Hey guys, so I am as new to pipe smoking as it gets... started two days ago and I apologise if this has been asked. I bought three flavours of tobacco and have stored them in Mason jars... the tobacco store also gave me these tube like humidifiers that I have to soak and insert into the jars. Do these work? What else should I know about keepin tobacco fresh. Looking forward to being part of the community. Joining my father and more interesting people in this relaxing ritual. Thanks so much guys and a shout out from South Africa!
Bought my first tobacco, what to do?
- Thread starter jasonvanr
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Welcome aboard.
I'm sure other, more experienced people will chime in shortly, but for now, here's my $0.02
I like my tobacco dry enough so it does not stick together when pressed as a general rule. That's the best way I can describe my preferred moisture level. Some prefer it more dry. If the tobacco you got is bone dry, the humidifier will moisten it, but probably at the expense of some of the taste. I'm pretty sure that repeated drying and moistening is not great for tobacco. I know that in my case, I had to almost force myself to let the tobacco dry a bit before smoking. It seems counterintuitive, but more on the dry side is better than more on the moist side.
The mason jars area good storage device and for me anyway, they keep tobacco at a good, smokable moisture level for at least a couple of months.
I'm sure other, more experienced people will chime in shortly, but for now, here's my $0.02
I like my tobacco dry enough so it does not stick together when pressed as a general rule. That's the best way I can describe my preferred moisture level. Some prefer it more dry. If the tobacco you got is bone dry, the humidifier will moisten it, but probably at the expense of some of the taste. I'm pretty sure that repeated drying and moistening is not great for tobacco. I know that in my case, I had to almost force myself to let the tobacco dry a bit before smoking. It seems counterintuitive, but more on the dry side is better than more on the moist side.
The mason jars area good storage device and for me anyway, they keep tobacco at a good, smokable moisture level for at least a couple of months.
Good evening to you, Sir! Welcome to the forum.
In glass Mason or other glass jars, I wouldn't worry at all about moisture loss. If you find some leaf getting so dry it will crumble, use the little disks or tubes- or a shard of terracotta.
What tobaccos are available in your area?
In glass Mason or other glass jars, I wouldn't worry at all about moisture loss. If you find some leaf getting so dry it will crumble, use the little disks or tubes- or a shard of terracotta.
What tobaccos are available in your area?
Well my local tobacconist has a very nice house brand called Celleni... it's almost like the icing on the cake I use it with a bit of Holland House golden Cavendish. Then Petersons Hyde PARK is my first flake cut tobacco but I will learn more about what we have this side the more advanced I get! My first pipe is a savinelli with a dry system and it is quite a great pipe!
I've been reading these forums for awhile now, and that's the first time I ever heard of putting tube-like humidifiers into a jar of tobacco.
Might work though.
I don't bother with re-hydration, but when I have done, a big stainless steel mixing bowl with a damp* dish or hand towel stretched across it's mouth for an hour or so does the trick for me.
*damp: I put the towel across and spritz it with a spray bottle just enough to get it damp.
Might work though.
I don't bother with re-hydration, but when I have done, a big stainless steel mixing bowl with a damp* dish or hand towel stretched across it's mouth for an hour or so does the trick for me.
*damp: I put the towel across and spritz it with a spray bottle just enough to get it damp.
I'm with Toob on this one jar them up and enjoy. In nearly thirty years, I've never used any devices to remoisten tobacco.
"It seems counterintuitive, but more on the dry side is better than more on the moist side."
That is the best advice by far. You should only need to rehumidify tobacco if it has got far too dry for smoking. By far too dry I mean it crumbles to dust if rubbed together.
Welcome to the forum by the way :
:
Regards,
Jay.
That is the best advice by far. You should only need to rehumidify tobacco if it has got far too dry for smoking. By far too dry I mean it crumbles to dust if rubbed together.
Welcome to the forum by the way :
:Regards,
Jay.
Save the humidifiers should you run into some tobacco that goes dry, but otherwise put them in a drawer. I assume you have a lighter or matches, a tamper (pipe nail, Czech tool, or whatever) and some pipe cleaners. Now you're good to go. Take your time, don't seek perfection, learn as you go, seek a relaxed enjoyment, don't worry about relighting as many times as you need, don't worry about some unburnt tobacco in the bottom of the pipe, when the taste diminishes just empty the pipe, and sip don't puff. You'll do fine. Mainly, smoke to enjoy it. No rules, no contests, no image to portray. If you're dad smokes a pipe, you've picked up a lot of the ritual by imitation.
What mso says. And will they work to re-humidify? Yes, any introduction of moisture to a closed—airtight, that is—container will work over time. Fastest is to spritz.
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