What`s Going On With Moisture Content in C & D and GL Pease?

I have recently opened 8oz tins of both brands; the most recent being dated March 2016 (Exhausted Rooster) and the oldest, August 2013 (Cumberland). The very great majority had tobacco that was so dry it would break up when applying a slight pressure on a folded flake; and it had absolutely no smell at all coming from the tin.

Besides that, the Gaslight (2015) and Briar Fox Plugs (2016) would turn to dust when giving a slight rub to the slices I cut.

I`m all in favor with a low moisture level in my tobaccos. That makes them ready to go upon opening. But this is beyond any possibility of saving it.

I have had other 8oz tins that were just fine. The problem is that the overly dry ones are happening to me more and more frequently over the last year and I have to say that I am starting to be extremely disappointed by these brands. To the point where I am considering to stop purchasing them.

Anybody else had this issue?

@Sasquatch: I hear ya, Bro. And we're Canucks at that; so we have to be extremely diligent with our tobacco choices. And waste is not an option!
@headhunter: I am trying to understand how you can say they are in perfect condition if the are still sealed-as I understand? How can you know the tobaccos inside are ok? For you SA, mine were in perfect condition too; until I opened them. Then the party crashed...
Out of eight 8oz tins opened throughout 2017, only 2 had an acceptable moisture level. That means six were boooooone dry.
Slightly frustrating at the least, to remain, er, cool.
Maybe it's time for C & D to switch to the European vacuum sealed tins. ::

@kcghost: Sorry, but I don't get this. I'm trying real hard to understand. So I ask you the same question than headhunter: how can you know the tobaccos inside your tins are "perfect" as they have not been opened? And I have to ask: please tell me what it is that I could have possibly been doing "wrong"; when all my tins are stored in a temperature controlled environment right off the bat?
I have been smoking GL Pease and C & D tobaccos since 2009. This kind of thing never used to happen. And it forces me to ask: is the quality control process at C & D is starting to go progressively down the drain? Because over the last couple of years, it happens more and more frequently. What troubles me as well is when the tobacco I get is not overly dry, it's overly moist.

@perdurabo: As I said in my fist post: "The very great majority had tobacco that was so dry it would break up when applying a slight pressure on a folded flake; and it had absolutely no smell at all coming from the tin.

Besides that, the Gaslight (2015) and Briar Fox Plugs (2016) would turn to dust when giving a slight rub to the slices I cut."
Actually, I am being incorrect in this description. The flake would break before I was able to even try to fold it. When I actually grabbed it. There was no more "flexibility" left in it. So, to detail a bit, bone dry as in when you're packing your pipe, it's really hard to pack it because there's no moisture left in it, it's like dried hay; and as in it trashes your mouth when you smoke it 'cause it's way too dry. :wink:
@chasingembers: sure...the flakes, you can hear them when you shake the tin. However, I'd like for someone to tell me what the sound of a dry vs moist flake makes in the tin because I'm not sure I could tell? As for mixtures like Cumberland, Chelsea Morning, etc, they are much more harder to hear as they are so tightly packed. But I don't fancy shaking my tins. It's something I don't do-reminds me of playing maracas. :wink: Swelling? Can't say; I've only had, at the oldest, a bit more than 5 years old tins. Oh wait, I've seen swelling on very young tins of Triple Play and Burley Flake No 2 a few years back. When I opened them, they had mold.

Great infos, guys, but again, the tins I have been having issues with were dated, at the oldest, from 2012. Considering the results, I would never put my money on older C&D tins.

Again, I seriously wonder why C & D does not switch to the European type vacuum tins such as Dunhill, Orlik, Mac Baren, etc?

I guess there's not much more I can do about it besides stop buying their products. That will at least prevent any further wasting of my money.