How Dry Is Too Dry

[logs]

Most tobaccos have been dried to almost crunchy several times before it gets to the blenders. It can be kept at bone dry until the cells start to break and release the natural essential oils of the leaf. Once the oils are gone, I'd say that it has reached the "Too Dry" stage.

As to where I like to dry mine to... depends on the blend. Plus, I don't always do the same thing each and every time I smoke. So, you just have to try drying for each of the blends that you like, till you start to develop a sense of where your preferred levels are, and you'll start to anticipate on new blends. It is more Art and Less Science when it comes to preferences.

Cosmic is correct. Raw tobacco leaf often gets stored in for years at a time and is bone dry before blending. It doesn't hurt the leaf to be that dry.

On the other hand, once it's cased and blended and given a topping that's a different story. Aromatics and blends with a lot of topping are rather sensitive. The first thing that evaporates is the topping when you dry out a blended tobacco. Take a tin of Haddos Delight for example. Dry it out and the distinctive tin note and plum flavor disapear and what you're left with is pretty much just a standard vaper. It still smokes fine and tastes pretty good, but it no longer tastes like Haddos.

I tend to prefer my tobaccos bone dry, but I dont smoke many aros or semi-aros... except War Horse, which I think can tolerate being dry and still taste like War Horse

 

[Michigan_Bill]

Orlik Mellow Mixture is really good stuff, and it was so disappointing to find out it has been discontinued. A fine forum member, @n_irwin, pointed me to a supplier with MM in stock! (Thank you so much!) The tins were all made in 2014—- ten years ago!
One of the tins was damaged so I opened that one first. The tobacco was definitely "crunchy." However, upon smoking, it's really not too bad. It definitely tastes like Mellow Mixture. I rehydrated some and it makes it easier to pack, and the taste is about the same. Good stuff.
Some people say aromatics don’t change over time, some say they do. In this case, even in a damaged tin, it worked out just fine.

 

[bullet08]

Depends on the type of tobacco, and how I feel that day. For awhile, I used to dry everything. Then smoked everything as they are. All depends on how I'm feeling that day.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I finally had a breakthrough yesterday with my not quite broken-in straight stem billiard. I smoked for about 52 minutes in the JEEP with only 2 relights. I was smoking Sutliff Peaches and Cream and for the first time was actually able to taste peaches.
I tried Proper English but am disappointed in the harsh taste. I think I prefer a mild blend, maybe something with cavendish and burley.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I guess I should just ask the question and not pretend to know anything.
Is burley the coolest-smoking tobacco? I have bought some with Virginia blends and they seem to be quite hot. I am sick of tongue bite.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I guess I should just ask the question and not pretend to know anything.
Is burley the coolest-smoking tobacco? I have bought some with Virginia blends and they seem to be quite hot. I am sick of tongue bite.

When pipe smokers refer to "tongue bite", a distinction must be made.
There is bite from smoking too hot, and there is chemical tongue bite.

Smoking too hot is easily corrected with knowledge and experience. Usually, the correction is simply to smoke more slowly. But other factors may also be involved: the pipe, tobacco, cut, dryness, packing, tamping, lighting, etc.

Chemical tongue bite is an entirely different issue. Some folks experience little to no chemical tongue bite while others experience it acutely.
Burley based blends bite less than Virginia based blends.
Some smokers find the only effective cure for chemical tongue bite is the use of charcoal filters.

Pipes are widely available which accommodate either 6mm or 9mm width filters. Personally, I find 9mm charcoal filters give the best result.

 

[huntertrw]

How Dry Is Too Dry​

This is too dry (I believe that the unfortunate smoker may have tried lighting a bowl of 40-year-old Five Brothers).

 

[Pipke]

Just ask Vincent Manil. Semois was my first bowl today.

Small world. First time smoking La Brumeuse for me. I was surprised it didn't set my pipe and mouth on fire. Quite the opposite. It was as dry as Daughters and Ryan blends.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Crumbling into dust is what I like. I don't even attempt it without drying it out for hours to days.

Your post inspired me to try an experiment.
When I finish a tin of my favorite English ribbon-cut blends, their are always some dregs at the bottom which I toss. These dregs are tiny pieces of bone-dry tobacco.
Today, I smoked them and found the experience to be rewarding.
I pack the bowl tight and smoke extra slow to keep it from getting hot.
It is not as flavorful, but nevertheless a good smoke.
Thank you for the inspiration. I now get an extra bowl or two from every tin.

 

[karam]

"Freshly bone dry", said by @Chasing Embers, is my go to phrase to describe the optimal state of tobacco for smoking, except when it comes to Gawith aromatics (Lakelands), I always smoke these as they come, which is fairly wet. I find that drying them vastly diminishes the flavour.

 

[BingBong]

I am hoping that by dessicating F&T Cut Virginia Plug, the flavourings diminish to the point that I can actually taste the tobacco.

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I finally gave up, today, and bought a 14 oz can of Prince Albert. It is not bad, smokes relatively cool, burns to a fine ash, and may become my go-to choice for breaking in pipes.
It is a tad bland but I can stand that. I have a couple of Sutliff aromatics and if I really want a challenge, I have some Proper English, which is a candidate for the trashcan. The English, you know, have no taste.