Question about Tobacco Dryness among Varieties

[lukifer]

Greetings all. New to the forum, but have been an account-less lurker for some time. I have an odd question that will no doubt sound rather silly so please forgive my inexperience. I could not find another post about specifically this, so I created one. As the title states, this is a complex question in regards to general tobacco dryness and whether this applies across the board or more to certain types/blends/cuts than others.

I have noticed in my short journey that some blends(captain black dark, h&h blackhouse, peterson irish cask to name a few) can be consumed with very little drying needed. Some always helps but it's not entirely necessary. While other blends(peterson night cap, peterson irish flake, half and half, Mac barens latakia flake, captain Earles nightwatch and war horse bar) almost require it in order to be remotely enjoyable. Plugs and flakes seem to need SIGNIFICANTLY more drying than the others. I have yet to get a good, cool, dry smoke out of war horse and the only way I have been able to with the 2 flakes I mentioned is to let them sit out overnight intact before folding and stuffing. I gather that rubbing them out and drying them would achieve a better smoke but f&s method is rather convenient on the go and gets an incredible flavor all the way down. I assume the difficulty here is the fact that plugs and flakes are pressed and as such, retain their moisture longer. However the same cannot be said for nightcap or half and half as they are ribbon cut. It seems certain blends come more moist than others.

My question is: Do certain types of tobacco(latakia, burley, red virginia, perique, Orientals etc) need to be more dry than others in order to enjoy or is there a general level of dryness that should be achieved across the board and I am combating varying dryness between blends/tins? For example, if I were to be informed that red Virginia needs to be on the dry side, I would know going into a blend containing this to let it dry longer. I try to avoid letting things dry too much as it seems some degree of moisture is required to impart flavor and keep the contents of my pipe from bursting into flame with a single puff.

For instance, it seems like anything(from the limited experience I posess) with perique NEEDS to be on the dry side or I will suffer profusely, but that could be due to the moisture levels of the tins I received. Not sure.

I ask because I have a little over a pound of varying individual 1oz blending tobaccos(straight latakia, black cavendish, perique, dark burley, light burley, red Virginia, several orientals etc) on the way and I plan to sample them individually in order to determine what types of tobacco I enjoy more than others(I bet I am going to regret packing a bowl of pure perique). I feel this knowledge might help me when buying blends in the future. Also I have been informed from the retailer that some of these will arrive extremely dry and need to be rehydrated, to what degree I am uncertain.

Sorry for the book, but this is an odd question and I have been unable to locate any information specifically on this subject. It is my intention to become at least slightly more informed than I am before they arrive in an attempt to save myself any more metaphorical stubbed toes stumbling around in the dark. It seems a great many of you here have much experience with pipe tobacco in general and if you could shed any light on the subject I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance, Luke.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd say the cut off the tobacco has more than anything to do with it. Next would be the manufacturer. SG Flake take an extended time period to dry. Ribbon cuts from some manufacturers are as dry as you'd ever want them from a freshly opened tin. Some manufacturers spray on more PG I think which obviously affects the moisture.

 

[Coreios]

Some companies are worse than others. Sutliff is a wet one usually. Also cuts like cakes are packed tight and stay wet inside. I don't know how many people are going to call me an idiot, but I just put mine on a paper towel and microwave it for a few seconds, then I let it cool. I start with 5 minutes and work my way up until I like the dryness.

 

[LeafErikson]

Unfortunately your question will have a different answer based on who the answer is coming from. There is no substitution for experimentation. You have to figure out what works best for you and you alone. Experiment and don’t be afraid to waste tobacco in your experiments to find the way you enjoy a blend.

 

[Grangerous]

Begin by “not drying” - smoke them as they come. Those that need some drying time will make themselves known and you can experiment until you learn what’s best for that particular blend.

 

[bullet08]

Dry all of them to your desire or wish. VA and its associated blends can be bone dry. Latakia, little shy of being completely dried. Aromatic, not completely dried. Or at least that's how I dry my blends. Oh! OTC/codger blends, straight out of the container without drying.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, a large difference in initial moisture levels depending on the mfg. Most tobaccos benefit from some drying, some a lot of drying.
Dry to taste and note what it feels like to the touch for future reference.

