C&D Opening Night -- MOLD!

[lawdawg]

I've got a tin of Opening Night in my cellar waiting to be smoked. I've got several tins saved up for long weekends around the holidays when I have plenty of time to relax and try new (to me) blends. I hope there aren't any "surprises" waiting for me in that C&D tin 8O

 

[briarbuck]

I'm going to sit back and wait for others to report like or similar issues before moving anything to jars.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ugg, my typos... I wish I could edit them after longer than just a few seconds.

It does seem to be paying off for folks to start a whole thread complaining about mold, then getting a freebie. Maybe that was my problem. I should have started a whole new thread. But, something tells me that C&D rewarding everyone who posts with free product might not be the best marketing strategy. ::

 

[crashthegrey]

d4k23 I like the idea of at least learning from the experiment in misfortune.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I've never had mold ever, but I'm sure I've opened fewer tins than many on here.
This is what I know: Jars are sterile enough out of the package so washing further either does nothing or maybe even increases risk. Most tinned tobacco (by a humongous margin) won't mold and when it does, it's fixed promptly by every retailer and manufacturer I've ever heard of. Hence, jarring out of the tin is a waste of time and resources.
I still can't understand the "sky is falling" mentality when it comes to mold on tobacco. Tell the manufacturer, get new tin.

 

[d4k23]

Just a thought, when I had moldy cigars in my humidor, it never occurred to me to go back to the place I purchased them and get a refund. I begrudgingly took those mold infested sticks and through them away. Maybe 75 dollars in the trash just like that, because my humidity/temperature wasn't right.
After I jar tobacco and I get mold, would I ask for a refund? Maybe if it took days to happen, not months. If I open a new tin and am greeted with the white stuff, you bet I'll reach out to customer service. Part of their guarantee of their product.
And I don't think it is a sky is falling comparison, more of a big bummer when it happens because we buy because we want to enjoy the tobacco, not have to toss it out.

 

[unadoptedlamp]

I was wondering about aged tins and mould. Is it possible that mould grows in a tin, blooms beautifully for some days/months/weeks/years and then gets absorbed into the tobacco later on without being noticed?
Has anyone opened an aged tin and found mould?
I'm guessing it must happen from time to time. Or maybe it's not detected?
The flavour profile must be interesting. Or maybe not. I'm curious.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

And I don't think it is a sky is falling comparison, more of a big bummer when it happens because we buy because we want to enjoy the tobacco, not have to toss it out.

Oh, believe me... The mold topic has caused the sky to fall on a couple occasions around the forums. Search it out and be amazed.
I agree with you completely otherwise, though. If there's mold when I open a tin, I would call. If I handled the tobacco and put it in a jar and then it molded, too bad for me. I'm eating the cost because I'm not confident it wasn't my bad, and I don't think it's prudent to cost manufacturers even more money when this WHOLE thing is in its twilight years to begin with.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Right on, Tom. That seems right.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sable- I was introducing the idea that the "victim" may be responsible, yes. Given the circumstances, I think it's a fair point. Doesn't mean it was his/her doing, but it's certainly possible.

Fair enough. But then there is the question whether the manufacturer is doing what it should to address the problem since it is one that has been noted not only here, but on other forums and for a number of years. A couple of years ago they pulled an entire release of a highly anticipated limited edition because so many tins were opened and found to be badly contaminated with mold. Does the decision made by the operators to locate the blending and tinning facility in a warm and humid location hold no weight?
Of course, no one is being forced to buy their product, so there is an element of caveat emptor to all of this.

Sable, you're going to have to explain what you want me to know from that video.

I don't "have" to do anything. The relevant portion happens at about 4:40 in. Whether you watch it or not is up to you.
But for others, hearing Greg's response to the question put to him represents a change in how he practices cellaring and may be of interest. Greg is one of the foremost evangelists on the benefits of long term aging.

 

[3rdguy]

Interesting mention of using the food sealer bags in that video..

 

[sparroa]

Finding mold in a new tin definitely warrants a call to the manufacturer or retailer for a replacement.
In an aged tin or a tin that you transferred to a jar? Tough luck IMO. I would not make that call after a few months of purchase have elapsed.
PS I never wash my new mason jars but I always buy the same brand names as they are crystal clear from the factory and they've never steered me wrong in about 8 years. I suspect their manufacturing conditions are more sterile than my household environment is in the best of times. I bought a dollar store brand one time with the intention of using it for the open tins I planned to smoke in the near future but when I saw that they were smudgy and cloudy inside (after I got them home) then they were promptly washed and relegated to kitchen duty.
As for C&D's role in all this mold business, I have minimal experience with them but it seems like their names pops up more than most. I'm not really looking to buy most of their blends so it isn't a big concern for me but I would certainly consider jarring their tins going forward just to make sure you aren't starting out with mold.
I've got some 5-10 year old GLP aging and it will royally tick me off if I found out they are moldy but that is the risk you take when you store cured tobacco leaves in a metal can for a decade. Nobody was really vocal about jarring up tobacco back then so I kept it all in the original container - it seems like we have two camps with stronger opinions about the best practices now, though.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Sable, I didn’t mean to come across as “bossy” or assholish. I was just “hoping” you could paraphrase, if you so desired. No biggie.
As for my owm mold. I couldn’t bring muself to request a replacement for moldy tobacco, after I waited 5 to 10 years to open it. I wouldn’t even be sure whom I got it from, especially since I buy from different places, as mood dictates.

