I purchased a vintage tin of Edgeworth Sliced tobacco that was still full. I figured for what I paid it was worth a shot, and I'd have another tobacco tin for my collection. I got the tin today and opened it up. It looks like mold.... 
Rolled The Dice And Lost....
- Thread starter BigR
- Start date
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That does look more like mold, and less like “plume” to me.
Question is, does it smell like mold?
Mold generally smells like mold, whereas plume or sugar crystallization is generally odorless.
Question is, does it smell like mold?
Mold generally smells like mold, whereas plume or sugar crystallization is generally odorless.
No, I doesn't smell like mold, but I'm about certain that it is.
Get a magnifying glass and look at it. If it's fuzzy, it's mold.
I couldn't tell with a magnifying glass, but here are some macro shots. It doesn'y really look fuzzy...
Well, there’s one way to find out… unless you have mold allergies.
I don’t, so I’d be prone to rubbing out one flake, sniffing it to see if I detect mold/mildew scent after rubbing it out, and then stuffing it into a clay pipe and putting fire to it. If the taste is way off, you’ll know in short order after the charring puffs. A clay is recommended because it will let you identify any sharpness or off-taste almost immediately, and also it will be easier to to purge the bowl afterward if needed.
I don’t recommend this for anybody else, especially if you have a sensitivity to mold spores. The spore issue is not a concern once the spores are incinerated, but rather the hazard comes from inhaling/ingesting them before you torch them. And again, if you have a known mold allergy, don’t even attempt it.
Nevertheless, I have smoked mildly moldy dry tobacco before (cigar and pipe). Not to say that I make a practice of it, only to say that I had no ill after effects, and I’m still standing. However, if the mold appears to be wet and active, that’s just yucky… I’ll take a loss in that case.
Some folks may cringe at the thought of doing this, to which I say, “how the hell do you you think man discovered cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, wine, and other mold/yeast derived products? Even penicillin was discovered quite by accident.”
Anaeorobic molds and yeasts have been much more of a boon to mankind than a bane.
I don’t, so I’d be prone to rubbing out one flake, sniffing it to see if I detect mold/mildew scent after rubbing it out, and then stuffing it into a clay pipe and putting fire to it. If the taste is way off, you’ll know in short order after the charring puffs. A clay is recommended because it will let you identify any sharpness or off-taste almost immediately, and also it will be easier to to purge the bowl afterward if needed.
I don’t recommend this for anybody else, especially if you have a sensitivity to mold spores. The spore issue is not a concern once the spores are incinerated, but rather the hazard comes from inhaling/ingesting them before you torch them. And again, if you have a known mold allergy, don’t even attempt it.
Nevertheless, I have smoked mildly moldy dry tobacco before (cigar and pipe). Not to say that I make a practice of it, only to say that I had no ill after effects, and I’m still standing. However, if the mold appears to be wet and active, that’s just yucky… I’ll take a loss in that case.
Some folks may cringe at the thought of doing this, to which I say, “how the hell do you you think man discovered cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, wine, and other mold/yeast derived products? Even penicillin was discovered quite by accident.”
Anaeorobic molds and yeasts have been much more of a boon to mankind than a bane.
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The tobacco is dry as a bone, but I'm going to pass on smoking it. I believe by looking at it, that it was mold at one time and the tobacco just got so dried out that the mold has just dried out also. I bet if I tried to rehydrate it, it would probably smell like mold.
don't do it. toss it out. and keep that tin and fingers away from your other tobacco until a good cleaning!
There's another thread which seems to indicate that is common for that particular blend. I've got one on the shelf I'm not ready to open yet so I don't know how mine will be. I really wanted to wait. I guess if it's bad it won't matter if I find out now or later.........
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You're a mean one Mr. Grinch! 
But I completely agree.
Toss that stuff and clean out the tin, it will be a nice container for your pipe tools or such.
But I completely agree.
Toss that stuff and clean out the tin, it will be a nice container for your pipe tools or such.