C&D Virginias Evolving in the Bowl

I think I have a love/hate relationship with C&D Virginias.
Every one I've tried I have hated, at least at the start.
Then, after struggling through half the bowl, something clicks and I think, "Hey, this is pretty good now!"
I'm guessing this is due to a sort of stoving that happens while smoking the first half. But it is not enough to make me want to struggle through the first half.

Some thoughts.
1. Anyone else experience this?
2. I was reading that this could be because they use a lot of air cured Virginia, and it could be less aged.
3. I'm thinking of baking a tin to see if it changes the first half of the bowl.

Any thoughts?

Sorry, no suggestions. All of the Virginias that I smoke taste best at the top of the bowl. That's the reason that I choose pipes with shallow bowls.

Edit: I haven't smoked C&D tobaccos for many years. So I guess that's my suggestion. Why fight it?

@BryGuySC - What C&D blends have you experienced this with? I'm going to try some tonight to see what you're talking about. Very interesting post.

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Originally Posted by Haebar

@BryGuySC - What C&D blends have you experienced this with? I'm going to try some tonight to see what you're talking about. Very interesting post.

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I would note that this is with unaged blends.

Temple Bar
Poplar Camp
Exclusive
Epiphany

I have all these (but Epiphany) jarred up and aging. I'm hoping they​ smooth out for me with some age.

Oddly enough, Joie de Vivre is one of my favorites.

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Originally Posted by BryGuySC

I would note that this is with unaged blends.

Temple Bar
Poplar Camp
Exclusive
Epiphany

I have all these (but Epiphany) jarred up and aging. I'm hoping they​ smooth out for me with some age.

Oddly enough, Joie de Vivre is one of my favorites.

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Well, I'm about halfway through a bowl of Poplar Camp and I definitely see what you are talking about. For about the first 1/4 of the bowl it tasted a little green like it hadn't been cured quite enough. About 1/3 in it started getting more enjoyable and now it's pretty enjoyable. I'm going to see if I have any Yorktown (a straight Virginia) and see how it pans out.

All C&D benefits from even 4-6 months jarred, I think.

One thing I noticed with other VA blends like MacB VA no. 1#, or some of the McClelland VAs, is an initial burst of sweetness, probably from topping. The McC's seemed to have a good bit, and VA 1# is clearly sweetened. This dissipated about the time I suspect natural VA starts to develop a lot.

Personally, as a bitter-burley lover, the woodier, less sweet start to the bowl doesn't bother me with these types of straight-up style VAs. I'm not really sure how it could be worked around, to be honest. Even blends with C&D's Stoved virginia don't strike me as being particularly sweet at the start of the bowl either.

It's because almost everything C&D puts out has hidden burley content.

One of my fave blends of all time is Briar Fox. For years it was advertised as all Va tobacco, but I knew it wasnt. There was to much "something" at the beginning. It wasn't until I smoked OJK that I realized it was their leaded burley that I was tasting.

Almost all their "va" blends have that burley hit to me.

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I'm going to try cooking a tin of Temple Bar for a couple hours to see what happens.
I read 220° for 220 minutes is good.

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Originally Posted by Branzig

It's because almost everything C&D puts out has hidden burley content.

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Must be why I generally don't care for C&D blends; I don't like burley in my Va.

If your experiments don't turn out, just remember that I'd probably swap McClelland (whatever I have left of their stuff) for C&D any time. :D:D

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Originally Posted by Emperor Zurg

Must be why I generally don't care for C&D blends; I don't like burley in my Va.

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Yes sir. Most of their VA aren't mine either, but something about that Briar Fox is too tasty.

I am a fan of most C&D burley on its own however. Even the perique OJK has grown on me.

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