Help. O and hello

[AndyCAYP]

SWR to me, like Prince Albert, always seemed sort of tasteless, so it might just be that you don't agree with that tobacco. Nothing wrong with that. Additionally, being a cigar smoker (mainly) means that you'll have an adjustment period - pipe tobacco naturally isn't as strong or forceful in flavor.

Tongue bite can come from your biology or from too hot moisture being released from the tobacco and hitting your tongue. Dry out your tobacco by allowing it to sit on a paper towel or plate for a while, anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight depending. SWR shouldn't take too long.

As for packing - you'll get a thousand different answers but try the Frank method. I'll save you the 4 1/2 hour instructional video and make it as quick of a teaching process as possible.

1. Drip tobacco into the bowl, and when it reaches the top gently tap the side of the bowl with your finger to allow the tobacco to settle.
2. Pinch a nugget of tobacco about the size of the bowl between your thumb, pointer, and middle finger.
3. Place that nugget on top of the bowl and do your best to hold it loosely with one finger. It will be messy.
4. Using whatever free fingers you can muster gently push IN (not down) to the tobacco while applying a light touch of pressure to the top to allow the nugget to slowly work its way into the bowl.
5. If there are any stragglers pull them off/out.
6. Take a draw. As with any decent fill, there should be about the same amount of resistance as when you drink a liquid with a straw. If the draw is too open you can push a bit more tobacco in, although some people will say to dump everything and start over at that point. If it feels like you're trying to drink concrete, definitely dump everything and start over.

Make sure you're using the initial char light, then gentle tamp, then steady light method to get the whole thing going, and make sure you're also gently tamping along the way to keep the burning tobacco against the unlit tobacco.

Good luck!