 

[sablebrush52]

Cos, my apologies for misunderstanding. The crux of it is this. Greg has always held that the best way to age is to leave the tobacco in its tin until opening then smoke it right up as it doesn't hold up for long after being opened. That's what he advises in his FAQ.
But he's revised his stance on this, particularly with regard to the flat rectangular and square tins. He's experienced a lot of disappointments with the older tins seals failing and now recommends jarring the contents right away if you're going to age them long term. And if you're going to buy the large tins, divide the contents into small jars at the start so that you don't have a large amount of well aged tobacco suddenly exposed to air unless you're going to smoke it right up.

 

[rhoadsie]

From Cosmic...

Sable, I didn’t mean to come across as “bossy” or assholish. I was just “hoping” you could paraphrase, if you so desired. No biggie.
As for my owm mold. I couldn’t bring muself to request a replacement for moldy tobacco, after I waited 5 to 10 years to open it. I wouldn’t even be sure whom I got it from, especially since I buy from different places, as mood dictates.

From sablebrush52...

Cos, my apologies for misunderstanding. The crux of it is this. Greg has always held that the best way to age is to leave the tobacco in its tin until opening then smoke it right up as it doesn't hold up for long after being opened. That's what he advises in his FAQ.
But he's revised his stance on this, particularly with regard to the flat rectangular and square tins. He's experienced a lot of disappointments with the older tins seals failing and now recommends jarring the contents right away if you're going to age them long term. And if you're going to buy the large tins, divide the contents into small jars at the start so that you don't have a large amount of well aged tobacco suddenly exposed to air unless you're going to smoke it right up.

This exchange is exactly why this forum provides great info AND can be an example of civilized discourse. That's why I and I'm sure others keep coming back.

 

[rhoadsie]

BTW, the tinned tobacco I have purchased (>200 lbs) stay in their original tins. I have yet, to find mold in those when opened and/or jarred.

 

[sparroa]

Greg has always held that the best way to age is to leave the tobacco in its tin until opening then smoke it right up as it doesn't hold up for long after being opened. That's what he advises in his FAQ.
But he's revised his stance on this, particularly with regard to the flat rectangular and square tins. He's experienced a lot of disappointments with the older tins seals failing and now recommends jarring the contents right away if you're going to age them long term. And if you're going to buy the large tins, divide the contents into small jars at the start so that you don't have a large amount of well aged tobacco suddenly exposed to air unless you're going to smoke it right up.

Yes, this was the dominant school of thought about five years ago when I put my pipes aside. When I examine my cellar now, however, I wish I had the foresight to subdivide any tins larger than 50g into smaller jars. It feels like common sense now but I was so concerned about contaminating the tobacco that I felt it was best to keep the tobacco's original container. Since I have observed firsthand the tendency for certain tins to rust or otherwise deteriorate I am a bigger believer in mason jars.
Under normal handling/storage conditions with new jars, pipe tobacco should keep for many years with few issues. I think if a tobacco goes moldy in a short period of time it is definitely due to a problem when the tobacco was processed and no fault of the pipe smoker. Cellaring, however, will tip the scale towards the pipe smoker's liability as time and storage conditions are critical factors when it comes to any kind of spoilage.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

And if you're going to buy the large tins, divide the contents into small jars at the start so that you don't have a large amount of well aged tobacco suddenly exposed to air unless you're going to smoke it right up.

This was my thinking all along. But, it got me into trouble with my Haddo's fiasco.
I think long term is subjective in the minds of many that are starting a cellar. Early on I was thinking +20 years, and then after five years of hoarding I started to do the math. I probably won't be alive in 20 years. So, long term for me is maybe 10 at the most. But, even then I feel inclined to pop tins at 5 years with no regrets.
However, yes, if you are a young smoker, then take all of the precautions suggested. But, for me, I think that tins are safe to just stack as is in the cabinet.
Thanks for paraphrasing Sable. I read much faster than watching videos, and I try to make my time here brief to still get work done. That really helped.
I think that at as short term I have left, my rectangle tins will last. Also, I keep my cellar rather cool, so that probably helps hold the vacuum of the tins.

 

[haparnold]

Cosmic, you hit the nail on the head, as usual. I expect to live at least another 50 years, which means my cellaring goals are very different from someone in middle age or older. But I'm not particularly interested in cellaring 50+ years' worth of tobacco. I store bulk blends and Esoterica bags in mason jars, and leave sealed tins alone. If, one dark day, I run out of tobacco to smoke, I'll mourn. But trying to plan for 50 year storage on blends is far beyond what any manufacturer ever had in mind.
After reading this thread, I actually checked my jars of Opening Night, and was terrified to find some white matter on one jar. But actually, t turns out it was just a smudge on the outside of the jar that I could wipe off on my shirt. Whew.

 

[lawdawg]

this WHOLE thing is in its twilight years to begin with.

:crying: :crying: :crying:
I hope pipe smoking stays around for a long time! I'm in my mid-30s and switched from cigarettes to pipes some years ago (with the occasional relapse to cigarettes at times, but that's another story, and one that I hope has concluded). I've gotten several of my cigarette-smoking friends interested enough to buy pipes and smoke them on occasion too in hopes of sharing the experience and helping it stay relevant.