Perhaps A Dumb Question: Packing Aromatics

[EvertonFC]

When a tobacco has inherently more moisture or a heavy casing, should it packed differently (firmer vs. looser) than one that's drier or with minimal casing?

I can't tell you how many times I've read a review on a tobacco that's just flat out goopy and reviewers on TobaccoReviews will claim that (with no drying time) it took them two matches to smoke the whole bowl. Now, leaving room for people who are just simply full of it, I have to imagine there is a more effective way (firmer vs. looser) to pack tobacco that's moist / heavily cased.

Please note, my question is asked with the caveat, that I appreciate you can always dry tobaccos further. However, if people are successfully smoking goopy tobaccos right from the tin, I have to imagine there's a more effective way to pack them. Thanks as always. Cheers.

 

[Guppy]

I pack everything loose, you can always tamp later. Works well for wetter tobaccos.

 

[anotherbob]

wetter I pack a little looser. It's not really a thinking thing once you get packing down. Which is something you do by feel. And drier feels better with a little tighter pack and wetter feels better with looser packing. I can't really describe it accurately but for me I pack until it gives more then slight resistance. It's one of those things that's just too simple to really properly explain.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I Just barely pack it in, with the goopy stuff. Almost just let gravity fill the pipe, then tamp very lightly once its lit.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Damp? Pack loose.
Dry (like bone dry)? Pack a little tighter.

That being said, if it’s damp, I’d just dry it out as much as possible. If it’s so full of PG that it won’t dry, it’s not something I like to smoke anyway. Those kinds of aromatics dry my mouth out pretty badly for some reason.

 

[olkofri]

Good question and kudos for the 'stay on topic' disclaimer. Aromatics can't be dried too much to begin with, since they lose flavour, so recommendations to 'dry them to -10% RH' are irritating.

I normally pack them loose, but still have to relight like bonkers.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Good question and kudos for the 'stay on topic' disclaimer. Aromatics can't be dried too much to begin with, since they lose flavour, so recommendations to 'dry them to -10% RH' are irritating.

I normally pack them loose, but still have to relight like bonkers.

I certainly won’t argue with what you’ve experienced, but for me, many that aren’t “goopified” can be dried out with negligible flavor loss. But I catch your drift. Erinmore loses its flavor to me if it’s too dry, for example. However most of the ones that I smoke can be dried out with no harm (Mixture 79, Edward G Robinson, Planta MMXII, etc).

 

[olkofri]

I certainly won’t argue with what you’ve experienced, but for me, many that aren’t “goopified” can be dried out with negligible flavor loss. But I catch your drift. Erinmore loses its flavor to me if it’s too dry, for example. However most of the ones that I smoke can be dried out with no harm (Mixture 79, Edward G Robinson, Planta MMXII, etc).

Yeah, it depends on the blend(er). I reckon different ingredients/products/humectants are used for different blends.

I don't like goopy tobaccos and I guess I should always clarify that when I speak of aromatics I'm talking about the quality blends, not stuff like Lane's which is in a league of its infamous own in terms of both goopiness and chemical aftertastes.

By the way, I wasn't taking shots at you. I was merely applauding the OP's effort to remain objective because, frankly, digressions that are veiled 'aggressions' against a product or practice are mighty vexing. You can't start a thread about packing/burn rate/staying lit without endless pontificating of the 'dry more' creed; likewise filters: questions posted about filter use by people who WANT TO use filters and you have to be jumping over the numerous 'filters sux' unhelpful posts.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Although, this man asked for help without drying... It's the answer. I like some goopers, I smoke them wet sometimes.. the trick to that is to pack them lightly... or.. dry them properly.

When people suggest drying tobacco more, they aim to help. It really is the cure to a lot of the problems with packing, keeping the pipe lit, and moisture. Especially with all the complicated packing techniques you'll find on google.. they all result in the same outcome, packing wet goopers too tightly.

 

[Akousticplyr]

I don't really think about it too much, I'm usually lost in thought reading when I smoke so I probably don't realize I'm relighting. Just part of the experience so relights don't bother me.

I should pay more attention to the packing process, apparently. I generally load a pipe the same (ish) from blend to blend. But yes, looser is probably better. To me, it's the cut of the leaf that varies how I pack it. I'm probably doing it wrong. Yet, at the end of the day, the bowl gets smoked! HA!

