How dry is "too dry"?

[RatchetT]

My wife got me a wonderful new pouch for tobacco. My lighter fits in it perfectly, it has a spot for a pipe/tools, and it holds a decent amount of tobacco. However, it is brand new leather that is bone dry, so whatever I put in it has every bit of moisture sucked out of it within an hour or two.

I keep reading where most of you tell newbies like me, 'slow down and make sure you're tobacco is good and dry'. OK... but is there such a thing as too dry? I put some black cavendish in this thing on Friday, stuck it in my jacket pocket, and then heard a crunching sound when I took it out on Saturday afternoon to light up. I put some Virginia and Burley in it last night and checked this morning. Once again, it's crunchy.

The Peterson pouch I have (it was my granddaddy's) is lined, so anything I put in it stays what I would call "fresh" for days.

So? Thoughts? Can it get too dry for you? Would you line this thing? If so, with what?

 

[reloader]

That's a good looking pouch. I haven't seen one unlined before. The only thing I can think of is to use leather conditioner or saddle soap on the outside only. Not sure if it would penetrate to the tobacco inside though. Yes, even though I like my tobacco very dry, there is a point where its too dry for me. Mummy dust as they say.

 

[mso489]

I think pouches are to carry tobacco but not store it, so crunchy dry is probably still okay for a few days. When the leaf gets powdery, it's too dry. When I have let tobacco go and it has gotten really dry, about half the time it is still okay. I've had better luck with tobacco that looked and felt too dry than with rehydrating blends that get moldy.

 

[fMf Piper]

That is a nice looking tobacco pouch.

I am still experimenting myself, but so far I am finding that most of my tobacco is still to wet for my tastes.

I guess you could try putting the tobacco in a mylar or plastic bag, and then put that in the pouch until it gets broken in.

 

[RatchetT]

That's a good looking pouch. I haven't seen one unlined before. The only thing I can think of is to use leather conditioner or saddle soap on the outside only. Not sure if it would penetrate to the tobacco inside though. Yes, even though I like my tobacco very dry, there is a point where its too dry for me. Mummy dust as they say.

I thought of something like a conditioner on the outside, too, but I'm leery of that approach, only because I don't want things to taste like saddle soap! I don't know why it would if it's only on the outside, but with my luck, it would ruin the pouch forever.
I don't like my tobacco dry. At all. So finding it crunchy on Saturday was a bit frustrating.

 

[RatchetT]

I think pouches are to carry tobacco but not store it, so crunchy dry is probably still okay for a few days. When the leaf gets powdery, it's too dry. When I have let tobacco go and it has gotten really dry, about half the time it is still okay. I've had better luck with tobacco that looked and felt too dry than with rehydrating blends that get moldy.

Exactly. Carrying it for the weekend is all I had in mind. The old Peterson pouch works great, but it doesn't have a place for anything other than the tobacco. Thus, the new one that has a place to store a few things.

Crunchy was not good. It burned very hot and quickly. It was like setting sawdust on fire. POOF... it's gone and in no way pleasant. Bleck.

 

[Beowoulf]

What about sticking one of those little aluminum moisture disks in the pouch with the tobacco. I use those with some success.

 

[RatchetT]

What about sticking one of those little aluminum moisture disks in the pouch with the tobacco. I use those with some success.

Got a link or pic? I'm not sure what you're referring to.

 

[RatchetT]

That is a nice looking tobacco pouch.

I am still experimenting myself, but so far I am finding that most of my tobacco is still to wet for my tastes.

I guess you could try putting the tobacco in a mylar or plastic bag, and then put that in the pouch until it gets broken in.

Really? Maybe I'm weird, but it seems like dry tobacco has no taste. All of the comments and discussion about letting stuff dry out baffles me. Guess I'm still too much of a newb. ??

 

[fMf Piper]

Really? Maybe I'm weird, but it seems like dry tobacco has no taste. All of the comments and discussion about letting stuff dry out baffles me. Guess I'm still too much of a newb. ??

I'm still new to pipes too, and still trying to find the right dryness that works for me. Haven't had any really dry tobacco to date, but have had some that I definitely needed to let dry a bit more.

I say you like what you like. As long as it makes you happy and you're enjoying your pipe, who cares what anyone else says.

 

[didimauw]

Got a link or pic? I'm not sure what you're referring to.

This one

 

[RatchetT]

This one

Very cool. One of those by itself in that pouch might get it broken in a bit! Thanks!!

 

[Scottmi]

i'd lean toward coating/rubbing in beeswax as a finisher/sealer for the leather inside the tobacco pouch. warm it slightly, rub in so it absorbs a bit, and burnish with a spoon until is shiny and supple. err on the side of not enough. try putting tobacco in again and if still sucking it dry, give it another beeswax rub. or explore some of the natural non-toxic leather waterproofing treatments that are out there. (I have not used this product.)

 

[kcghost]

I find when the tobacco just turns to dust from handling it is way to dry. Some on this forum will disagree with me but that is how I like it,

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

You almost can't get it too dry. Depends on the cut. Not so dry it crumbles to dust but just shy of that.

 

[anotherbob]

Really? Maybe I'm weird, but it seems like dry tobacco has no taste. All of the comments and discussion about letting stuff dry out baffles me. Guess I'm still too much of a newb. ??

it really depends on the tobacco. I find Virginia tobaccos and oriental tobaccos seem to improve the most with being dry. Burly tastes about the same. And something aromatic or with a lot of cavendish will loss some flavor. It is certainly a range. And like people have pointed out those pouches are for a day or so not for long term storage. Which is another thing that might seem weird. Dry doesn't loss flavor but once it hits a certain point of dry it starts to lose flavor which is why people dry it before smoking.

 

[skeeter456]

When the tobacco lights before you put a match to it

 

[fMf Piper]

When the tobacco lights before you put a match to it

I guess that would be a good indicator!

 

[Coreios]

Awesome pouch, but not form long term storing. Too dry to me is always better than to wet. And some tobaccos are actually better so dry they are a bit crunchy. You can restore dry tobacco back to good health with an apple in a jar or Boveda packs, there are several ways so don't throw it out.

Hope that help.

 

[fMf Piper]

@Coreios as a fellow Kentuckian, what humidity Boveda packs would you recommend for our climate? I have always used 69% for my cigars in my coolidor.