Overdrying Aromatics

[Seeker81]

Hello all. Since Christmas I have been enjoying Royal Yacht. This is my first aromatic blend (besides Clan, which probably doesn't count ha ha). From what I have heard and read, aromatics are said to need extra drying out time.

At first I was not drying out for really long, and thus ran into some, just slight, moisture and tongue bite issues.

I have since gave the tobacco more drying time. And have not had the previous issues.

Although I think the flavour is less, the plum doesn't seem to be a obvious or intense as it did before.

Could I be over drying?
I read someone mention that the flavour can evaporate.
Is this true? Or maybe I am just becoming used to the plum flavour.

What's your thoughts on drying out aromatics? Maybe drying out Peterson's Royal Yacht specifically. Thanks.

 

[Casual]

I don’t dry aromatics, but I do use them in balsa filter pipes to prevent any moisture issues.

 

[gamzultovah]

I don’t dry aromatics but I also don’t smoke them to the bottom of the bowl. I find the last quarter of a bowl is where I run into issues, so I stop there.

 

[BROBS]

I dry tobaccos to the point that you can take a big pinch and squeeze it, and none of the leaves stick together.. just fall away loose. It’s then dry enough. However you don’t want the tobacco to be “crispy” to the point it just crumbles. You should still be able to bend a ribbon without it snapping.

 

[olkofri]

The opposite of what you heard is true: aromatics are NOT to be dried too much lest they lose flavour. If tongue burn is an issue you need to work on your cadence and/or packing, or use a filter (balsa is very good for soaking up moisture), or use a pipe that doesn't build too much moisture in the heel (bent pipes appear to have more of a moisture build-up than straight ones), or a combination of these.

If you dry an aro to 'bone dry', might as well smoke cardboard, or an English blend.

 

[Seeker81]

If you dry an aro to 'bone dry', might as well smoke cardboard, or an English blend.

Smoking cardboard would certainly work out cheaper ha ha.

So the flavourings do evaporate then?

 

[Chasing Embers]

So drying out aromatics causes the flavor to evaporate but setting them on fire doesn't. ?

I set out some Devil's Holiday last night to dry while I slept. Bone dry and still tastes like the tin note. May be another subjective thing.

 

[olkofri]

Smoking cardboard would certainly work out cheaper ha ha.

So the flavourings do evaporate then?

Yes, many of the toppings are contained in the same compounds used as humectants.

 

[olkofri]

So drying out aromatics causes the flavor to evaporate but setting them on fire doesn't. ?

I set out some Devil's Holiday last night to dry while I slept. Bone dry and still tastes like the tin note. May be another subjective thing.

Remember, Cap'n, that you're one of a kind. ?

 

[bullet08]

it's been some months since i had aromatic. after trying english, i haven't touched aromatics. but dryness of a blend is subjective. you havd to find what you are comfortable with. if it's wet, there's the issue with bite. if too dry, it will lose flavor and possibly harsh. i do pinch the tobacco to feel dryness every 5 min to see if it's at where i likd the blend. once i know where i like the blend, usually just wait till that point to double check and load.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Royal Yacht is barely an aromatic, the topping is quite light, so more dry time could improve this blend, IMO, as it is much more tobacco driven than topping driven.

I prefer most aromatics, the goopier ones anyway, right out of the tin.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Royal Yacht is barely an aromatic

Royal Yacht is barely tobacco.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Royal Yacht is barely tobacco.

Haha, I know opinions vary on that one, I’m just saying it’s not sprayed down with a goop firehose like sutliff, etc.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Haha, I know opinions vary on that one, I’m just saying it’s not sprayed down with a goop firehose like sutliff, etc.

I know. Just couldn't let that go.

 

[brian64]

So drying out aromatics causes the flavor to evaporate but setting them on fire doesn't.

That's the whole point of not drying them out...so that you can't set them on fire.

 

[Seeker81]

So Royal Yacht is very lightly flavoured to begin with, so it makes sense that drying it (even just for a short while?) will result in an absence of flavour.
I was keen to try it when I first got the tin and just filled a bowl. That explains why I got more noticable plum taste at first... At least I have not become numb to plum ha ha

Can anyone recommend some aros that hold their topping flavours more and are not trash. I would like to try aromatics that can be smoked on the drier side, so as to avoid the bite.

What's with the hate on Royal Yacht though? ha ha
I thought it was pretty nice tbh

 

[Chasing Embers]

are not trash

Can't think of one that is trash. According to statistics, aro sales keep this boat afloat.

I would like to try aromatics that can be smoked on the drier side, so as to avoid the bite.

With your liking of Royal Yacht I would say give Erinmore Flake a try. For a more heavier flavored aromatic, most of C&D's aros can be smoked drier. Notably Autumn Evening.

 

[mso489]

I like my aromatics tobacco forward, including Royal Yacht. I often dry blends in a bowl for hours or a day or two, or pack a pipe for the next day, and it doesn't seem to undo the flavoring, but I am more interested in the leaf than the flavoring.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What's with the hate on Royal Yacht though?

Not touching that one.?

 

[alaskanpiper]

So Royal Yacht is very lightly flavoured to begin with, so it makes sense that drying it (even just for a short while?) will result in an absence of flavour.
I was keen to try it when I first got the tin and just filled a bowl. That explains why I got more noticable plum taste at first... At least I have not become numb to plum ha ha

Can anyone recommend some aros that hold their topping flavours more and are not trash. I would like to try aromatics that can be smoked on the drier side, so as to avoid the bite.

What's with the hate on Royal Yacht though? ha ha
I thought it was pretty nice tbh

It’s just one of those blends that seems to get a love/hate response here. There are a few that are constantly controversial, haha.

I like most aros right out of the tin. You shouldn’t be getting bit by them if your cadence is appropriate. But to answer your question MacBaren Vanilla Flake is pretty good dried out, so is Rattrays bagpipers dream. Those are the only one’s I’ve tried really dry, because I left them out on accident. I find aros better with less drying time.