The best advice against tongue bites I got so far was "change tobacco and don't torture yourself". If I need crutches like a "special breathing method", "special pipes", drinking while smoking, filters, and so on, it means this tobacco is not compatible with my body chemistry. Actually, none of these crutches ever worked for me.
That is exactly right and the best advice. Body chemistry is the main thing and I noticed it by myself. Nevertheless, wet tobaco and hot smoking spoiles your smoking experience for sure. So, find the right tobaco, that fits your body (tobaco mixture and blend) and dont't smoke your pipe too hot.
OK... once again from an elderly pipe smoking gentleman (who has, sadly, always tended to be a "wet-smoker"), I'm gonna "let the cat outta the bag" here on a LITTLE TRICK that I've used to solve the tongue bite problem for me... and, it just might work for you, so I'll give away this little "trick" to all my "pipe-smoking brethren" free of charge!... To be PERFECTLY HONEST, the COOLEST, DRIEST smoke that this ole dude ever experiences is in using BOTH a 9mm charcoal filter and a 6mm Savinelli balsa filter SIMULTANEOUSLY in a 9mm churchwarden stem (that is: use BOTH at the same time!)!... The balsa filter absorbs all the moisture, which not only eliminates tongue bite, but, also greatly extends the life of the charcoal filter to at least 2 bowls!... And the balsa filter can be rotated (between 3 or 4 fresh balsa filters), so each can completely air-dry... and, after a few uses, can also be rinsed in vodka, dried, and used over and over again as well!... So, here's the deal: I buy the replacement 9mm bent churchwarden stems (Chinese made) on Amazon... which, BTW, fit only SOME of my Danish, German, and Italian 9mm filtered pipes (ones that have a 0.40" O.D. tenon). Of course, after smoking a bowl, you need to push out the 6mm balsa filter with a LONG pipe cleaner (but that also serves to clean the churchwarden stem with each bowl anyway). Some folks might say, "But, doesn't 2 filters detract from the taste of the tobacco?"... Well , to that, all I can say is: "I can certainly still tell (and enjoy) the differences between all the various blends - Peterson EMP, Plum Pudding, Magnum Opus, Mississippi River, Nightcap, Artisan's Blend, Quiet Nights, etc., etc.... and this trick has GREATLY increased my enjoyment of "pipe smoking, and THAT"S what it's all about - right???? Pipe smoking is about your own "personal enjoyment", NOT copy-catting what someone else TELLS you to do!... Ya gotta do what works for you, so also take what this ole boy says with a grain of salt too - BUT... ya might wanna give the "DOUBLE-FILTER IN A CHURCHWARDEN STEM" a try - because ya just MIGHT like it a lot!... Blessings and happy puffing to you!👍
I have been smoking for more than 5 years, and still suffer from tongue bite if I smoke an unfiltered pipe. Moist pipe tobacco is worse, but I can smoke bone-dry tobacco very slowly and still have problems. Some people are just unlucky when it comes to bio-chemistry in that regard. Virginias and aromatic tobaccos are the worse offenders for me, and Burleys and Latakia's aren't quite as bad. What I found works the best for me is 9mm charcoal filtered pipes. A 9mm charcoal filter completely eradicates the issue for me! I'm so glad I found them, and I recommend them to all new pipe smokers. You can always smoke a 9mm filtered pipe without a filter in place to see if tongue-bite is an issue for you. Good video with good advice: Dry out your tobacco, and smoke slowly. I would also add to pack your pipe a bit more loosely. A tightly-packed pipe will cause more tongue-bite than a loosely packed pipe.
Very good advice. I smoke pipes more than 13 years and I could not smoke without a charcoal filter. However, I decided to try a corncob pipe a month ago. The first week was pretty tough because I did not have filters for the pipe and I even made an attempt to design my own from Watman paper. But later I realised the smoke became more dryer and tongue bites were not so hard, and now they are gone. I enjoy dry cool smoking and think briar pipes just not for me despite they look great.
I'm still learning when I started I did EVERYTHING wrong. I destroyed my first pipe in four days and had to throw it away. Tongue bite I did not even know what that was and it scared me almost to the point of quitting the hobby. These videos are a great source of info. A big thumbs up to Smokin' Briar and others for the information.