 

[didimauw]

I say it all has to do with additives. Some tobaccos (Ryback) come bone dry already, and need no dry time. Others (C&D Mocha) come literally sopping wet, and would take weeks to dry. However I dry everything to bone dry. And I'm not kidding. Bone dry. And sometimes I literally dry things for weeks to months before they are ready.

 

[sablebrush52]

The suggestion that you experiment with different blends is a particularly good one. People's responses to specific genres, and specific blends within those genres can vary quite a bit. Some of that is body chemistry, some of it is a person's palette, some of it is technique.
Some blenders package their blends with more moisture than others. For example, Daughters & Ryan, and Hearth & Home blends are often tinned at their optimum smoking moisture and require little to no additional drying, while other manufacturers, like Sam Gawith, Gawith & Hoggarth, and Germain's have considerable moisture and do benefit from drying.
In addition, certain genres, like English/Balkan/Oriental blends, are far more forgiving in terms of moisture content and middling technique. Partly, this is due to the more powerful flavors contained in the Latakia and Oriental content.
In general, Virginias and Virginia variants benefit from drying. Too much moisture masks their flavors, at least in my experience. I like my Virginias extremely dry, just shy of bone dry. I like them dry to the touch when squeezed, no feeling against my fingertips of cool moisture welling up in the tobacco, but still pliant, if a little crumbly at the edges.
Aromatics take a bit of practice to get right, as they need a little more moisture than Virginias and their variants, or the toppings will fade a bit. Experimenting with moisture will help you find the balance between the aromatic topping and the underlying blend of tobaccos.
Flakes often require more drying than one might expect. There's considerable moisture trapped in flakes.

In any event, experimenting with different dry times, different packs, different bowl sizes, and different cadences can offer you some very pleasant surprises and over time, reduce the unpleasant ones.

It's all a journey. Enjoy the trip.

 

[kcghost]

You'll definitely need to dry more blends from different manufacturers. Then you can decide which one are too wet and need some or a lot of drying and those that you can handle straight out of the tin.
Welcome from KC!!

 

[jpmcwjr]

And should you over-do it, however unlikely, re-hydration is easy and I find no loss in taste.

Happy piping!

 

[lukifer]

Thank you everyone for your replies, they were very helpful.

In my experimentation thus far I have overdone the drying on a few small batches which I then mix with undried tobacco from the original tin in a separate jar to let their moisture content equalize. This seems to work well as long as the tinned tobacco is still moist.

Does anyone have any tips for rehydration when you don't have moist tobacco of the same blend?

Would it be a mistake to put dry tobacco in a jar with a few drops of water, shake and wait? Not sure if mold would be an issue.

 

[chopper]

Thank you everyone for your replies, they were very helpful.

In my experimentation thus far I have overdone the drying on a few small batches which I then mix with undried tobacco from the original tin in a separate jar to let their moisture content equalize. This seems to work well as long as the tinned tobacco is still moist.

Does anyone have any tips for rehydration when you don't have moist tobacco of the same blend?

Would it be a mistake to put dry tobacco in a jar with a few drops of water, shake and wait? Not sure if mold would be an issue.

G'day and welcome.


"I have an odd question that will no-doubt sound rather silly so please forgive my inexperience."
As it says under the section heading; "No such thing as a dumb question".

Before I found pipe forums, I did not know a single pipe smoker.
My only pipe was a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Bent Rhodesian that I smoked daily without rest for a few years. Oh the horror.

The range of tobacco blends here in Nanny State Australia is minimal to say the least so during that time I smoked three blends [No, don't ask ]
Finding U.S. on-line tobacconists opened up a whole new world.
I'd not even heard of Orientals much less Perique or Latakia.
Seriously, I barely possessed half a clue.

Although it was a bit of a learning curve, members on forums and their reviews at www.tobaccoreviews.com made the experience enjoyable rather than frustrating.

