Drying Pipe Tobacco

[davedan]

Hi guys,
I want to dry the tobacco (Mississippi River in particular) and jar it for use so that I could just load a bowl and smoke without drying. Could I dry it in the original tin by removing the lid completely without rubbing it out for 1-2 hours or do I have to rub it out first and lay it on a tray?
Thanks

 

[ray47]

With flakes and broken flake I let it dry overnight and then rub it out. Thickness of the flake plays into how long you should dry it out and your personal preference comes into play also. Just experiment and see how it goes.

 

[cortezattic]

Since it's a crumble cake, I would say you need to rub it out first, then dry it to the degree you want.

Otherwise the outer regions of the cake will be too dry, while the inner parts of the cake are not yet dry enough.
After the tobaccos in the cake are fully wedded, there's not much reason to keep the cake intact.

 

[aldecaker]

+1 on what Cortez said. If you don't rub it out before drying, you will have clumps of wet tobacco mixed in with the ideally dried stuff. I learned that the hard way.

 

[davedan]

Thanks guys! Makes sense So....open new tin of Mississippi River. Rub out and place on tray. Dry for 2 hours and then jar it. simples.

 

[jexta]

so your question sprung a question. im brand new, my stuff isn't even here yet. Why would i want to dry it out? So flake stuff is that cake stuff which is carvanish which is the 'sweet' stuff with the sugar squeezed out right?
basically you could smoke it either way you just prefer drier? And does any other types of tobacco need any special care such as "rubbing out" or is it just the cakes?
Welcome to the forum, please use our shift key for posts it makes them easier to read for many members. Thank you. Robert.

 

[mcitinner1]

I suggest using a jar size that is as small as possible to hold what you've prepped/dried.

 

[sablebrush52]

so your question sprung a question. im brand new, my stuff isn't even here yet. Why would i want to dry it out? So flake stuff is that cake stuff which is carvanish which is the 'sweet' stuff with the sugar squeezed out right?
basically you could smoke it either way you just prefer drier? And does any other types of tobacco need any special care such as "rubbing out" or is it just the cakes?

Some blenders, Gawth for example, pack their product with a higher moisture content than is optimal for smoking. The excess moisture deadens the flavor, increases the risk of tongue bite, and makes keeping the load lit a bit more difficult. Other blenders, Ouelette for example, pack at what they consider to be the ideal moisture content for smoking right out of the tin.
Cakes and flakes are often rubbed out. Some smokers use "fold and stuff" with flakes, or cube cut flakes and plugs. But even when using fold and stuff, smokers reserve a bit to crumble up and sprinkle over the rolled flake, as that makes lighting the tobacco easier to do.
I like my tobacco on the drier side, dry to the touch while still pliant. I get much more flavor in the smoke.

 

[jexta]

thanks!
Welcome to the forum, please use our shift key for posts it makes them easier to read for many members. Thank you. Robert.

 

[davedan]

I suggest using a jar size that is as small as possible to hold what you've prepped/dried.

Why is that?

 

[aldecaker]

While excessively wet tobacco leads to tongue bite, paradoxically, so does excessively dry tobacco. The key is finding the sweet spot in between, which is easily done with a bit of trial and error. My take is that wet tobacco steams like hell, and dry tobacco just plain burns too hot; either way, it makes your tongue hurt like hell, which is to be avoided.

 

[cortezattic]

I suggest using a jar size that is as small as possible to hold what you've prepped/dried.

Why is that?

The moisture in your tobacco will equilibrate with that of the air. The tobacco will dry out

more than you expect when there is a large airspace in the jar.
ps. I'm not a physicist, but I watch The Big Bang Theory. :lol:

 

[mso489]

I dry a few bowls at a time in a pottery bowl, spread it out and rub it out a little. I wouldn't leave the tin or jar open. Frankly, the several bowls can sit in the bowl over several days and remain excellent for my tastes. Assuredly, others would find this a horrible idea.