I found smoking aromatics, specifically Cavendish types is a different process than smoking English or Orientals and Burleys. A more loose pack to allow air through is almost more important than drying. I learned a few things about how the air blends with the smoke allows the tobacco to burn more cool and dry as you smoke it. Also not lighting the tobacco right across the top is also not as useful with aromatics. You want to form a cherry in the center, much the same as smoking weed, oddly enough. This allows the air to mix in and and amazingly, the true flavor comes through more. I found half way through you start to get the natural sweetness from the Virginia and Kentucky tobaccos right through your mouth and wraps your tongue in those sugars. Drawing slow and occasionally blowing lightly back through the bowl helps keep hot burning tobacco cool and stops tongue bite and scorching the chamber. On smoking when you're angry, this is one where when I'm upset or angry, going through the practiced motions of loading my pipe and getting it lit and slowly drawing on the pipe and controlling the cadence of my draw helps calm me down. If you're always stressed, you might never find a right time to smoke, but if you can go through the steps to smoke a pipe with practiced discipline you will find it's quite meditative and will help you slow down and organize your thoughts more and well, relax you.
Very helpful video on this critical topic. I like aromatics and now I rub out and lay out 3gm of the tobacco for an hour before I smoke. Even this short time makes a very big difference. It then looks and feels dry, doesn’t feel wet or oily, clump, but doesn’t crunch and crackle to dust either. That was most of my problem, I smoke a bowl over 50 minutes usually so I am reasonably slow and feel the bowl temp. to guide my pace. Lastly, I think a filter helps also a little, cuts down the steam and takes out some hard tars. Lastly, the p-Lip mouthpiece can help significantly in addition but its best to get the first two issues of moisture and pace right in any case. A final point, there are some blends, eg No Tongue Bite Delight from Boswell, which are so well made, you can hardly get tongue bit even if you try but again, its best as you rightly say, to solve the problem at the root and not find partial solutions.
Thank you for making this video. I have greatly reduced tongue bite since watching your video. I also appreciated the tip on getting ACT-Dry Mouth wash. That really worked quickly. Thank you again!
Agreed, dry out the tobacco & slow down the smoke but also tongue placement. Try moving the tongue forward against the bottom teeth & allow the pipe to lay over the tip instead of in front of the tongue, the smoke goes over the top. Works for me.
Wow... thank you so much mate. I was in the washroom with a pair of sheers about to chop my tongue out so I could press on with my smoke when I saw this video. You are truly a blessing. Worked flawlessly 🌬💨
Don't know how I missed your video but am glad I came across it. What you said really make sense and I have slowly been figuring out the same thing. Thanks for the tips.
Another great video, I am a new pipe smoker, for around 2 months. Prior to buying my first pipe (a cob of course!) I watch many many videos on tobacco reviews and such. But there isn't many for the beginners. Thank you for this one because I've suffered from tongue bit quite often. Some tobacco enthusiast show how to prep and smoke flake tobaccos. I wish I had seen them before I finish my tin of G.L.Pease Quiet night. So, I have A Peterson Aran bent billiard , My first real pipe , And suffered from tongue bite , very hot bowl, and a very wet smoke. Thank you for the info It really helped me out. Just before I started this video I paused it, filled the afore mentioned pipe and had the usual result. I came back in watched your video went back outside and had the best smoke from that pipe ever!!! So it wasn't the carter hall tobacco although it is a virginia burly mix so it's a little spicy but nice. Wonderful tobacco witch makes me happy cuz I bought 14oz of it lol. Thanks again for the great video. Maybe some day down the road I will make my own videos.I live in massachusetts so there are tons of historic places that would make great back drops for pipe smoking !!!!
thank you so much. I gave up on my pipe after a bad tongue bite that lasted almost a week. I thought it was typical of pipe smoking, didnt want any of that so went back to my daily pack of cigarettes. After watching this, i dried out my tobacco and tried again, smooth as silk and really liked the taste of aromatic tobacco.
Good stuff sir. Great advice for the beginners and those, perhaps, not enjoying the wonderful hobby of pipe smoking because of the dreaded tongue bite.
