How to Smoke Blends That Have Formed Sugar Crystals

[rmbittner]

Sorry to keep posting here, but all this discussion reminded me of something that may or may not be significant:
I got this Stonehaven in 2007. But I got it in a trade from someone I only knew online. It's possible that it's actually a year or two older than 2007, since I have no idea how long the trader had it in his own cellar.
Bob

 

[matchstickman]

BTW, it doesn't sound like you're unhappy with our trade, but if you are, just PM me and I'll send something else.

I didnt want you to get the impression that I was unhappy at all. As a matter of fact, I am giddy as a kid at Christmas having received tobacco that is this well aged. I just recently started getting back into Virginias, Vapers and Vaburs and this stuff should be absolutely outstanding. I cannot thank you enough for the trade. It was awesome.

 

[rmbittner]

Glad to hear it, Pipe Novelist. Your posts were all positive, but I got to thinking that maybe I should be reading between the lines or something.
Anyway, I'm eager to hear what you think when you actually smoke of this stuff!
Bob

 

[joshremy]

I'm glad this was posted! If I had seen bloom on my tobacco I would have thought it was mold or something of the sort and thrown out some good stuff. I've had too many food sanitation courses from my earlier days and have become somewhat over careful with food, so I would have had those instincts jump right in if I saw some bloom.

 

[yaboofive]

Good to know I have something to look forward to in my cellar.

 

[misterlowercase]

I love the magic mystery crystals!
Sometimes it seems they start forming pretty early on, depending on density and moisture I guess, here's some MB ODF from March 2012 I opened 3 months ago, the flakes had a nice light dusting with glitter:

...and dig this JKP that was only 6 months old from an old thread, this thing certainly looks like a majik brownie!

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/jack-knife-plug
Like it's been said, there is some debate to what this stuff actually is. Who knows? I'd love to see it get the full scientific treatment complete with chemical analysis & microscopic pix!
Here's some wisdom nuggets from G.L. Pease on the subject:

"The crystals that appear on aging tobacco are more likely something that is soluble within a narrow pH range.These crystals are not very soluble in water. As the tobacco ages, the pH changes, and some things that haad previously been in solution may, and apparently do, precipitate out. But, from some very preliminary testing, it is almost certainly not sugar."

&

"I don't think the crystals that form on tobacco are sugar. A long time ago, I did some messing around with some of the crystals I discovered in a tin of Va, a little analysis, and they did not behave like any sugar that would be in tobacco. They were not even soluble in water! At the time, I could neither harvest enough of them, nor did I have access to the necessary equipment to get a read on what they might be."