My Twist Got Moldy

mcitinner1 · Mar 4, 2016

The title says it all...I had a Humicare pouch in a jar with two big chunks of twist. I could have cut out the parts where the mold was I guess...But I pitched the lid and the whole batch of twist, and I'll sterilize the jar and ring. Time to order more Cotton Bowl, and jar it WITHOUT any humidity treatments.

frozenchurchwarden · Mar 4, 2016

That's one reason I've been using alcohol (whisky/vodka) to moisten tobacco, hopefully it keeps the jar sterile.
I don't know if it works as intended but I haven't "seen" any problems yet.

mcitinner1 · Mar 4, 2016

I remember Russ O saying the best way to flavor tobacco was with alcohol of some kind, because it evaporates.

jpmcwjr · Mar 4, 2016

Yes, the alcohol evaporates, as does the water that's in it, though the latter at a much slower rate. Any overly moist tobacco or food is subject to mold under the right conditions, whether the moistener is alcohol, water or sticky syrup. (Temp, time, oxy level).

cossackjack · Mar 4, 2016

I had the same problem with jars of Brazilian Arapiraca rope tobaccos, also humidified with ceramic disks. I carefully pared away the mold, sterilized the jars & lids with alcohol, then rinsed with distilled water, & microwaved the jars for 30 seconds. Then the ropes were microwaved in the jars for 15 seconds & immediately resealed with the sterilized lids. The vacuum sealing has prevented recurrence of the mold.

mcitinner1 · Mar 4, 2016

Thanks Cossack. I copied your lead on that one.

beastinview · Mar 4, 2016

I had assumed twists and ropes were treated like other kinds of pipe tobacco--sealed in a jar without extra humidification.
Are they stored like cigars?

mcitinner1 · Mar 4, 2016

I'm referring to these hand formed mostly unflavored twists. I've had one or two from all these links, and the unflavored ones are very dry...which was my reason for adding the Humicare pouch to the jar.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/twist-tobacco-in-a-pipe

frozenchurchwarden · Mar 4, 2016

jpmcwjr:

Yes, the alcohol evaporates, as does the water that's in it, though the latter at a much slower rate. Any overly moist tobacco or food is subject to mold under the right conditions, whether the moistener is alcohol, water or sticky syrup. (Temp, time, oxy level).

Alcohol evaporates in the air, but unless you let it sit the open for a few hours before jarring then it's still in the jar.

I don't know what level of saturation in the air actually does any good as far as fighting bacteria, or whether the air reaches saturation fast enough to stop a few splashes of alcohol from fully evaporating, so that's where I could just be wasting my time, but at least I know it's clean when applied and I'm getting a little more flavor in the process.

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