This was great info. I liked the paper towel suggestion👍. There are some aromatics that I love the smell of and want to enjoy more but the bite kept me away now I can enjoy them Thanks
I still remember that kind of feeling at the first time I smoked pipe...1990...still in my highschool time...my father laughed at me when I asked him why...but the pipe itself matters...Ronson England pipe, I think the coolest one...still one of my favourites.
I recently bought a churchwarden pipe, you know, cause Gandalf is cool, and there's three things I like a lot about it. Firstly you can be more lazy and keep your hand lower while still reaching the pipe to your mouth, secondly the bowl is further from your face so on windy days you don't get smoke in your eyes, and these two are minor compared to the final thing: the long stem gives the smoke time to cool. I find I can get away with a couple overzealous puffs, something I absolutely cannot do with my Grabow Duke (about 5 inches).
Great video, I new to pipe smoking and have experienced everything you just mentioned, tongue bite, smoking too fast, moist tobacco and I didn't realize it until watching your video that I have turned the inside of my pipe into charcoal. Well it's my first pipe and a cheap starter pipe. Thanks for the great tips.
Once you burn a pipe like that, it's hard to get it back to being a decent smoker again. There a many ways to "Clean" your pipe, but that burnt taste will always linger. I would suggest getting a new pipe, apply the tips you learned, and start all over again! Stay away from the cheap pipes if you can. They usually give you a poor smoke no matter how you treat them. Give a corn cob pipe a try! You can't beat them for a good smoke and for under $15.00 the price is right! Good luck and thanks!!
Pretty good advice. I think your suggestions are accurate and helpful. Imho, the goal of getting a new pipe to smoke correctly is to get that carbon ring to set in on your pipe as quick as possible, so that you're smoking against the carbon layer and not the actual wood or Meerschaum or ???. Frankly my opinion is go slow, be open-minded and circumspect, to look around in everything we do and try to be nice to people. It ain't that hard. Good luck, all. Keep puffin' away!
Pipes can get colored(taste) by smoking different blends in one pipe. Aromatics are the worst offenders especially those with a heavy topping. To minimize this from occurring one can dedicate different pipes to specific types of blends ( Aromatics, Latakia, Virginia dominant etc.) and/or a pipe to a blend; depending on the potential for ghosting , what you can afford etc. Ideally having a pipe to each blend is optimal though not always necessary. Cobs and Meerschaum pipes are also an option as they are much less prone to ghosting (some say they do not ghost) than briar. Cobs in particular are also less expensive. I believe ghosting is a primary reason why a pipe can taste sour or bad. If your pipe(s) is (are) sour, "google" salt treatment or pipe retort and look for tutorials. I would examine a few examples, to minimize faulty information, gather your materials and then start cleaning your pipe(s). Depending on how bad your pipe(s) is (are), it (they) might need several treatments; remember to give the pipe(s) a thorough cleaning (Alcohol, pipe cleaners & towel to the stem, shank & bowl) beforehand. Once the ghost is gone and after your first smoke, letting your pipe rest, give it a light cleaning and let the good times roll. If the pipe becomes sour again start another treatment and think about how blends and your habits might be affecting your experience.
Great great info and video. I have def learned to dry mine out no matter what it is. Sometimes I still get tongue bite but not near like I did when I first started smoking.
Thanks for good advice. I have already applied some of the adaptations and the slow down one really goes a long way. I still have to work on drying out my tobacco. Thanks very much!
Just got my first corn pipe and my first bag of Tobacco ( captain black cherry) and fighting like hell to keep the damn thing lit. Maybe it's a moisture issue as well.
the end is near bags or packets will feel a bit wet when first opening them. Let it dry out a little before packing it. That’ll stop the gurgling but relighting will always be a problem. Just make sure to use your tamp tool to keep the lit embers in contact with the rest of the bowl.
I did found this the very best* stop tongue bite* video over the whole RU-vid, such a good lesson, good tips, Oh Yes I've been done this road before and occasionally doing all again mostly due to my unproper packing method , and most of all if tobacco is wet,and if Virginia in question if my cadence is uncontrolled,recall the most horrible tongue bite occured after smoking Mc (Bitey) Barens Virginia Nro 1 tobacco, Bet I do remember that all my life, Lol, and Thank you for your input, Very Valuable, Greets to WV, Paul
Very good advice on several fronts. The only time I can relax enough to smoke a pipe the way it should be smoked is Sunday morning after a long Work week and Saturday house chores. I look forward to my Sunday mornings with my coffee and pipe so much. I smoke mostly aromatic’s and everything you said is absolutely true. I also use a pipe cleaner during my smoke to run down the stem which does helps. I also found these small charcoal pieces that you drop in the bottom of the bowl prior to loading. They help absorb the moisture. Do you have any thoughts on these? Thank you for a great video Sir.
