So, I live in GA and just got 2 tins of tobacco from pipesandcigars. When I opened the box, I noticed that the 2 tins were noticeably warm to the touch from the heat of being in my mailbox during this hot weather. One tin is a flake and it broke apart when I tried to move it around - it seemed more fragile from the heat. The other tin is a ribbon cut and is noticeably drier than previous tins of this blend that I've owned. Was my tobacco ruined from all the heat it was exposed to during shipping? Does the heat on the unopened tins spoil the tobacco in any way or just dry it out?
Can Heat Ruin an Unopened Tin of Tobacco?
- Thread starter robzoid
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I doubt you'll encounter any problems. Depending on the temperature and length of exposure to heat, it may be possible that the flavor profile could be somewhat changed, but it shouldn't spoil or otherwise ruin the tobacco. It shouldn't dry it out either, considering that the tin is (for the most part) a sealed environment.
Well, I'm interested to see what others have to say about the issue but for me my answer is yes and no. Really it depends on the amount of exposure and severity of temperature. Most likely if it was in the hot sun for a few hours the damage should be minimal and if too dry most likely you can rehydrate.
Ultimately a taste test would be the way to tell. If they are blends you've tried before then you have a baseline. If not you can use your best judgement or seek out a qualified taster.. hint hint...
Ultimately a taste test would be the way to tell. If they are blends you've tried before then you have a baseline. If not you can use your best judgement or seek out a qualified taster.. hint hint...
Neither. It's called stoving, and some guys purposely leave tins on their dash in sunlight or bake them in the oven. Couple of days with increased heat in a box is not going to harm them nor produce that much change. Besides, you know that the tins were warm when taken from then box but not the temperature inside them for the shipping days.
Interesting thread. I'd say the problem in shipping most often mentioned is dented tins from insufficient packing material that breaks the seal. I don't think the heating and/or cooling from shipping has much effect, since usually it isn't prolonged enough. Like the post says, it's a little extra stoving but not enough to change the tobacco. I wonder if tins have ever been heated enough in shipping to blow them open. I think that would require something extra like a truck fire.
Could this contribute to the mold problem that glp and c&d have had in the past? A post had come up that I read about on the forum. Heat and moisture in a can with a little oxygen and spores. Thoughts?
In the middle of Winter time Up here in North it might be advisable to not leave tobacco or liquid containing packages in the Mail Boxes overnight, the worse scenario is that the recipient may receive his items in somewhat frozen condition,lol.
Tobacco isn't that fragile. I think it is possible that leaving a sealed tin in higher heat for an extended time could affect the seal. I can't imagine leaving it in your mailbox for a day had any significant affect. You mention C&D and GLP. Don't you think blends shipped here from Europe would be much more apt to be affected by cold and heat given the diverse shipping conditions and length of time in transit. And how would the heat dry out your tobacco unless it caused the vacuum seal to rupture?
Give those tins a few days to a week to "recover", I'll bet you notice no difference. Regardless, good luck.
Give those tins a few days to a week to "recover", I'll bet you notice no difference. Regardless, good luck.
Having learned the trick from Our Cajun friend, Brad, I really enjoy leaving an unopened tin of this or that in the oven over night. Then when you pop it, you get a stoved tobacco. Back in the day, guys used to swear that this quickly ages the tobacco. It does caramelize the sugars and take a lot of harshness out of a blend, but it is doing something different from aging. Erinmore and Escudo are a couple that I enjoy stoving like that. Erinmore gets downright fruity smelling.
Now, is there a blend that this would make taste worse? That depends on whether you like the taste of what stoving does. Just look at Chasingembers... he hates all of the great tobaccos and loves things like Captain Black Grape and Black Frigate, so... :wink: :
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Now, is there a blend that this would make taste worse? That depends on whether you like the taste of what stoving does. Just look at Chasingembers... he hates all of the great tobaccos and loves things like Captain Black Grape and Black Frigate, so... :wink: :
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In his article on “tin baking” Dr. Fred Hanna gives temps and times for his process. Under 210 degree Fahrenheit IIRC. He says the seals on coin twist tins usually pop. This means baking tins would dry (probably very quickly) if stored after heating.
Mike S.
Mike S.
I have never had the seal pop when cooking tins, and I keep them at about 200-225F for about 10 to 12 hours. I have forgotten about them from time to time and baked them for way longer than intended also. That doesn't mean that it might not pop the seal. I would suggest testing the seal after it cools down with a twist to see if it easily opens without a coin.
The first thing I notice is that if I immediately pop the tin while warm, all of the moisture is separated from the tobacco, with droplets all over the inside of the tin lid. So, give it a long cool down time to reabsorb the moisture, if smoking steamy moist tobacco is you thing. I prefer to always dry out my tins when I first open them, so I don't mind just wiping the moisture out of them, and further drying the tin to my desired crunchiness.
For what it's worth, from 170-225F is the magic range of any cooking process on cured tobaccos, from stoving, toasting, to making a cavendish, etc...
The first thing I notice is that if I immediately pop the tin while warm, all of the moisture is separated from the tobacco, with droplets all over the inside of the tin lid. So, give it a long cool down time to reabsorb the moisture, if smoking steamy moist tobacco is you thing. I prefer to always dry out my tins when I first open them, so I don't mind just wiping the moisture out of them, and further drying the tin to my desired crunchiness.
For what it's worth, from 170-225F is the magic range of any cooking process on cured tobaccos, from stoving, toasting, to making a cavendish, etc...
...a possibility in Alabama also. I've seen windshields shatter and bubble out with the heat in open parking lots, especially the back window. This is why I always crack my window a tad, especially in September.
Thanks for all you responses. Good to hear that it's not as bad as I thought. I've had tins be a little warm when I first get them but these were particularly hot to the touch. The ribbon cut one that was dry was John Cotton Smyrna. I guess blends vary tin to tin in dryness more so than I thought they did. This is my second tin of Smyrna and this one is significantly drier than the first. Next time I get a tin that hot, just to be safe, I'll let it cool down before opening it and maybe give it a few days in a mason jar to adjust before smoking.
I'll copy what other's have said with an example from the cigar world. I know people that are convinced that a 2% drop in humidity for a couple of hours "ruined" their cigars. Tobacco is much more stable than that. It's not, as someone else pointed out, a ham and cheese sandwich with mayo.
Obviously as someone else pointed out you don't want to leave it in a car all day in vegas, but normal travel is most likely fine and any minor problems should be easy to compensate for. I'd be most concerned about the seal is broken but if that's the case just put it in mason jar and reseal. If it is dry? Sprites it with some distilled water.
Obviously as someone else pointed out you don't want to leave it in a car all day in vegas, but normal travel is most likely fine and any minor problems should be easy to compensate for. I'd be most concerned about the seal is broken but if that's the case just put it in mason jar and reseal. If it is dry? Sprites it with some distilled water.
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