Tongue Bite is a fairly common problem among pipe smokers; even veteran smokers can experience it from time to time. Since you didn’t mention what kind of tobacco you smoke, I can only assume that it might be an aromatic. Aromatics tend to be the biggest villains when it comes to tongue bite. They are very moist and burn hot, which produces very hot steam, which is the root cause of tongue bite. I have not experienced any real bad tongue bite in many years….probably since the days I began smoking a pipe, over 25 years ago.

Another cause of tongue bite is the packing of the tobacco. If it’s packed too tight or too loose, this will produce either a hard or loose draw, which will in turn make the tobacco burn hot….thus, tongue bite. If you find you’ve packed your pipe to lightly, you can always use a packing tool and pack it a bit tighter. But, if you’ve packed it to tight from the start, it’s very hard to loosen it up…shy of dumping the bowl and staring again.

Also, puff rate is critical. If you smoke fast, it will burn hot and produce tongue bite. Pipe smoking is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable. It’s not a race…take your time. Take the time to select your pipe and a tobacco blend. Pack slowly and lightly….fire it up and enjoy!

As I mentioned, aromatic blends are at fault many times for tongue bite. Another type of tobacco that burns hot is Virginia blends, especially straight Virginia’s. Virginia tobaccos are naturally high in sugar and will burn hot. Virginia tobaccos are wonderful….they have great flavor and aroma, but if smoked fast, they will rip your tongue up pretty bad. Many wonderful tobacco blends have Virginia tobaccos as a base and such things as Latakia, Perique, Burley and Cavendish are added to create unique mixtures.

So, the upshot is to smoke SLOW, pack your pipe lightly (use less tobacco and pack less tight) and select tobacco blends that generally don’t burn hot. I’ve been an English Blend smoker for over 20 years (I love Latakia and Perique) and totally enjoy many brands and blends. I even smoke Virginia blends, but I’ve learned that a slow smoke and light pack are the best way to truly get the most enjoyment from my pipes.

Take it slow, relax and enjoy!

Happy Puffing!

Jim