Frozen Tobacco?

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Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 15, 2018
120
0
Does freezing tobacco have a negative affect? I’m expecting a delivery today.

 
Just to freeze once for a short time, won't really leave any impact on the tobacco, but staying frozen for any length of time (weeks) could leave it freezer burned, which is where all of the cells lose their essential oils and flavor. But, for a short time, (like a few hours) I don't think it could affect it at all.

 

woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
11,568
15,209
SE PA USA
I’ve left my pipe bag in the car overnight in freezing cold conditions and seen absolutely no change in the tobacco or the pipes.

 

pipehunter

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 20, 2016
212
5
I couldn't really say without experimenting. For short term usage, though, what Comsic says makes perfect sense.
For blends I planned to then store for years, I'd have two concerns (which might prove non-issues, but they would still worry me a little). First, freezing can break the cell integrity in plants. This might not have a material impact on smoking tobacco, since the leaf is dried so significantly, but I couldn't say for sure. Second, depending on the length and severity of the freezing, it's possible that some microorganisms that effect fermentation (or other processes) could be killed, leading to a different (but not necessarily worse) aging process.
All of that said, I wouldn't really worry about it. I worry more when I have wine deliveries, and even then I worried more about the heat than the cold.

 
We used to have an old codger member who stored all of his tobacco in the freezer. He had been doing this for decades, and he always defended freezing your tobaccos. But, I never bought into the argument that it kept it fresh. But, since I have met guys who store their RYO and Prince Albert in the freezer. I wouldn't advocate it as an intentional practice, but to some guys it obviously must have no significant impact on the flavor. I definitely don't think that it could damage the cells any more than pressing it into cakes and sliced flakes would do. Isn't the intention to actually break the cells and let the juices mingle? And, the (middleman) tobacco manufacturer has done everything he can to destroy all the magic microbes that lead to aging and fermentation.
I wouldn't worry. We have enough things to stress over, thus the hobby is supposed to alleviate the stress, not cause more of it.

 
I heard a rumor that....

Ha ha, I am ok with that. I will let the more foolish amongst us intentionally put their tobacco in their freezers for the sake of science... besides, isn't reading a post by someone who does some foolish science experiment like this, just the same as reading a post by someone else who did this years ago? Might as well take the hearsay now, than the hearsay after I do an experiment and then just post something as a result. :puffy:

 

timt

Lifer
Jul 19, 2018
2,844
22,729
I gave up my smoking spot in the garage for my Mustang during this winter madness taking place. In order to make room for the wife's car, I have to pull so close to my smoking bench that I can't reach a couple abandoned jars of tobacco but I'm not moving my car to get them. They're going to be in the frozen state for several days at least and I'm choosing not to worry about them. Who knows, something magical may happen.

 

crashthegrey

Lifer
Dec 18, 2015
3,810
3,566
41
Cobleskill, NY
www.greywoodie.com
For a few days, meh. I'm sure it will survive. As Cosmic said, essential oils are lost over longer periods. How much essential oil is left in Prince Albert anyway?
Moving one, now I really want to know what a water logged pipe frozen will do.

 

jaytex1969

Lifer
Jun 6, 2017
9,517
50,591
Here
You may have to warm it back up carefully. Do you stroke your tobacco? :nana:
jay-roger.jpg


 

wolflarsen

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 29, 2018
842
2,341
people freeze cigars to kill tobacco beetle eggs all the time with no issues

 
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