Storing Tobacco

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Dec 24, 2020
26
71
San Diego
I know we are supposed to store our tobacco in mason jars, BUT, say I bought C&D's 8 State Burley blend and plan on smoking that until it is gone, how long can i keep it in it's original tin once opened? Should I transfer it immediately, or is it good for the next week/month?
 

peregrinus

Lifer
Aug 4, 2019
1,205
3,787
Pacific Northwest
I know we are supposed to store our tobacco in mason jars, BUT, say I bought C&D's 8 State Burley blend and plan on smoking that until it is gone, how long can i keep it in it's original tin once opened? Should I transfer it immediately, or is it good for the next week/month?
Not familiar with this particular blend and it depends on how dry you prefer your tobacco in general, but for me, most stay moist enough for 6 months.
But then I generally prefer my tobaccos on the dry side and enjoy them more after the tins been open for a month or more.
I normally only bother jarring bulk, pouched or seldom smoked tobaccos.
 

madox07

Lifer
Dec 12, 2016
1,823
1,690
I know we are supposed to store our tobacco in mason jars, BUT, say I bought C&D's 8 State Burley blend and plan on smoking that until it is gone, how long can i keep it in it's original tin once opened? Should I transfer it immediately, or is it good for the next week/month?

Around here we can find a particular type of product, sort of a little stone wrapped in a cardboard wrapper. You water that, and throw it in the C&D tin, and it will keep moist for an extended period of time. Once the stone dries, you water it again, and repeat the process. This is what I am talking about:

 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,194
5,099
I know we are supposed to store our tobacco in mason jars, BUT, say I bought C&D's 8 State Burley blend and plan on smoking that until it is gone, how long can i keep it in it's original tin once opened? Should I transfer it immediately, or is it good for the next week/month?
To me it is amazing how members can spend good money on tobacco, know that jars or Mylar seem are the only methods to keep it in the best condition, and still wiggle around with BUT. To me this makes no sense, but then again I was a diehard jar chowhound
 

pantsBoots

Lifer
Jul 21, 2020
2,135
7,542
Terra Firma
I know we are supposed to store our tobacco in mason jars, BUT, say I bought C&D's 8 State Burley blend and plan on smoking that until it is gone, how long can i keep it in it's original tin once opened? Should I transfer it immediately, or is it good for the next week/month?
In perpetuity. If it dries out, rehydrate it. I have numerous C&D tins that I don't care for, but being frugal, only a few have been dumped straight into a bonfire. I check them every so often and if they're dry, they get rehydrated because I may like them someday, right?
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
19,731
45,222
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
If your intent is to open the tin and smoke it, don't waste a jar on it. With the exception of square and rectangular tins, the seal on a canister with a plastic top, and even a circular screw on top will be good for a month or more. I've had canisters with just the plastic lid keep the contents moist for a year. Depends on who made the tins for the blender.
 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,194
5,099
If your intent is to open the tin and smoke it, don't waste a jar on it. With the exception of square and rectangular tins, the seal on a canister with a plastic top, and even a circular screw on top will be good for a month or more. I've had canisters with just the plastic lid keep the contents moist for a year. Depends on who made the tins for the blender.
I so disagree. But seriously to me an open tin cried out to be jarred. I jarred tins on opening. Slept better knowing that if nothing else my tobacco was squared away, come what may short of a nuclear.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
19,731
45,222
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
I so disagree. But seriously to me an open tin cried out to be jarred. I jarred tins on opening. Slept better knowing that if nothing else my tobacco was squared away, come what may short of a nuclear.
I'm not advocating that anyone leave their tobacco in an opened tin for a year. But if I'm going to open a tin with the intent of smoking it down, the couple of weeks to a month aren't going to hurt anything, and I live in SoCal, in a very dry climate. Carrying a tin in my pocket is much more comfortable than carrying a jar.

As for leaving tobacco in an opened canister for a year, both of those were accidents. I'd opened up a tin of Rattray's HOTW and absentmindedly put it back in the closet. A year or so later, I reached for that tin, thinking it was unopened stock and was surprised that it was opened. Turned out the seal was good enough on that tin that the tobacco was at the perfect moisture for smoking. Same thing with the other tin I'd put back on the shelf. If that had a been a C&D tin it would have been mummy dust.
 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,194
5,099
I'm not advocating that anyone leave their tobacco in an opened tin for a year. But if I'm going to open a tin with the intent of smoking it down, the couple of weeks to a month aren't going to hurt anything, and I live in SoCal, in a very dry climate. Carrying a tin in my pocket is much more comfortable than carrying a jar.

As for leaving tobacco in an opened canister for a year, both of those were accidents. I'd opened up a tin of Rattray's HOTW and absentmindedly put it back in the closet. A year or so later, I reached for that tin, thinking it was unopened stock and was surprised that it was opened. Turned out the seal was good enough on that tin that the tobacco was at the perfect moisture for smoking. Same thing with the other tin I'd put back on the shelf. If that had a been a C&D tin it would have been mummy dust.
Ah! so the moisture was good, but what about the evaporation of those pesky volatile essences? Now, I never saw such, but then again it's not as if they dressed up in their finery to go a courtin'. And since I have the palate of a drunken knave I wouldn't have tasted them even if they had appeared in a vision of White Tara and attempted to steer my palate true.

But what say you? Is this just another Pease fancification?
 

mikebjrtx

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 14, 2012
144
272
55
Hurst TX
I think all the magic happens when the tobacco is dreaming. If you barely let it get back to sleep before waking it up not much is going to happen other than it slowly drying up. I put 3/4 of a small tin in a jelly jar a day or two after opening, just long enough to let the aroma settle down a bit. Any VOC react with the inrush of oxygen. I smoke the quarter tin and let the rest sit about a year. If it’s really good young I’ll buy another tin and smoke from the jar. If it’s something I know I like I’ll buy a pound and pack it in a quart jar for long term storage. When I open a quart jar or anything that’s been resting for a while I vacuum seal the top to minimize the oxygen in the jar. Lots of opening and new introductions of oxygen can have a cumulative impact on the tobacco.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
19,731
45,222
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Ah! so the moisture was good, but what about the evaporation of those pesky volatile essences? Now, I never saw such, but then again it's not as if they dressed up in their finery to go a courtin'. And since I have the palate of a drunken knave I wouldn't have tasted them even if they had appeared in a vision of White Tara and attempted to steer my palate true.

But what say you? Is this just another Pease fancification?
Frankly, the HOTW was spectacular. This essential oil thing is something I haven't quite wrapped my head about. I recall hearing from people who process tobacco that a some point the leaves are thoroughly dried out, so that being the case, what happened to all those essential oils then?

I don't have jimink's palate for tobacco and his ability to discern the subtlest flavor is the real deal, which is why blenders send him samples of blends in development, for his critique.

I do have enough of a palate that I can accurately figure out ingredients in a dish by tasting it, except for ingredients of which I am unfamiliar. And when in the mood to focus, I can pick out a lot of nuance in the blends that I smoke.

Do we perhaps overthink all of this? Shouldn't it be more like, "I like this blend" or "I don't like this blend" and leave it at that? Only if we feel motivated should the quest to get the most out of the experience become part of the experience? Maybe sometimes ignorance is bliss?.
 

elvishrunes

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jun 19, 2017
274
495
I’m good in my climate of Toronto, for at least 6 months likely longer… We are bone dry 1/4 of the year, moist 1/4 of the year, and medium humidity half the year. i don’t worry about it.