Is This Mold?

[Sigmund]

On a tin of blending perique there were some white specs. Not covered but scattered across it only where the tobacco touched the paper on the top of the tin. Is it mold and should I be concerned? I almost wonder if its part of the paper degrading...

When I rub the paper from the top of the tin I get white powder on my finger...hmmmm

Didnt have this problem with torben dansk perique. They bag it first. This was McConnell

 

[captpat]

The rule I go by is if it's furry it's mold, if it's sparkly it's plume.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yehhhh, that picture isn't giving me anything to go on. Does it smell moldy... phhhht, if it's perique it will have an odd smell anyways, just search for a moldy smell on top of that. All in all, push to shove, toss it. Is a $20 tin worth a sinus issue that will cost thousands of dollars to deal with and probably years to overcome? I know someone who merely had mold in their home, and he looked miserable for a long time.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

In my experience, that's fairly common among perique.

Dont know if it's related to the sugar content in the leaf.
Back when RO released Acadian Gold (Canadian bright leaf given the perique process) it caused a bit of a stir. Those tins looked ghastly when opened, but it wasn't mold.

 

[Sigmund]

Is is definitely not crystaline. Seems odd that it was just on the surface where the paper makes contact with the tobacco. Then again, what do I know. It might make perfect sense. I wont be buying more McConnell belding stuff tobacco.

 

[woodsroad]

Mold fruiting bodies have a plethora of differing appearances. Some is even crystaline-looking. Confirmation is best done under a microscope, not on social media.

 

[Sigmund]

If that is the case its a lot cheaper to toss a 50 gram tin and be safe. I dont have a microscope and wouldnt know what I was looking at if I did.

 

[canucklehead]

It being on perique it could also be some kind of yeasty substance.

Edit: I would smoke it. YMMV (Your Moldage May Vary)

 

[kcghost]

Better picture(s) would have helped. You could put it up to your nose and smell it. Mold has a moldy smell to it.
Or you could just chuck it.

 

[Sigmund]

Perique is so strong smelling. There was only white specs on top kind of specks of white. Nothing underneath.

 

[greeneyes]

Those are crystals. Not all crystals have obvious macroscopic symmetry, especially in complex mixtures of various salts. Somewhere on another thread I posted microscopic images of these salts specks growing in my Acadian Gold, which is a Perique processed Virginia.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Those are crystals. Not all crystals have obvious macroscopic symmetry, especially in complex mixtures of various salts. Somewhere on another thread I posted microscopic images of these salts specks growing in my Acadian Gold, which is a Perique processed Virginia.

I have one tin left of the Acadian Gold. One day I'll open it and take some in-depth photos.
It's such a unique product.

 

[woodsroad]

If that is the case its a lot cheaper to toss a 50 gram tin and be safe. I dont have a microscope and wouldnt know what I was looking at if I did.

In terms of "safe". I have not heard of any pathogens growing in tobacco. If it was big and hairy, yeah, I probably get it out of the house as fast as possible. If it was just some white dots, and the tobacco was yummy, I'd go for it. Remember that Perique is full of all sorts of non-pathogenic bacteria. Like sauerkraut, that's what makes it so good.

 

[greeneyes]

I have one tin left of the Acadian Gold. One day I'll open it and take some in-depth photos.
It's such a unique product.

It is, it's one of my favorites. It was a real hidden gem.

 

[renfield]

In terms of "safe". I have not heard of any pathogens growing in tobacco.

I ran across the studies referenced below about a year ago. They were specifically dealing with cigarette tobacco but probably still relevant. I’ve excerpted some interesting passages.

The most common mold on processed tobacco is Aspergillus Fumigatus. Over 30 other Aspergillus strains have been found in processed tobacco (Papavassiliou, et al, 1971). Some Aspergillus strains produce aflatoxins which can be fatal or produce long term damage when inhaled.

A 1968 study done by scientists at the British American Tobacco Company (Wood, et al) determined that viable mold spores from contaminated tobacco enter the smoke stream in sufficient quantities to “...warrant some consideration of the role which micro-organisms may play with regard to smoke toxicity.”

 

[woodsroad]

I ran across the studies referenced below about a year ago. They were specifically dealing with cigarette tobacco but probably still relevant. I’ve excerpted some interesting passages.

The most common mold on processed tobacco is Aspergillus Fumigatus. Over 30 other Aspergillus strains have been found in processed tobacco (Papavassiliou, et al, 1971). Some Aspergillus strains produce aflatoxins which can be fatal or produce long term damage when inhaled.

A 1968 study done by scientists at the British American Tobacco Company (Wood, et al) determined that viable mold spores from contaminated tobacco enter the smoke stream in sufficient quantities to “...warrant some consideration of the role which micro-organisms may play with regard to smoke toxicity.”

I love when I’m proven wrong! Thank you!

 

[renfield]

Sometimes, most likely unintentionally, the internet is an actual source of information.

I was prompted to go digging last year after the 397th “is this mold” and “is it safe to smoke” thread. I was already disinclined to smoke moldy tobacco and now have no plans to ever knowingly do so. I can easily replace a moldy tin, lungs not so much.