I suspect cutting off the moldy part will be suffice. If you can find the 'Friends of Habanos' thread where they did some tests on 'plume' and read through it, it will help you make your mind up. It's about as scientific as we are going to get.
More Mold Identification
- Thread starter gervais
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I would smoke it. If it bothers you shave off the offending parts. Of course I also just ate a chocolate that fell on the kitchen floor at work, just so you know what you're dealing with.
This isn't mold, it's crystals. I've yet to see an old plug that doesn't have this to some extent. Plugs have near zero humidity. I'd smoke this and not give it a second thought.
I would tend to lean in the direction of plume/bloom.
That doesn’t look like mold to me. Looks like a nicely aged tobacco! It’s hard to go off of photos but in my experience with mold there is absolutely no question because it’s so obvious. Mold will spread across the tobacco growing up and around. Usually looks almost furry. I’d smoke what you have there without a second thought.
Yeah, it doesn't have the fuzz you would typically see with mold. Maybe it was something in the tobacco juices/oils that leeched out after it was sliced and thats how it dried out as.
I'm going to try and get a hold of someone knowledgeable with this dark plug varietal over at the Gawith House. Maybe they can shed some light, or at least opinions on the matter at hand. I'll report back if I hear anything during my quest.
Sorry to tell you, but there are molds (fungi) that have fruiting bodies with a crystalline appearance. Unless you have some training in mycology (which I don't) and the facilities to examine the stuff for spores, you have no idea what it is. You're just guessing. Same goes for this illusive stuff called "plume". What IS that? I'll tell you. It's the stuff that nobody knows what it is, so they made up a name for it. I've seen all sorts of stuff described as plume. In fact, I've started calling my deodorant "Plume". Attractive women in very short skirts and that certain look in their eyes now cuddle up to me and ask "Is that PLUME you're wearing?" And I fully expect to start seeing breakfast cereal boxes marked "NOW! With Plume!". Is your dog getting enough plume in his diet? I hear that Biden is expected to OK shipment of Plume to Ukraine soon. Thank G_d the local hospital had enough Plume on hand when that nasty intestinal virus broke out at the Chinese restaurant.
I'd smoke it, and pray that they develop a cure before I finished the bowl.
I’d smoke it if you sent it to me. I would even livestream the event for free.
Thanks for the offer brother. I'll keep that on the back burner.
Sorry to tell you, but every experienced cigar smoker knows what plume/bloom is. It's the natural oils that extract from the tobacco with fine age. It appears as a fine dust, and is appreciated . Mold is a growth that attaches itself to the tobacco. As for crystals, I have no idea, I've never heard of that. My experience ends with over 20 years of cigar experience.
There's no such thing as plume/bloom, it's all mold. Seriously, it's all mold or bacteria.
Per @Andriko above, the FOH study which was mentioned is the only reasonably scientific study out there, and everyone who smokes cigars should read the whole thing:
FOH Mould Study - https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/131757-foh-mould-study/
Page 6 has several photos of pipe tobacco, so there's plenty to mull on for pipe smokers too:
FOH Mould Study - https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/131757-foh-mould-study/page/6/
That said, we eat, breathe, and generally ingest mold spores constantly, they're mostly harmless. Cut off the affected areas until you see no more and smoke away. then store a bit drier and colder so mold growth is not encouraged.
There's no such thing as plume.
-dobbs
Per @Andriko above, the FOH study which was mentioned is the only reasonably scientific study out there, and everyone who smokes cigars should read the whole thing:
FOH Mould Study - https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/131757-foh-mould-study/
Page 6 has several photos of pipe tobacco, so there's plenty to mull on for pipe smokers too:
FOH Mould Study - https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/131757-foh-mould-study/page/6/
That said, we eat, breathe, and generally ingest mold spores constantly, they're mostly harmless. Cut off the affected areas until you see no more and smoke away. then store a bit drier and colder so mold growth is not encouraged.
There's no such thing as plume.
-dobbs
So if I read through that correctly, all the pipe tobacco samples of crystalline/dusty residue was bacteria, not a mold fungus? Thats a good thing in my book. Lol
Craig has something similar on the same tobacco.
Post in thread 'Is this mold?'
Is this mold? :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/is-this-mold.94952/post-36701691
Sounds like he gives it a
Post in thread 'Is this mold?'
Is this mold? :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/is-this-mold.94952/post-36701691
Sounds like he gives it a
Yeah I don't think it's the type of "bad" mold we would normally look at and throw out immediately, without question. If it were, I'd have just done so. If this is a mold/fungus or whatever, I think it's more the acceptable type we all see. In my opinion of course. EveryoneCraig has something similar on the same tobacco.
Post in thread 'Is this mold?'
Is this mold? :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/is-this-mold.94952/post-36701691
Sounds like he gives it a
Will have their own opinion on this, and most of the time when there is a 50/50 split of opinions, it's more than likely ok to light up.
I think..... Lol
Definitely not all mold or bacteria. It's usually excess casing leeching out and solidifying on the surface, which is why it is most often seen in Gawith's flakes and plugs, which tend to be "juicier" from the factory. I've seen it happen several times from over casing homemade plugs/flakes, both in my experience and in others.