or two.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

I've always heard (and experienced) worse tongue bite with aromatics. I think it has to do with how overly moist they are, and the heat causes some "steam" that will tend to bite your tongue more. Whenever I'm planning on smoking aromatics, I try to let them air out and get a bit drier before smoking. That seems to help. But sometimes you just don't know when the occasion will arise when you can get in a bowl or two.

Very well put Frank! :clap:

 

[ciggy]

This has been a major problem with the last few days of getting back into pipe smoking...I've been doing alot of research on this and would say 50% is the learning curve and 50% of it is the tobacco. I truly hope this will go away eventually because I'd like to get into smoking my pipes every night. All I know is my tongue gets sore after every bowl I try to smoke...This sucks!

 

[Hoshneer]

I actually like a little tongue Bute but to much is annoying. I think it has to do more with the blends for me than anything and also smoking to fast. Remember the goal is to smoke as slow as you can without the pipe going out. I always forget this. :/

Sent from my Galaxy S3 while getting a blumpkin!

 

[CO Smokes]

This has been a major problem with the last few days of getting back into pipe smoking...I've been doing alot of research on this and would say 50% is the learning curve and 50% of it is the tobacco. I truly hope this will go away eventually because I'd like to get into smoking my pipes every night. All I know is my tongue gets sore after every bowl I try to smoke...This sucks!

I used to get tongue bite a lot and found that a piece of chocolate or a teaspoon of honey can help sooth it until you get used to the pipe again. Give it a shot and see If it helps.

 

[Red Raider]

I am really liking all the recent interest in pipes. I have been working on learning this art and all the threads and topics are quite educational.

Phil

 

[Hoshneer]

Yeah, it's nice to see a surge in interest. It seems like us pipe smokers are always so quiet. Don't get me wrong though, I smoke just as many cigars. Lol

Sent from my Galaxy S3 while getting a blumpkin!

 

[ciggy]

The trouble is I smoke slow and the pipe GOES out..lol
I even tamp lightly to spread the coals out for an even burn. Also do the false light thing once or maybe twice. I think it's just going to take some more time to get the technique down but I also think the "Bite" is from the blend more than me causing it.

 

[CigarGavin]

The trouble is I smoke slow and the pipe GOES out..lol
I even tamp lightly to spread the coals out for an even burn. Also do the false light thing once or maybe twice. I think it's just going to take some more time to get the technique down but I also think the "Bite" is from the blend more than me causing it.

Just had this conversation with a pipe maker buddy of mine yesterday; I've been looking to get a little more into pipes purely to see how it is and the lighting/ tongue bite is killing me. Smoke fast to keep it lit and you get a nice tongue bite circle, smoke slow and it goes out. He told me it takes time, and I may be packing it wrong. 2 cents