Mold or Magic ? Something Groweth in the Cellar

[jpmcwjr]

Dave-
I am guessing 2-3 years. And my first bowl just now: splendid- not markedly better than other Penzance, mhcg. But if you don't see any posts from me over the next week, I am either dead or in hospital....
Since so many blends are shipped with extra moisture, and the RH where I live can be between 25-85%, drying is tricky. And since the cut and beginning moisture can vary so much, I use a little hygrometer. Just pop it in the jar, or tin after enough tobacco is removed, and many hours later you get a good reading on the moisture level. Saved me a ton of time, and I tend not to over-dry or over-hydrate my tobaccos.
LINK to Amazon page They've been priced from $5 to $10 since I bought my first one two years ago.

 

[jvnshr]

Just pop it in the jar, or tin after enough tobacco is removed, and many hours later you get a good reading on the moisture level.

You actually get a good reading on the RH level, not moisture level. For the moisture level, you will need a moisture meter. But once you have an info about the RH level of the air inside the jar/tin, you can guess the moisture level of the tobacco.

 

[cortezattic]

I read somewhere, probably Greg Pease, that what we're seeing here are oils. I once had mold develop in an improperly stored tin of McClelland's blending Perique, and it was snow white, more or less spherical, hairy, and so rank smelling you would immediatey know it was spoiled.

 

[cortezattic]

Just a point of information on relative humidity and tobacco moisture content, Greg Pease wrote:

I once researched the relationship of relative humidity to tobacco moisture content, and found that at 55-65% RH, many tobaccos will equilibrate very close to the 12-13% moisture content that we like for smoking. Not too bad. If the tins are kept tightly sealed, and the RH of your environment is within that range, the tobacco won’t dry very quickly, or very much.

• -- http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/ask-g-l-pease/ask-g-l-pease-volume-40/#more-8264

 

[jvnshr]

found that at 55-65% RH, many tobaccos will equilibrate very close to the 12-13% moisture content

Yup, that's right. Cigars at 65-70% RH will have 12-15% moisture.

 

[deathmetal]

That original picture is clearly tobacco immunodeficiency virus (TIV). If you smoke it, you will become very thin and then die. Send it to me instead.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You actually get a good reading on the RH level, not moisture level. For the moisture level, you will need a moisture meter. But once you have an info about the RH level of the air inside the jar/tin, you can guess the moisture level of the tobacco.

That's right, as long as you take temperature into account.
However, it's way easier to get the RH, as good moisture meters are expensive— I now have three little hygrometers, and they're all in use. And once you're used to interpreting the RH (usually at 70º for consistency), it's easy to get or keep your tobacco at whatever level you find you like, whether drying or rehydrating, or just maintaining.

 

[danielplainview]

Hygrometers? Man, you guys are high tech.

 

[jvnshr]

That's right, as long as you take temperature into account.
However, it's way easier to get the RH, as good moisture meters are expensive— I now have three little hygrometers, and they're all in use. And once you're used to interpreting the RH (usually at 70º for consistency), it's easy to get or keep your tobacco at whatever level you find you like, whether drying or rehydrating, or just maintaining.

Sorry for the late response. I totally agree with you regarding the temperature thing. I use one of this for my cigars (I have 2 analog hygrometers as well, but I don't trust them). It reads both the humidity and the temperature.

We actually bought this one when my son was born, his nasal passages were getting clogged while sleeping, we were thinking the reason to be the dry air so we bought it to keep an eye on the humidity and the temperature of the room. Well, he grew up and this item ended up in my small tobacciana closet.