Drying...it works.

thbg · Jul 16, 2012

I have been smoking a pipe for over 10 years now and just re-learned a good lesson I plan on practicing more often. Drying. I usually let tobacco sit out for a few minutes and then let it sit once packed for a few more, but I left two coins of PS LBF sit out (not on purpose) for over 24 ours and the blend smoked amazing this evening when I lit it. (And I already liked the results I was getting the way I was doing it before). It was the zen smoke.
While 24 hours may be a bit much in some cases, it may be just enough in some and possibly not enough in others.
The lesson is: take time to give it a good drying and reap the awards of the extra step.
Just wanted to pass it along. Happy puffing! thbg

keith929 · Jul 16, 2012

I too just recently rediscovered the benefits of drying. I bought a blend from my local B/M that was advertised as an aromatic. I was horrible or so I thought. In frustration I let it dry for a couple of days and surprise ! It took on an entirely different flavor. The taste difference was nothing short of amazing. Now I always take that extra step. It's worth it.

barkar · Jul 16, 2012

Me too

ejames · Jul 16, 2012

Yep. I dry just about everything I smoke.

topd · Jul 17, 2012

Found a tin of Peterson's University Flake I had opened months ago and forgotten. It was pretty dry

and ruined I thought. Tried a bowl and it smoked real nice....

cortezattic · Jul 17, 2012

I don't plan ahead long enough to lay out tobacco for drying,

so I use this hot, but low velocity blower.

waznyf · Jul 17, 2012

Drying is always good for providing a better smoke on many levels. I am usually either too busy or lazy to get around to it, so it is probably only 50% of the time that I let it dry out. Smoke is still good no complaints, but drying would make it better I am sure.

Although I believe that it also depends on the blend. Certain blends arrive to you already fairly dry while others are damn near soggy.

dburrows · Jul 17, 2012

Definitely propose dry time; it can change things. There have been many blends that are ready to smoke right out of the tin that I don't enjoy (Virginias and VAPers, it seems) but when I give them even just 10-15 minutes of air time they become great smokes.
I think, especially with Perique, the air rounds out the flavors.
You do have to plan for it, but sometimes that's half the fun.

pstlpkr · Jul 17, 2012

Hey Guys,

I'll throw a dissenting opinion out there....

I know that drying is actually desirable for many blends.

One I can think of straight away is Samuel Gawith Grousemoor.

If it's dry as a bone, then the tastes are much brighter and easily discernible than it is straight out of the tin.

However; as I discovered just recently, some tobaccos suffer from drying.

Specifically Perique.

All I'm saying is that some tobaccos do not improve with drying.

IMHO

: puffy

:

waznyf · Jul 17, 2012

@Lawrence

I have noticed that Samuel Gawith tobacco, especially the flakes, requires some drying as they arrive to you very moist.

I also agree with you when you say that some suffer from being dried. It really all depends on what you like and the type of tobacco.

topd · Jul 17, 2012

Holly Smokes.... Told you earlier about the University Flake I let dry out to long. Learned

a good lesson today:

Packed a meer with it early this morning while I was typing the earlier post... smoked it about

10 minuets before I decided to move to the lake camp, so packed my stuff. Did several things

that needed to be done and finally got to my chair, lit the meer again and Wow! I'm not positive

as to what happened, but you know how smoking causes condensation in the pipe and stem? It did

something I never hit on before, but it was great. Anyway.... try it... let us know

cigrmaster · Jul 17, 2012

Certain blends I smoke need considerably drying, SG Best Brown too name one. I let it sit out usually an hour before smoking. My Escudo and Reiner Long Golden which are vapers need no drying,Solani Silver flake needs none. I make sure that whatever I choose to smoke has the proper amount of humidity in it so I can enjoy the blend in it's optimum condition. There is nothing worse in my opinion of smoking something too wet, it burns hot and will scorch your tongue.

cortezattic · Jul 17, 2012

Ditto Lawrence's observations. The Perique comment is particularly astute, I think. : puffy

:

martiniman · Jul 17, 2012

alright, noobie question, what is too dry?

I get the pinch for too wet but what is too dry?

mrdoody · Jul 18, 2012

that's a GREAT question, martiniman. anybody care to share?
doody.

spartan · Jul 18, 2012

Too dry is when you try to pack it... and then you accidentally turn your tobacco into snuff in the process.
Otherwise if it tastes good to you you're good to go.

dirtybearpipes · Jul 18, 2012

Aren't most cavendish tobaccos suppose to be a little moist when smoked? I have one flavor that is actually quite moist and I use it to mix in with other tobaccos that are dryer. Haha has this been a bad practice? I always seem to have great smoke and amazing flavor!

buster · Jul 18, 2012

I think some aromatics like Captain Black need a good amount of drying. An older gentleman a while ago told me to ," pack a bowl before you go to bed. Go to sleep and smoke it the next day." Works like a charm! : puffy

:

thbg · Jul 18, 2012

"too dry" is when it is very, very crunchy and crumbles into dust. It is going to burn hot as hell.
It is really impossible to dry out cavendish blends too much, in my opinion. I have left some Boswell blends out overnight and they are still too wet for me to keep lit in some cases.
I give CB a good long dry time especially if you get it in the pouch. It makes a difference.

Drying...it works.

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