How to Re-Hydrate Pipe Tobacco

[AJL67]

Yes i've smoked cigars for decades and brought back a few dry sticks but nothing like this im thinking this is going to be a test and "just to see" but it's never really going to be close to what it was.

 

[LimestoneCowboy]

Per the article: "The proper RH of pipe tobacco is only around 10-14%." This seems off to me because 1) in most areas the average RH in the atmosphere is much higher, and 2) RH refers to atmospheric moisture, not moisture in a solid (which is "moisture content"). I have read that the moisture content of pipe tobacco should be around 18-22%. So, about 1/5 of its weight is water.

In any case, the article is still very helpful. The RH where I live is very low, and I have some spritzing to do. I have been sealing my tobacco in mylar bags, but have a pound of flake in one of those hinged and gasketed glass jars that's become downright crispy in just a year.

 

[avail]

I am definitely not an expert on this but a slice of white bread has help me save some old Sugar Barrel.

At college, a kid in the dorm used to get care packages, often containing a tin of cookies. The lid was closed on a sheet of wax paper, underneath that was a slice of bread covering the cookies. The slice of bread was always dried/stale, while the cookies were fresh and delicious.

Once I tried putting a small piece of bread in a tin of SG Grousemoor, didn't really care for the way it turned out.

 

[avail]

a pound of flake in one of those hinged and gasketed glass jars that's become downright crispy in just a year.

I always wondered how well those would work, I guess now I know.

 

[avail]

In my experience. Rehydrate tobacco with distilled water makes the taste of tobacco fades.

I don't know if that is how I'd describe it, but I've never liked the result of rehydrating.

Having said that, I have some 5-year old Morning Smoke that has been jarred and seems pretty crispy, but I love the flavor of it. (And I can still manage to get it to gurgle...I could get a bowl of dust to gurgle...LOL)

 

[nolan613]

Years ago, before bulk barns, we cured tobacco on sticks. After curing we had to open the barn doors during the night to let the leaves obtain some moisture and become pliable so they didn't crumble while unloading the barn and hauling to the pack house. That's how I handle dry pipe tobacco. I pour the crunchy tobacco into my wife's biscuit pan and place it on the porch overnight. By early next morning, if pinched between the fingers, it will hold together and be soft. I just place it in a mason jar and seal it up. This works because the tobacco will only absorb the moisture amount it needs and is never introduced to liquid All that's left is washing biscuit pan and slipping it back in the kitchen before she's any the wiser.

Having grown up in South Carolina I remember that tobacco farming ranked up there with cotton in the 60's. Any tobacco farmer of any size had their own barns where they hung the tobacco to dry. Even as a youngster in the 50's & 60's the aroma in those barns were things of fond memories.

 

[StPaulPiper]

I put a slice of bread in the jar. How big depends upon how dry it is. Couple days later, dry bread, rehydrated leaf.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Per the article: "The proper RH of pipe tobacco is only around 10-14%." This seems off to me because 1) in most areas the average RH in the atmosphere is much higher, and 2) RH refers to atmospheric moisture, not moisture in a solid (which is "moisture content"). I have read that the moisture content of pipe tobacco should be around 18-22%. So, about 1/5 of its weight is water.

The first sentence is so wrong it's criminal. 10-14% is the moisture content; RH @70º would be a range of perhaps 60-80% RH. There are tables showing conversions, but my example is made up.

In any case, the article is still very helpful. The RH where I live is very low, and I have some spritzing to do. I have been sealing my tobacco in mylar bags, but have a pound of flake in one of those hinged and gasketed glass jars that's become downright crispy in just a year.

Not a surprise, and not confirmation that bail tops are poor containers for tobacco: They are quite good except for l/t storage, but also if used for a bowl full a few times a week or more.

Thing is, every time you open the top, the air, starting at, say 75% RH, is replaced by air that's 30% RH. Before long if jar is opened frequently, the RH of the tobacco drops pretty quick. And a year is a long time!

 

[DrHoo]

I prefer tobacco on the dryer side and will only risk rehydration if I have several ounces; enough to absorb moisture. I spread it out on brown paper and give it the finest mist of distilled water, then leave it for a day or two and put it back in the jar only when I'm sure it isn't too wet. My grandad smoked Sir Walter Raleigh all day and seldom let a can go dry buy, when he did, he put a small slice of apple in the can and left it till he was satisfied. I've never tried that but it worked for him.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

We’ve had a crazy hot summer where I live, and my tobacco is in the garage which is insulated and I open the door so it’s fairly conditioned, but still not ideal. I’ve been breathing into tins and bags and it’s worked surprisingly well. Some are noticeably more moist.

 

[vates]

Rehydrate tobacco with distilled water makes the taste of tobacco fades.
I would spray some scotch whisky or brandy on them.

Okay, let's try this:

 

[vates]

Okay, let's try this:

View attachment 170724

Alright, it worked like a charm!

First impressions upon opening the tray: the smell is divine!

These coins of Peterson SR 2018 which were on the verge of crumbling into dust are now better than new.
Two days would've been enough for my needs probably.

Additional observations:
- new IKEA trays hold their seal really tight;
- slightly peated sherry finished Islay single malts probably work better than purified water

 

[hyperstar]

Wow. I've never thought you can use tray sealers to hydrate tobaccos. What a great improvement.

The combinations between Peated whisky and English blend tobaccos are truly amazing.

Smoke first, then drink your whisky. The peated flavor will be erase by tobacco, making the whisky sweeter. Yet, when you breathe out through your nose. The original flavor will come back again.

 

[sigaholic]

Great thread. I have had success with a couple of methods

 

[huntertrw]

I pour the crunchy tobacco into my wife's biscuit pan and place it on the porch overnight. By early next morning,

What if a stray dog comes by and licks it?

 

[orlandofurioso]

Thank you for the heads up; great article.
For a single bowl I dump the baccy in a stainless tea strainer and rehydrate over
the steam of the kettle, filled with demineralized water. Works perfect and I prefer it over rehydrating
the bulk .

 

[orvet]

I have a tin of 1987 Wills Cut Golden Bar that popped on for some time in the last few years. The seal failed and the tobacco is pretty dry, almost to the point of crunchy. I put it in a jar with a good seal and added some distilled water and shook in a bit and then I left a cigar humidor moisturizer in the jar with it. It has come back surprisingly well within about 3 to 4 days. I am blending it with Capstan blue to stretch my remaining Capstan until my next order arrives in about 3 days. I must say it is pretty good. I wish I had a few more cans of 1987 Cut Golden Bar! It was never never my favorite when it was fresh, but with a couple of years it became a very satisfying smoke.

 

[Homer]

One easy way is put small 58% Boveda pack in jar and let the moisture level stabilize. That will easily rehydtate the tobacco without making it too wet.

 

[aspiring_sage]

Okay, let's try this:

View attachment 170724

I tried some tobacco rehydrated this way last night. Still has a slight alcohol smell, burned a little hot, I had to really slow down, was very tasty.
I recommend it!

 

[aspiring_sage]

Okay, let's try this:

View attachment 170724

Recently I’ve experimented with something similar: little containers of salt and drops of distilled water. Table salt should keep the RH at 70%, and I had more water slowly as the tobacco takes the humidity down. within a few days it it stabilizes and I know the tobacco is rehydrated, but not too much.

Tupperware, glass jar, a ziplock all work.

I bought a pack of cheap digital hygrometers to verify, and the salt method seems to work well to protect from over-hydrating.