How to Re-Hydrate Pipe Tobacco
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Thank you, I am sad this is the last tin of Bengal Slices I will ever taste again, but glad you had my back.
I may have missed something in this thread, so please bear with me if I ask something that has been discussed already.
When you open a tin of tobacco, can it be resealed to prevent overdrying? I have a tin of MB Plum Cake that I opened months ago. I took out a portion of the tobacco and then put that and the closed tin in a Ziplock bag. Since then the loose tobacco has dried a lot.
When you open a tin of tobacco, can it be resealed to prevent overdrying? I have a tin of MB Plum Cake that I opened months ago. I took out a portion of the tobacco and then put that and the closed tin in a Ziplock bag. Since then the loose tobacco has dried a lot.
It generally can't be resealed in the same tin.
The amount of time it will last at the proper humidity will vary from one tobacco to the next. Keeping it in the tin obviously helps it last longer than just being out or in a Ziplock. It does offer some protection, but will eventually dry out. I've done it. I've forgotten an open tin for a few months and came back to crispy dried out tobacco.
Aromatics with a heavy casing will last longer.
Thick flakes that come rather wet like Samuel Gawith or Peterson Irish Flake will also last a bit longer.
Ribbon cut tobaccos like Dunhill Elizabethan and the like will not last as long.
For me, if I'm going to take more than a couple of weeks to smoke it, I transfer it from the tin to a jar.
With my favorite blends that I know I'm going to smoke rather quickly I will just leave them in the tin.
I would say 2 weeks is a good time frame for a ribbon cut. If it's going to last longer than that, I jar it up.
The thick wet flakes could probably last a month without drying out to the point of not being enjoyable. I don't think I've ever put Peterson Irish Flake in a jar. I go through that stuff quick.
Great info in the article.
One method I used recently is to put the dried tobacco in a Ziplock, with a dropper add 3-5 drops of distilled water (depending on how much tobacco you have and how dry it is), blow air into the bag and shake it up. Shake every 30 minutes or so.
Most of the time that does the trick. If it's still too dry, reapply a little more distilled water and repeat.
I like the sponge idea in the article. I think I'll try that next time if it happens again.
One method I used recently is to put the dried tobacco in a Ziplock, with a dropper add 3-5 drops of distilled water (depending on how much tobacco you have and how dry it is), blow air into the bag and shake it up. Shake every 30 minutes or so.
Most of the time that does the trick. If it's still too dry, reapply a little more distilled water and repeat.
I like the sponge idea in the article. I think I'll try that next time if it happens again.
I have seen numerous people utilize a slice of potato. I have heard of slices of apple or lemon rind.
I have used those hydration packs or the little 1$
I found they worked decently with 2 of them in an ounce or two tin. Its the same principle.
Next time I am going to try some fresh hot French fries.
I have used those hydration packs or the little 1$
I found they worked decently with 2 of them in an ounce or two tin. Its the same principle.
Next time I am going to try some fresh hot French fries.
I have no idea how accurate it is but I heard in the old west days, people would put a slice of potato or apple in a jar to keep cigars hydrated.
I'm sure it would work for both cigars and pipe tobacco.
I have found that Ziplock bags are no good for storing tobacco, even for short periods. I have several that I have had to add droplets of water to to get them out of that crunchy dryness. I have endured smoking in my Jeep during temps that start in the teens and go into the 20s during the day. I keep the engine running with a window open about 2 inches. Leaving baggies of favorite blends in the Jeep has not improved anything.
Seems like slow is fast when it comes to all things pipes. Except maybe acquisition.
I usually don't have too much of a problem rehydrating, but I have a big problem now haha. My favorite Lakeland is Kendal Flake. What a stupid thing they discontinued that! I found a bunch at a brick and mortar, but it's literally crispy. I bought 8 ounces. Does anyone have any experience rehydrating a large amount of flake? I've found the wet paper towel with distiled water trick very useful for a couple ounces but not half a pound.
I did about 6-8 ounces it Ennerdale flake with a slightly moist paper towel in a jar. Took a few weeks but worked out great.
Try not to have direct contact with the towel and tobacco.
My method is quite simple. With dry tobacco, I take a small piece of mandarin or tangerine peel and place it in the tobacco for a couple of days. Lovely scent, but you don't taste in the smoking.
Simple and easy, wet a paper towel, wring it really well place it over opened tin, reseal with lid, works for me
Amazingly, I've never had to do this before. But I have four 100g tins of Rattray's Exotic Passion that are all extra crispy. What I'm trying here is in a 3.3L Rubbermaid container with a whiskey tumbler in the center with paper towels moistened with distilled water. I rolled the paper towels and placed them in the glass standing up. My thinking, whether I'm right or wrong, is that it would be more effective than wadding them up or folding them and stuffing them into the glass... my brain is thinking wick-like. This is a pretty big container but as you can see the tobacco still quite filled the bowl. Next time I try this with this much tobacco, I may divide it into two bowls. I'll open it tomorrow and mix the tobacco and see how much progress I've made and continue from there. If it takes a while I'm in no rush. I have more than enough tobacco to choose from. If it's successful, I recently got a pound of Blend for Cary Grant which could probably use some rehydration as well. Wish me luck!
What I use is a small piece of manderin(tangerine) peel. Nice scent that is not picked up by the tobacco.
I recently had 8 oz go dry in a flip top ceramic jar. Who would have thunk that would have let air in. Anyway, I took the blend and spread it out inside an aluminum disposable serving pan like you would use to bake a turkey.
Then I placed a large Boveda pack in the center and sealed the pan with Saran Wrap and shipping tape. I placed a digital hygrometer inside and waited. It took about 3 weeks, but the RH finally came up to match the Boveda pack. Every week I would gently shake the pan to circulate the tobacco.
Worked like a charm!
I’m now doing the same with several blends I purchased at a B&M. I stupidly didn’t check the condition of the tobacco before I bought it. Hopefully this works even on plug and ropes.
One way is to put a damp paper towel in a Ziploc bag with the tobacco for a few hours. Just make sure the towel isn't dripping wet. Another trick is to use a small piece of apple or potato in the bag overnight. They add moisture without messing with the flavor too much.