So I just bought 2 of my first tinned tobaccos. I got molto dolce and maple street. I was wondering how long the tobacco when stay fresh once the tin is opened? What do I need to do with it for storage?
How long to keep an opened tin?
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Sutliff aromatics never dry out lol. Seriously, I have a tin of Taste of Summer that I cracked last summer and I just checked it out a few days ago and it's just now hitting ideal moisture level. It's the same for Molto Dolce. I've only had one tin of Maple Street and I can't recall how its moisture level compares.
I'd say a general rule of thumb is, if you're going to get through the tin in about two weeks then just leave it in the tin. If you want to open it up and have a few bowls and move on then get some mason jars and jar it up, that way you can come back to it later, we're talking months down the road, and not worry about it drying out.
I'd say a general rule of thumb is, if you're going to get through the tin in about two weeks then just leave it in the tin. If you want to open it up and have a few bowls and move on then get some mason jars and jar it up, that way you can come back to it later, we're talking months down the road, and not worry about it drying out.
I believe Molto Dolce and Maple Street both come in tins that have snap on polypropylene lids? Those reseal pretty well and I've kept tobacco for a few months that way. More traditional tins with metal lids, for example as used by Dunhill and many other blenders, don't re-seal well in my experience (and the square or rectangular tins, not at all) so a couple of weeks, max.
Per chasingembers, mason jars are inexpensive and work really well. Some have tobacco in mason jars for years. For starting out, 8 ounce jars are what I'd recommend. They easily hold the contents of a 2 ounce tin. Some prefer the wide-mouth, jelly jar type. They are more convenient for day to day use, but are somewhat more expensive per jar, but still not expensive.
Per chasingembers, mason jars are inexpensive and work really well. Some have tobacco in mason jars for years. For starting out, 8 ounce jars are what I'd recommend. They easily hold the contents of a 2 ounce tin. Some prefer the wide-mouth, jelly jar type. They are more convenient for day to day use, but are somewhat more expensive per jar, but still not expensive.
I leave mine in the tins until its gone. Depending on how many tins I have on the go that could be as long as 4 or 5 months. It may dry a little but it's still smokeable. If it does get too dry I'll pop a hydrating button in there to put a little moisture back. :
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I've had a tin of McCranies Red Flake open for almost 9 months now ... same for Dark Star.
It all depends upon the initial moisture content and how dry you personally like your tobacco.
As mentioned, aromatics are typically very moist and also contain an additive (PG) to help keep it that way.
You will be fine in the original tins but mason jars are the way to go for longer term storage.
It all depends upon the initial moisture content and how dry you personally like your tobacco.
As mentioned, aromatics are typically very moist and also contain an additive (PG) to help keep it that way.
You will be fine in the original tins but mason jars are the way to go for longer term storage.
I open a tin and smoke it so I do not worry about the blend getting overly dry. A tin lasts a week or so and I usually have two or three open at a time. Larger amounts I transfer to "bail" jars and may add a "button" for moisture when the blend is expected to last for a month or more.
Seems there's some truth about the Sutliff aro's never drying completely. I had some tins that someone brought to pipe club and left behind in the shop. They were all about 1/2-2/3 full and I put them in a bag and hung them up on the office doorknob for like 6 months. A newbie was in one day and had little in the way of funds so after buying a few ounces of various bulk aro's I remembered the forgotten tins. I opened a few and was surprised that the tobacco was in prime smoking shape. I let him pick a couple and off he goes, turns out he loved them and came back stating he had ordered some but wanted some more of our house blends as well.
In my experience, if you smoke even relatively moderately, you will have no problems as long as you put the lid on. I leave my tobacco and pipes in my truck, under my back seat. I still have a tin of McCelland Holiday Spirit that was still at a nice moisture level, and I bought the tin around late November! Keep it sealed, and you should have no problem.
I like to jar a tin of tobacco after opening it. It lets me fluff up the tobacco, instead of keeping it packed tight as it comes in the tin. Then I shake a couple bowls worth back into the tin. This way I can dry what I'll be smoking that day or so by leaving the tin uncovered for a while.
For a few weeks, no problem, longer Mason (ball) jars. Of course you could use the old cigar Iglooador. Put them in a cooler that seals well, i have stored open and unopened tins in a cooler, open tins do well for a year or so. Now the open tin goes in a mason jar (can't beat them).
Of sourse, YMMV
Of sourse, YMMV
I usually have around 20 tins open at all times and I store the open tin in these plastic tubs I buy at Walmart. They keep my tobacco fresh for around 9 months to a year. Here is a pic of the tubs I use. They come in a 4 pack of different sizes and the cost is about 6 bucks for all four. They are the opaque ones with the white lids. You can see some tins in them.
Nice choices of the Sutliff's Private Stock. The tins in their current containers will last quite a while; metal tins not so long. They usually don't have the opportunity to dry out when I open them because I smoke too much. I'm among the rare group that enjoys aros, although I'm developing a fondness for MacBaren's tins. These are very good tins that will keep tobacco fresh a bit longer than usual if you screw them on tight. But again, if you smoke them irregularly, use at least plastic bags for the short term, and glass for longer storage. I like to use glass snap lidded jars for these and my bulk tobaccos (available at K Mart.)
The nice thing about canning jars is that you can have a number of tobaccos on hand but well preserved. I'm slow to open tins because that starts the clock to jar it or smoke it. I also tend to un-jar portions so as not to keep opening the jars. Sometimes I'm outright profligate and just leave a blend in a tin, tub, or baggie. Tobacco is more durable than you'd think. It can smoke quite well when it feels too dry to smoke. It can be re-moisturized if needed. But jars are the right way to store it, and the rest is up to your discretion and (sometimes maybe, if you're like me) folly. When I really like a leaf or blend, I maintain it scrupulously -- like my Semois.
I've had my Molto Dolce open for about 18 months, and it's as goopy as the day I opened it. I still enjoy it on occasion. It is just my date night smoke, so it doesn't see much action these days, ha ha!!!
I do something similar to cigrmaster, I have a large glass cookie jar type container and keep a moister puck - the type used in cigar humidors, in the jar and put open tins in this jar. I have found that the tins do not really dry out at all and also don't get too moist either.
That makes sense. "Why do you think they call them preserves?" lol...
Most of my tobacco comes in 14 oz cans with a plastic lid. Works for me.
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