Mold Confirmation

[K.E. Powell]

Unless in my shoes, I couldn't see inside the tin. Transferring it sooner wouldn't have prevented to mold, but I would have been able to see it sooner.

And that's another important point people miss. If I buy some tobacco and I find it has mold as soon as I get it, I may be able to get my money back or get the tins replaced, depending on whom I bought it from, etc. But no business is going to replace tobacco I left in a tin several years ago.

And some tins are better than others, to be sure. Those C&D tins are cheap, flimsy things, for example. Square tins are notorious for being unreliable.

Full disclosure: I don't really care about cellaring or aging. It's a nice bonus, but it's not something I invest much effort into. I jar my tobacco for sake of freshness. Once I crack a tin, if I don't put the baccy somewhere with a good seal, it will just dry out and go bad anyway. I find I like to bounce around between blends, so I may try one blend one day, and not pick it up for several weeks afterward. Just depends on my mood. Jarring helps me accommodate that.

Everyone is welcome to jar and cellar in whatever manner they think is best. But, I don't think smoking mold is a good idea. And I don't think these mass produced tins that most commercial manufactures ship tobacco in are very good. I've read enough horror stories on this forum alone to make feel pretty convinced in those two points.

 

[didimauw]

And that's another important point people miss. If I buy some tobacco and I find it has mold as soon as I get it, I may be able to get my money back or get the tins replaced, depending on whom I bought it from, etc. But no business is going to replace tobacco I left in a tin several years ago.

And some tins are better than others, to be sure. Those C&D tins are cheap, flimsy things, for example. Square tins are notorious for being unreliable.

Full disclosure: I don't really care about cellaring or aging. It's a nice bonus, but it's not something I invest much effort into. I jar my tobacco for sake of freshness. Once I crack a tin, if I don't put the baccy somewhere with a good seal, it will just dry out and go bad anyway. I find I like to bounce around between blends, so I may try one blend one day, and not pick it up for several weeks afterward. Just depends on my mood. Jarring helps me accommodate that.

Everyone is welcome to jar and cellar in whatever manner they think is best. But, I don't think smoking mold is a good idea. And I don't think these mass produced tins that most commercial manufactures ship tobacco in are very good. I've read enough horror stories on this forum alone to make feel pretty convinced in those two points.

Like I said Cornell & Diehl made good on that couple year old tin immediately. They did want the tobacco back to analyze it. However, if I buy tins, I still leave them alone. But I never "age" anything on purpose. Everything in jars or tins, I just haven't gotten to smoking yet. I only want blends I can smoke right away and don't need years on it to become good, or better.

 

[Briar Tuck]

Managed to find this gem of a quote:


On this web page: Mycotoxins And Endotoxins From Mold And Bacteria In Tobacco & Cigarettes - You Are The Healer - https://youarethehealer.org/mycotoxins-and-endotoxins-from-mold-and-bacteria-in-tobacco-cigarettes/

I think it was meant to say “contaminated with mold”.

Considering the anti-tobacco environment, that quote is quite fitting! Our pipes and cigars are contaminated with tobacco too!

While looking into this topic I also came across a study where they found mold spores in 13 of 14 brands of cigarettes that they sampled. People are definitely smoking mold regularly. As has been pointed out here repeatedly, and correctly, even if it's not visible, the mold spores are still there. If one were really concerned about the hazards of smoking mold then not smoking at all would seem to me to be the most prudent decision.

I personally wouldn't smoke obviously fuzzy, moldy tobacco (such as the can that was posted in another thread here recently) but I probably would smoke some of the "questionable" stuff that I've seen posted, providing that it didn't smell obviously moldy. If it was unpleasant to smoke, I would then toss it out. Others may choose differently.

 

[K.E. Powell]

Like I said Cornell & Diehl made good on that couple year old tin immediately. They did want the tobacco back to analyze it. However, if I buy tins, I still leave them alone. But I never "age" anything on purpose. Everything in jars or tins, I just haven't gotten to smoking yet. I only want blends I can smoke right away and don't need years on it to become good, or better.

That's awesome on C&D! Glad you were able to get a refund. And I'm with you on the blends that are good right away. I mean, if they get better with time, that's awesome! But tomorrow is not promised, and all that.

 

[geoffs]

In the future, don't just let your tobacco sit in some crappy mass-produced tin. I don't care if it "ages better" or whatever. Put it in a quality jar with a tight seal as soon as you can. Those tins are cheap things and cannot be trusted. Every couple of months, we get threads from people who ask if their tinned tobacco has mold on it after cracking it open after a few years. If you have to ask, just toss it. And in the future, put it in a better receptacle. I don't care what anyone here says: tins aren't to be trusted for keeping tobacco sealed for very long periods of time. If you are going to age your baccy, put it in a jar or something similar. Trust me, it's better off.

FWIW, I've had mold form on jarred tobacco as well.

 

[K.E. Powell]

FWIW, I've had mold form on jarred tobacco as well.

Oh, no question. It happens. But I find better luck with the jars. Just my experience.

 

[Scottmi]

No, I know what you mean and am aware just trying to be cautious.

If it doesn't smell <<bad>> I would put some in my pipe and try it. What is the worst that could happen?

 

[Scottmi]

Slicing off the whitish bits doesn't do anything as the tobacco molds are activated throughout the tobacco, not just where it shows. As for the harm? None, if you don't object to toting around an oxygen tank with you for the short remainder of your life.
From what you described, chances are the Stonehaven had developed plume, which is not uncommon with that blend, not mold. It certainly would not have tasted exquisite.

wait, what? oxygen tank?! how would that come about?

 

[Singularis]

If it doesn't smell <<bad>> I would put some in my pipe and try it. What is the worst that could happen?

wait, what? oxygen tank?! how would that come about?

Yeah, I just don't see oxygen tanks in the future for the adventurous smoker who tries a bowl or two, and who doesn't smoke indoors or inhale the smoke.

Of course, it is my very strong opinion that the tobacco in question is just well-plumed plug, and really doesn't look like mold.

 

[Akousticplyr]

I have another photo but I didn't think there was anything really extra in it to share:

View attachment 192592

This looks troublesome.

 

[Scottmi]

Yeah, I just don't see oxygen tanks in the future for the adventurous smoker who tries a bowl or two, and who doesn't smoke indoors or inhale the smoke.

Of course, it is my very strong opinion that the tobacco in question is just well-plumed plug, and really doesn't look like mold.

TIL: smoking can kill you! seriously, appreciate the info from @sablebrush52 and discussion. I am probably wrong, but I imagine there are lots of mold spores smoked by folks all the time that have not yet grown to visible fuzzy masses. seems to be rare enough to have visible mold however that when in doubt just tossing it is part of the ride.

 

[AJL67]

I'm just here for the arguments and new people being snotty and sarcastic to pillars of our community, please carry on gentlemen!

 

[Singularis]

TIL: smoking can kill you! seriously, appreciate the info from @sablebrush52 and discussion. I am probably wrong, but I imagine there are lots of mold spores smoked by folks all the time that have not yet grown to visible fuzzy masses. seems to be rare enough to have visible mold however that when in doubt just tossing it is part of the ride.

To be fair, the inhalation and combustion of the spores isn’t really the concern here. It’s the toxins released by the growing/blooming mold body that are the concern. But if the mold body is plume, then I guess the assumption is that no mycotoxins are lurking.