Mac Baren Virginia No. 1 - Dry?

[Cdtakacs1]

Hi Folks -

I opened a tin of Mac Baren No 1 and it seemed rather dry. Is that normal for this blend? It smokes perfectly fine but wondering if I need to add some moisture to it?

Thanks!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Hi Folks -

I opened a tin of Mac Baren No 1 and it seemed rather dry. Is that normal for this blend? It smokes perfectly fine but wondering if I need to add some moisture to it?

Thanks!

With Virginias, drier is better.

 

[mikefu]

It’s not normal for it to be dry, did the seal “whoosh” when you opened it? It’s dry compared to an aromatic, but still moist enough that I dry it out before smoking. In either case I would not rehydrate it, unless it crumbles to dust when rubbed out. Otherwise it’s probably good to go, and the drier it is the less bite it has.

 

[BROBS]

Hi Folks -

I opened a tin of Mac Baren No 1 and it seemed rather dry. Is that normal for this blend? It smokes perfectly fine but wondering if I need to add some moisture to it?

Thanks!

How old is the tin?

 

[dcicero]

I dont think its normally exceptionally moist either though. Are we talking bone dry?

 

[briarbuck]

I find MB Va to be dryer coming out of the can than most flakes.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I find MB Va to be dryer coming out of the can than most flakes.

Same here

 

[ray47]

I buy Virginia #1 by bulk and it's always somewhat dry out of the bag. I find it smokes best when it's dry. Regardless whether dry or moist, tin or bulk, you need to smoke it slow to cut down on the bite and get a good taste.

 

[JimInks]

I buy Virginia #1 by bulk and it's always somewhat dry out of the bag. I find it smokes best when it's dry. Regardless whether dry or moist, tin or bulk, you need to smoke it slow to cut down on the bite and get a good taste.

I agree. Also, I find this blend greatly improves with a few years of age. The acidity level drops quite a bit after five years.

 

[didimauw]

If it smokes perfectly fine, then why mess with it?

 

[BROBS]

I agree. Also, I find this blend greatly improves with a few years of age. The acidity level drops quite a bit after five years.

Big time!!!
I’ve even noticed a large change in it after 1 year in a jar.

 

[ray47]

My stash of Va #1 that I'm currently smoking is from February 2017 and it's sweet with no tongue bite.

 

[Cdtakacs1]

Awesome, thank you Gents!!!

 

[mingc]

I just rediscovered yesterday a 2 oz zip lock bag of Va No. 1 that I bought around 2010, stashed in one of my plastic storage bins. It was still springy. So, I suspect it's got a fair amount of humectants in it. If yours bounces back when you squeeze a portion of it, it's not too dry.

I'm smoking some of mine right now and now remeber why I stashed it away. It bit like crazy! I'm a little more impervious to tongue bite these days, but it still bites. The stuff that I could taste beyond the bite was quite nice. I think I'll jar it and put it away for another 10 years. Maybe it won't bite then. I hope you enjoy yours (what bites me may not bite other people; it's funny that way).

 

[logs]

People are

I opened a tin of Mac Baren No 1 and it seemed rather dry. Is that normal for this blend? It smokes perfectly fine but wondering if I need to add some moisture to it?

If it smokes fine and tastes fine don't mess with it.

 

[BROBS]

I just rediscovered yesterday a 2 oz zip lock bag of Va No. 1 that I bought around 2010, stashed in one of my plastic storage bins. It was still springy. So, I suspect it's got a fair amount of humectants in it. If yours bounces back when you squeeze a portion of it, it's not too dry.

I'm smoking some of mine right now and now remeber why I stashed it away. It bit like crazy! I'm a little more impervious to tongue bite these days, but it still bites. The stuff that I could taste beyond the bite was quite nice. I think I'll jar it and put it away for another 10 years. Maybe it won't bite then. I hope you enjoy yours (what bites me may not bite other people; it's funny that way).

THATS SPICE

 

[logs]

I'm smoking some of mine right now and now remeber why I stashed it away. It bit like crazy! I'm a little more impervious to tongue bite these days, but it still bites.

Mac Baren's sweet VA blends tend to be more fussy and sensitive to burn temperature than a lot of other VA blends. I think figuring out VA #1 is worth the trouble, but aged or not the danger is never far away.

 

[mingc]

THATS SPICE

Yeah, I get it! I eat hot peppers for a similar effect (the best ones are the ones that heat both coming in and going out!).

 

[BROBS]

I dry VA #1 until it’s crumbly.

 

[mingc]

Man, I've been drying it for 10 years. Actually more because the latest I could have bought it was 2010. Steve Book's handwriting was on the label and Steve left that shop around 2010. I probably bought it years before then. It was in a baggie the whole time. And it's still moist!