Flake vs. Ribbon Aging Potential

[BriarsAndBottles]

Generally speaking. All things considered equal: same leaf/blend and same tin date, what would you open first and what would you let sit?

I have 100g of ribbon and 50 grams of flake of the same viriginia blend but would prefer to not open both at the same time.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I find that ribbon ages just as well as flakes. Just open whatever you want. I don't think it will matter.
Flakes just have a better mixing of the tobaccos. They may also crystal up better, but in my experience, those crystals have absolutely no taste.

 

[LeafErikson]

I think flake would age differently as it’s pressed together with so much pressure, causing the flavor of the tobaccos to meld a bit more. I smoke much more ribbon than flake and ribbon cut ages just fine.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

I find that ribbon ages just as well as flakes. Just open whatever you want. I don't think it will matter.
Flakes just have a better mixing of the tobaccos. They may also crystal up better, but in my experience, those crystals have absolutely no taste.

Thanks for the input. Are those crystals the “plume” or something I think I’ve seen here before.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

I think I’ll go with the flake as I have a lot of ribbons and broken flakes open right now.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks for the input. Are those crystals the “plume” or something I think I’ve seen here before.

Yes… people will call them sugar, but they are merely minerals leaching out from the compression and maybe some enzyme activity.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

Yes… people will call them sugar, but they are merely minerals leaching out from the compression and maybe some enzyme activity.

Lol. Reminds me of what I’ve heard some people call “wine diamonds” which are a good indicator of a quality wine aged well, but not something you’d ever wanna drink.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Lol. Reminds me of what I’ve heard some people call “wine diamonds” which are a good indicator of a quality wine aged well, but not something you’d ever wanna drink.

Wine diamonds, otherwise called lees or dead yeast cells. Mmmmmm