Resting Tobacco

[dunnyboy]

I've often read that tobacco tastes better after it has rested for a couple of weeks. That's been my experience too, especially with Virginia blends. No lesser authority than GL Pease had made this point in one of his columns. What is the explanation for this? Is it like wine that needs to oxygenate? Is it like freshly roasted coffee beans that needs to off-gas? Is it just that the tobacco is drier? I generally jar tobacco after I've had the first bowl but maybe I should leave it in the opened tin for a couple of weeks first.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Following this because I too let mine rest for a couple weeks before smoking. Yet i don't know why this helps it. But it's definitely a noticeable difference. Curious as to an explanation on this topic. I always thought it had to do with oxygen as well

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I've often read that tobacco tastes better after it has rested for a couple of weeks. That's been my experience too, especially with Virginia blends. No lesser authority than GL Pease had made this point in one of his columns. What is the explanation for this? Is it like wine that needs to oxygenate? Is it like freshly roasted coffee beans that needs to off-gas? Is it just that the tobacco is drier? I generally jar tobacco after I've had the first bowl but maybe I should leave it in the opened tin for a couple of weeks first.

It would be easy enough to do a test—open a fresh tin, jar half, and leave the rest in the tin and try both in two week’s time.

 

[dunnyboy]

@AppalachianPiper92, it was actually your recent post in another thread that go me thinking about this.

 

[dunnyboy]

It would be easy enough to do a test—open a fresh tin, jar half, and leave the rest in the tin and try both in two week’s time.

An excellent suggestion. The problem is there are so many other extraneous factors that affect my taste buds on any given day that I wouldn't trust my findings LOL. On the odd occasion I've smoked repeatedly from an opened tin rather than a jar, I've been surprised that I didn't get bored with the flavor. This happens only when I'm traveling and don't want to haul jars around. Both jarred and open-tinned tobacco tastes better when they've rested but I'm not sure I have the palate to distinguish between them.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's like everything else smoking related; if you think it does, it does.

 

[sablebrush52]

I've often read that tobacco tastes better after it has rested for a couple of weeks. That's been my experience too, especially with Virginia blends. No lesser authority than GL Pease had made this point in one of his columns. What is the explanation for this? Is it like wine that needs to oxygenate? Is it like freshly roasted coffee beans that needs to off-gas? Is it just that the tobacco is drier? I generally jar tobacco after I've had the first bowl but maybe I should leave it in the opened tin for a couple of weeks first.

It's all of the reasons you mention.

Back in the golden days of yore, when buying McClelland didn't require bending over and spreading them to be taken from behind by a gouger, I'd open up a tin a week or two prior to intended use, popping the lid for a minute or two every day in between. This suggestion I'd been given by a McClellandhead, who's also a Doctor Of Pipes, and boy did it open up the blend. Popping the top also helped dissipate the vinegar smell, revealing the very fine Virginias.

 

[kcghost]

I've always waited two to three weeks to settle a tin down after it has traveled to me.

 

[kschatey]

I've often read that tobacco tastes better after it has rested for a couple of weeks. That's been my experience too, especially with Virginia blends. No lesser authority than GL Pease had made this point in one of his columns. What is the explanation for this? Is it like wine that needs to oxygenate? Is it like freshly roasted coffee beans that needs to off-gas? Is it just that the tobacco is drier? I generally jar tobacco after I've had the first bowl but maybe I should leave it in the opened tin for a couple of weeks first.

Yes. Yes. Yes? I don't r ally know why, but it does seem to make a difference. I equate it to allowing wine, bourbon, and some beers to breathe first before consuming. Although the difference with a new tin of tobacco is that the "resting" time is usually at least a week rather than just several minutes.

 

[Franco Pipenbeans]

I've often read that tobacco tastes better after it has rested for a couple of weeks. That's been my experience too, especially with Virginia blends. No lesser authority than GL Pease had made this point in one of his columns. What is the explanation for this? Is it like wine that needs to oxygenate? Is it like freshly roasted coffee beans that needs to off-gas? Is it just that the tobacco is drier? I generally jar tobacco after I've had the first bowl but maybe I should leave it in the opened tin for a couple of weeks first.

I’ve not got a clue why it happens but, certainly for me, a month or so, sat in a jar, makes a blend taste better.

 

[lraisch]

It's been my experience that a tin that has any significant aging does require some time to breath.

For me, the first two bowls may be a little off, and the third or fourth bowl is when a tin will truly blossom.

I suspect that off-gassing some of the volatile products of fermentation is what makes the difference.

 

[aspiring_sage]

I had never heard of this. Now I have to try!
Well, maybe next year if my palate develops enough that I would be able to discern a difference.