 

[Country Bladesmith]

By the way, I wasn't taking shots at you. I was merely applauding the OP's effort to remain objective because, frankly, digressions that are veiled 'aggressions' against a product or practice are mighty vexing. You can't start a thread about packing/burn rate/staying lit without endless pontificating of the 'dry more' creed; likewise filters: questions posted about filter use by people who WANT TO use filters and you have to be jumping over the numerous 'filters sux' unhelpful posts.

No, I didn’t think you were firing shots at all. No worries. ?

 

[EvertonFC]

Thanks all. As always, I appreciate the feedback, especially when there seems to be a general consensus.

I usually allow tobaccos to get fairly dry, even using a lamp to assist when necessary. I also try to avoid most of the goopy stuff. However, I recently took a shot on a tin of Barbados Plantation by Sutliff. Oh man that stuff smells like heaven... and tastes like it too when you get it to burn just right. On that last bit, I've been hit or miss. And seeing as how drying out Sutliff tobaccos can be damn near impossible, I was looking for some guidance on which side to err; loose or firm.

Cheers.

 

[Akousticplyr]

Thanks all. As always, I appreciate the feedback, especially when there seems to be a general consensus.

I usually allow tobaccos to get fairly dry, even using a lamp to assist when necessary. I also try to avoid most of the goopy stuff. However, I recently took a shot on a tin of Barbados Plantation by Sutliff. Oh man that stuff smells like heaven... and tastes like it too when you get it to burn just right. On that last bit, I've been hit or miss. And seeing as how drying out Sutliff tobaccos can be damn near impossible, I was looking for some guidance on which side to err; loose or firm.

Cheers.

Curious if you use filters? In my experience I’ve noticed they help absorb excess moisture while smoking most blends, but especially aro’s (fire, smoke, breath all contribute of course). Probably a separate subject altogether but something to think about.

 

[olkofri]

Balsa filters do help with bringing moisture down, both the kind that normally builds up with combustion and the pre-existent.

Then again, you might find yourself in a situation wherein you have a filterless pipe, a tin of tobacco, and no time to dry a bowlful of it. When I was traveling in Germany, all I had was a fresh tin of Vauen Auenland Midnight Mixture and no time to dry it prior to smoking it: out of the tin and into the pipe. It's times like this when a technique for packing soup comes in handy.

 

[seanv]

Good question. I recently purchased a bit of Sutliff rum and maple. My God this stuff is wet. I am usually a virginia or burley smoker but I'd like to enjoy some aromatics

 

[Chasing Embers]

However most of the ones that I smoke can be dried out with no harm

That's been my experience with aromatics.

 

[JPremo]

I use the air pocket method for everything and I swear by it as long as you don't mind shorter smoke times!

I find with my aromatics it leaves space in the bottom of the bowl for moisture to billow and condense a bit before it hits your mouth. I'm still getting my cadence down with the breath technique and I do tend to smoke a bit wet so this packing method has been a big plus for me personally.

 

[EvertonFC]

Curious if you use filters? In my experience I’ve noticed they help absorb excess moisture while smoking most blends, but especially aro’s (fire, smoke, breath all contribute of course). Probably a separate subject altogether but something to think about.

I have a pair of Savinellis that can take balsa filters. I've experimented with them a bit, but haven't noticed a lot of difference. That said, I've always looked at filters (and please let me know if I'm wrong) as a way of mitigating tongue bite. My question here is more around how I can best maximize flavor, than avoid tongue bite. Cheers.

 

[mso489]

Though blends vary in size of the pieces, density, moisture, etc., I think the posts above cover the ground pretty well. I would add that with any blend you pack partly by feel. There has to be air flow through the bowl to create an ember, so even if you were packing your pipe blindfolded, or just not paying much attention, you could probably get it correct by feel. You never want the leaf jammed down tight, and you don't want the bowl skimpy and altogether loose, so experience will teach you to know when the pressure is correct.

 

[anotherbob]

Good question and kudos for the 'stay on topic' disclaimer. Aromatics can't be dried too much to begin with, since they lose flavour, so recommendations to 'dry them to -10% RH' are irritating.

I normally pack them loose, but still have to relight like bonkers.

that's the truth. Sometimes that can be a good thing. And some aros can be so dry you can make snuff out of it by rubbing the flakes inbetween your fingers yet still retrain their aromatic qualities. Yeah I find the dry it out suggestion to be somewhat dubious and not something that applies across the board (now a va/per that seems to retain most flavor even dried to bone).