Now that I'm a freakn expert [ ] I should cringe at the memory of some of my questions but I don't and you know why?
No one ever made me feel stupid. Members understand that smoking a pipe is a bit of an art where the more one learns, the better the experience.
We were all newbies at some point and we are a fraternity that are here to build one another up.

So please, no need to apologise. We are all here to help where we can.

As to your sensible question on drying; I really don't understand why some blends are so moist that they need drying. That just pisses me off.
When the owner of Daughter&Ryan was asked why his blends are typically dry, he responded by saying that he's in the business of selling tobacco, not water. Respect.
None of the bulk blends that I buy require drying because I avoid overly moist blends.

Rehydration; with really dry tobacco I spritz with distilled water, mix and then leave it in a sealed jar for a few days.
Tobacco that needs just a little bit of moisture, I moisten a couple of layers of paper towel and place it under a closed lid of the jar and check on it after several hours.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Whoa Luke, that’s longer than your centuries old post on the birth of Jesus!

Good answers above - main answer is it depends! But all the knowledge of others here is a great place to start.

I was whining about issues I’ve had with a particular Peterson pipe shape. I had some tobacco that comes pretty juicy that sat out for two days and I had forgotten about it. Dropped it in that pipe and had the best bowl I’ve ever had in it. Takeaway - I’ve never dried enough for that pipe, which is somewhat small, has a conical bowl and doesn’t like “damp”.

I just look at pipes and say, “it’s not you, it’s me.”

 

[jeff540]

Mold could definitely happen with water droplets in a jar. I lost several ounces of Dunbar that way a few years back, jar wasn't bone dry when I put a bag's worth in it.

You could rehydrate in a jar with a Boveda pack for a few weeks.

 

[lukifer]

Mold could definitely happen with water droplets in a jar. I lost several ounces of Dunbar that way a few years back, jar wasn't bone dry when I put a bag's worth in it.

You could rehydrate in a jar with a Boveda pack for a few weeks.

If I went the Boveda packet route, which RH% would get me closest to where I need to be? I am not sure what RH I would want tobacco to be at.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Thank you everyone for your replies, they were very helpful.

In my experimentation thus far I have overdone the drying on a few small batches which I then mix with undried tobacco from the original tin in a separate jar to let their moisture content equalize. This seems to work well as long as the tinned tobacco is still moist.

Does anyone have any tips for rehydration when you don't have moist tobacco of the same blend?

Would it be a mistake to put dry tobacco in a jar with a few drops of water, shake and wait? Not sure if mold would be an issue.

Better to soak a shard or two of terra cotta (plain old pottery like flower pots) in water, than add to jar with tobacco. Check every 8-12 hours; no shaking, but mixing by hand or implement is good.) I use tap water, which is fine unless your water isn't.
Spritzing is fine with care, as are the other gentle methods above.

 

[Wulf]

Unfortunately your question will have a different answer based on who the answer is coming from. There is no substitution for experimentation. You have to figure out what works best for you and you alone. Experiment and don’t be afraid to waste tobacco in your experiments to find the way you enjoy a blend.

Thats the thing with pipe smoking. We all have our preferences and its vital to experiment to find what suits yourself. No tobacco gets wasted by me. If its not really to my taste i add a few drops of whisky and let it dry out to a smokable state. It helps even out the worst tobacco and is always an improvement to most. The experimentation is what makes this hobby so much more interesting than just smoking tailor made ciggies with no thought.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

In my experience, any pipe tobacco is improved with drying. With that as my primary response, I think the differences you see in various pipe tobaccos are all from the different processing techniques employed. Moisture (whether natural or from casings) helps in the packaging and initial storage and transport and “recipe” of a particular pipe tobacco brand.

But, again for me, drying pipe tobacco ALWAYS improves the smoking experience for me. And, again for ME, I much prefer quite a bit of dryness to where the leaf is at least a little bit on the “crispy” side. YMMV.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I’m enjoying some Boswell’s Christmas Cookie at the moment that I didn’t dry as much as the last time and am liking it better not crispy, which normally I lean crispy. Earlier today I enjoyed some Cringle Flake ‘19 for the first time but didn’t get it near dry enough, next stop almost crispy! Just trial and error!