How to Re-Hydrate Pipe Tobacco

[cosmicfolklore]

For the most part, I love my tobacco to be bone dry, so... I will even dry whole tins to crunchy before I start packing out of it. But, occasionally, a blend will need a touch of moisture for whatever reason. I just pack a bowl, and put my lips over the bowl and blow. The moisture in your breath is all a tobacco needs, IMO. Of course, every time my wife sees me do this, she tells me, "you're smoking you're pipe backwards, dumbass." This is why I love her.
6and, I think I have written that story 1,000 times now, because this comes up so often, ha ha.

But, I would ask, if you are going to dry out your tobacco before loading it, why rehydrate it, just to dry it out again? Doesn't make sense to me. Unless you just like smoking wet steamy tobacco.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Why?

 

[Buckeyestime]

I have a 1/2 tin left of Frog Morton Cellar. Has anyone had success rehydrating the whiskey barrel stave with whiskey to add a deeper flavor and some moisture into the tobacco?

 

[aspiring_sage]

I have a 1/2 tin left of Frog Morton Cellar. Has anyone had success rehydrating the whiskey barrel stave with whiskey to add a deeper flavor and some moisture into the tobacco?

I have rehydrated using Whiskey, but I wouldn’t call it a success.
In the future, I would try just a drop. A small amount.

 

[ravkesef]

Distilled water and a spray bottle with a fine mist. Spray lightly, mist and seal. Open in a couple of days. Better to underspray than overspray. This has worked for me every time over the past sixty-four years that I’ve been a smoker. Can’t argue with success over the long haul.

 

[EddyTee]

I'm glad I found this thread.
I was just about to post a question about how to rehydrate tobacco.
One thing I've found is that tins can't be counted on to keep tobacco from drying out. The plastic lids must not seal tight enough.
A couple of tins that I bought some time back have gotten a tad more dry than I'd prefer. Especially some shag cut.
I put them all into a humidor and put in one of those cups with the sort of gel crystal stuff. That seemed to keep it from drying any more but didn't really rehydrate it. As an experiment I put a half dropper full of distilled water right in the tin and put the top on and shook it up. I left it in the humi over night and this morning it seems to have worked. Of course the concern is always mold. But I think I'm OK. It seems to have hit the sweet spot in terms of being moist but not over moist. It smokes fine.
I find that dry tobacco is harsh as is over moist tobacco.
It's all a matter of pleasing that blond bimbo Goldilocks.

Thanks for the input. Useful.

 

[woodrow]

$5 misting bottle on Amazon, $1 gallon jug of distilled water. This is not rocket science and really doesn't need to be.

Exactly what I’ve been doing. Get a new bottle and wash it out with distilled water. Since I like to have a variety handy I’ve ordered a bunch of 5 by 7 Mylar bags. Mylar is far, far better than plastic bags. I think I have about 12 bags of dry baccy, all being transferred to Mylar.

 

[SunriseBoy]

I'm glad I found this thread.
I was just about to post a question about how to rehydrate tobacco.
One thing I've found is that tins can't be counted on to keep tobacco from drying out. The plastic lids must not seal tight enough.
A couple of tins that I bought some time back have gotten a tad more dry than I'd prefer. Especially some shag cut.
I put them all into a humidor and put in one of those cups with the sort of gel crystal stuff. That seemed to keep it from drying any more but didn't really rehydrate it. As an experiment I put a half dropper full of distilled water right in the tin and put the top on and shook it up. I left it in the humi over night and this morning it seems to have worked. Of course the concern is always mold. But I think I'm OK. It seems to have hit the sweet spot in terms of being moist but not over moist. It smokes fine.
I find that dry tobacco is harsh as is over moist tobacco.
It's all a matter of pleasing that blond bimbo Goldilocks.

Clean potato peel works very well.
That's my only method. Just two or three slivvers, an inch long, 1/4 inch thick for around two ounces. But it's also a 'feel' thing. Just have to judge it. But you've been around a while, you'll get the idea pretty quick.

 

[lupy1234]

I bought some Drexel VIII from P&C that was probably 7 years old or so a few months ago. Used a couple of 69% Boveda packs in a ceramic jar. Let it sit without opening for a few weeks.

 

[gord]

I put my tobacco in a food storage container. I make a digit in the center, put in a 1oz container of distilled water uncovered. I put the cover on the container on a seed starter warming mat. I leave the mat on for short periods, one I see a little humidity inside. I check on the blend daily until it gets to my liking. Hope this helps.

I do a similar thing . . . but I store my tobacco in 4 oz Mason jars. If the tobacco is too dry, I have a small atomizer I spray the tobacco with, with distilled water. Reseal the jar, rotate the tobacco within, and repeat until it's about right. Might take a few hours depending on room conditions.

Your method is surely better, but I'm pretty clumsy at times

 

[gord]

How to Re-Hydrate Pipe Tobacco :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

Here is an article that I wrote awhile ago that shows a few different methods of re-hydrating pipe tobacco: How to Rehydrate Pipe Tobacco

pipesmagazine.com

I use your method #4. Works for me. It is too easy to get sloppy about leaving the plastic pouches uncared for . . . . I try to put the tobacco in mason jars right away, but am not always successful.

 

[badbriar]

If tobacco is stored in a glass container - take foil and make a shallow bowl - about 2-2.5" diameter. Take a quarter of a paper towel and fold until it is about 3/4 - 1" square and soak with water. squeeze most of the water out until it does not drip. Put damp paper into the foil bowl and then into the glass container. Usually within a couple of days, you will see a definite difference.
Been doing this for years. Good piping!

 

[huntertrw]

You might try using dihydrogen monoxide; however, be warned: it can cause severe corrosion to metal containers, and may be FATAL if breathed. Other than that, it's a nearly ideal substance with which to rehydrate your over-dry tobacco.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Er, ah, well, I'll stick with water, thanks.

Easiest way: soak some shards of terracotta**, place one in jar with dry tobacco. Check every now and then.

** Terracotta is the name of the reddish clay pots you see everywhere—well, not so much in congested urban areas.

 

[gord]

Depends how much you are willing to smoke that dried out tobacco. I usually put them in a trash can and let it rained or not until next garbage collection day.

At 75 - 85 bucks per package in BC Canada, you can bet I won't be using your method!

 

[John C.]

You can also try a hydrostone if you're not willing to destroy your wife's terracotta pots.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yep, a market for every thing. I'd save the $6 to $17 and seek out an active gardener. They all have broken pots after a while!

 

[John C.]

Yep, a market for every thing. I'd save the $6 to $17 and seek out an active gardener. They all have broken pots after a while!

Actually $5.45 for a 3 pack & free shipping. But to each their own.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Indeed, to each his own!

Thanksfor the 55 cent correction!

I prefer free and plentiful. They last forever, can be used over and over, and if a piece gets broken, it's still useful.

 

[BingBong]

You can also try a hydrostone if you're not willing to destroy your wife's terracotta pots. View attachment 316908

I bought a couple of these about 10 years ago, they've been very useful on many occasions.