Most of my tobacco is frozen half the year (in an insulated environment, so it's protected from daily fluctuations, but still frozen most of the time). At least anything unpleasant is going to take a long time to grow.
I've Never Had Tobacco Mildew Till Now
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If tobacco freezes doesn't that stop the aging process? Not to mention wouldn't the freeze/thaw cycle twice a year pull moisture out of the tobacco like freezer burn?
Ask me again in 10 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer_burn
Freezer burn is a risk, yes, but not a guarantee.
From what I'm reading air movement is still the primary culprit, basically no different than tobacco drying out in a compromised container at room temperature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer_burn
Freezer burn is a risk, yes, but not a guarantee.
From what I'm reading air movement is still the primary culprit, basically no different than tobacco drying out in a compromised container at room temperature.
Saint007, I am C&D's production manager, and I am sorry that this has happened to your KK. It sounds like this is rather a strange set of circumstances(i.e.: 1 year old tin, opened and smoked from for some time, suddenly COVERED in mold) but as others have pointed out here, moldy tobacco can and does happen occasionally. It does seem as though there possibly was something dormant in the tobacco that suddenly activated, though it is also possible that the tobacco came into contact with some form of particularly aggressive air-born mold spore during the time since it was opened. In the end, it is difficult to say for sure what happened. There was an unfortunate rash of moldy KK some time back (also mentioned above) and this tin may have been a part of that run.
You might take a hospital practice tip about nosocomial infections (those transmitted within the hospital). The offending agent, in this case the tin of tobacco, should be isolated and by that one would think that thrown out is a better practice. The pipes that have come into contact with tobacco should be sanitized and that should probably extend to the tools you use to tamp them. The area in which you store your tobacco should be sterilized as much as possible. A weak chlorine solution should do using gloves to protect your hands from the acid. Wipe down all surfaces and other tobacco containers and allow to dry completely. Wash your hands before and after each smoke until you are absolutely sure that there has not been contamination (about 3 days should do it). I know this sounds rather anal but its the old ounce of prevention...
Well, so much for aging it as that ain't gonna happen in a frozen state. Also, why on earth do you keep your tobacco frozen? If it's 'frozen most of the time', then that would mean that at other times it isn't frozen. To me I would assume that constant freezing, not freezing and then freezing again would eventually destroy the tobacco, or at least render it from producing any taste.
It's a good question Phil.
I keep my tobacco in insulated containers in a small un-heated workshed. The temperature shouldn't fluctuate much so I'm not particularly worried about thermal cycling, in that regard a decade in the shed shouldn't be any worse than if I were to keep a tin in the car for a week during winter.
The big question on my mind is whether the microbes survive the winter or if they just die off and my tobacco is stuck in permanent stasis (which is not necessarily a terrible thing either, maybe Latakia will last longer?).
Little critters like that are usually pretty resilient so I'm assuming aging is going to proceed as normal in the summer and just get put on hold for the winter.
I keep my tobacco in insulated containers in a small un-heated workshed. The temperature shouldn't fluctuate much so I'm not particularly worried about thermal cycling, in that regard a decade in the shed shouldn't be any worse than if I were to keep a tin in the car for a week during winter.
The big question on my mind is whether the microbes survive the winter or if they just die off and my tobacco is stuck in permanent stasis (which is not necessarily a terrible thing either, maybe Latakia will last longer?).
Little critters like that are usually pretty resilient so I'm assuming aging is going to proceed as normal in the summer and just get put on hold for the winter.
I wouldn't recommend chlorine. It is very stinky and tobacco picks up smells very easily. Try a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution instead. Hydrogen Peroxide readily degrades with light and heat.
Mold spores typically go dormant when frozen and come back to life when temps are raised.
Interesting subject on the idea of freezing pipe tobacco, albeit there is no way on earth I would ever do so. Not clear on what you mean by insulated containers? I live in Chicago and I keep my opened tins and bulk tobacco in Mason jars that are kept in my basement (protected from light of course) which can get quite cold during the winter months, but nowhere near freezing and certainly not enough to kill off any anaerobic bacteria. Then again, at my age I’m not really all that concerned about aging tobacco for ten years or whatever, and if by chance I end up having a few tins that get a few years on them so be it as I’m more concerned about my aging well.
As for not worrying about the extreme temperature fluctuation with a single tin of tobacco that is in your car as opposed to the bulk of tobacco that you have stored in your shed are two entirely different things. The odd tin kept in your car cannot be compared to the investment of tobacco kept in your cellar which is meant to stored there for years, and not just for a week or so! Hey... it’s your tobacco and treat it as you wish, but I personally would never store the bulk of my tobacco where it could possibly freeze, much less get above freezing, and then freeze again over an extended period of time.
+1 on the hydrogen peroxide although not as good on spores as acid...
BTW, I have never had a problem with clorox being "sticky" and have always assumed that our members know to keep tobacco closed up and away from fumes.
BTW, I have never had a problem with clorox being "sticky" and have always assumed that our members know to keep tobacco closed up and away from fumes.
Jeremy wrote...Saint007, I am C&D's production manager, and I am sorry that this has happened to your KK. It sounds like this is rather a strange set of circumstances(i.e.: 1 year old tin, opened and smoked from for some time, suddenly COVERED in mold) but as others have pointed out here, moldy tobacco can and does happen occasionally. It does seem as though there possibly was something dormant in the tobacco that suddenly activated, though it is also possible that the tobacco came into contact with some form of particularly aggressive air-born mold spore during the time since it was opened. In the end, it is difficult to say for sure what happened. There was an unfortunate rash of moldy KK some time back (also mentioned above) and this tin may have been a part of that run.
Thanks Jeremy. I purchased several tins a couple of months back hopefully from a different batch than the one you had problems with. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they are fine as I really enjoy KK. If not, I'll be in touch. Thanks again.
Thanks Jeremy. I purchased several tins a couple of months back hopefully from a different batch than the one you had problems with. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they are fine as I really enjoy KK. If not, I'll be in touch. Thanks again.
According to the posts above they've had problems in 2006 and in 2015. You would think the problem would have been fixed....what is the problem with these moldy tins? How come we've never seen a moldy tin from McClelland? For people who have large cellars of these blends like myself should feel uneasy. Right?
-Phil
Right now it's in modified coolers. I thought about getting Pelican coolers but that would cost more than the tobacco.
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