Also when you age your tobacco it becomes less acidic and more alkaline. Great video my wife and I just finished our pipe room and we just started our YTPC channel, Merry Christmas
Yep, this guy nailed it. I've been drying my tobacco quite a bit more for about 3 days now and I've been smoking like a chimney since just because I'm over doing it now that it doesn't hurt my tongue. Ha. It's a great feeling though because I was kind of attached to the hobby when I decided to start and before I even had a pipe.
This really helped thanks, one thing I'd add as someone moving from cigarettes onto a pipe is that you shouldn't draw on it like a cig, instead take lots of small draws taking in air between each draw, not only will it stay lit far longer but no burn either.
Thanks for this! I’ve just started to smoke & I have burnt my tongue a few times, mainly on the re-light. I’ve just checked my tobacco and it’s quite damp, I’ll leave a portion to dry out before I smoke it later
After a good hot curry in a restaurant they often serve Lass i- a yogurt drink to cool the mouth down. May I suggest that if you do suffer a bout of tongue bite try some yogurt drink or plain yogurt. Works for me.
Unfortunately the 9mm filter pipes are very underrated in the US. However using a filter pipe will definitely cut off the tongue bite and beginners can always switch to non-filter pipes later when they have figured out a proper smoking technique.
Makes total sense... its the steam from wet tobacco. This explanation makes the most sense to me. I watched some videos where they say packing with no pressure stops tongue bite. How do you pack?
Good info. I’ve been smoking a pipe for 30 years or more. I enjoy Gawith Hogarth flakes when I can get them, y’all internet hogs know what I mean. Gawith flakes are best dried out to where they turn a slight gray color. You’ll taste the real way they mean for that blend to be. Again, good video. Side note; I use a fold over tobacco pouch for flakes, let’s them dry out nice and slow. Happy puffs From puffingstuff.
Thanks for the video! Can a pipe have too much air flow? Also, can a tobacco be too dry? I'm a new pipe smoker (if you can't tell and would love advice). Thanks!
I am a rookie piper, but I notice somethings: 1. The more pipes you smoke the less you'll get tongue bites, guess your mouth get used to it. 2. Wet tobaccos are really a problem, fix this by putting a chunk of tobacco (enough for a bowl) over a paper towel and put it 20 seconds in the microwave, if it is almost "cracking" after the MW, it's ready, if not put another 10 sec there. This procedure really improved my smoking, way less relighting and gurgling. 3. About gurgling, a straight pipe completely solved my problem, I guess is due the fact that the moisture doesn't accumulate in the bottom of the bowl and keeps flowing out the stem little by little. That is what I found out, hope it'll help you too!! Regards from Brazil!!
I just started pipe smoking again, I stopped after my handmade one was stolen out of my work truck(some wierdo wanted to taste my spit). It was perfect, the mouth piece soaked up my saliva just enough, but never had any tongue bite, just a sweet and smooth taste. It was a bit janky and awkward to hold, but it was perfect for me. I bought one a couple years ago, smoke a few times and stopped. I'm just starting again, I might have to try and make another to fit me.
I quit pipes due to cost, but used only gas lighters, no matches and no Zippo, that way the cake gets harder and drier (no wax or fuel boil off into the bowl). Prevents tongue bite and makes the tobacco taste more.
when my brother introduced me to pipe smoking, he told me about tongue bite. Thankfully, he also told me how to prevent it and I've never had the misfortune of experiencing it. It probably also helps that I don't smoke aromatic or any of that wet, gooey stuff.
before I was a pipe smoker I was a cigar smoker and that carried into my pipe smoking when I smoked cigars I gummed them without my teeth so I didn't destroy my cigar I now do that with my pipe stems so I never have a scratch on my pipe stems
