Shelf life of an open tin

[jvnshr]

Cos, I've never tried that before. How do we get your condensated breath? Or will anyone's do?

Check Costco.

 

[obidonkenobi]

Wow, so funny you should mention "old" Captain Black. About 30 years ago, I got it in my head to try pipe smoking. This was pre-Internet, and I didn't even know pipe smoking was considered a hobby. So I got myself a pipe from LL Bean and picked up a packet of Captain Black (Gold) at the local drugstore. I smoked it a couple of times over several years, and each time I got pretty severe tongue bite (that's a whole 'nother story). But I didn't stick with it, put it away in my car camping equipment box, and forgot about it. Early this year, I decided to try it again. Pulled my pipe and the same packet of now 30 year old Captain Black, stuffed the bowl, lit it up, and it tasted exactly as I remembered it, and it still gave me strong tongue bite.
Thanks to the folks on these forums, YouTube and talking with real tobacconists, I've since figured out how to avoid the tongue bite, and have enjoyed smoking up the rest of my ancient Captain Black tobacco. I understand the Captain Black brand isn't considered to be very quality tobacco, but I'm still a newbie, and could probably smoke pencil shavings with aplomb. Anyways, so funny to hear from independent sources that Captain Black "never dies," and remains consumable, just like Twinkies...

 

[mso489]

I have a jar of McC's 5100 that's been around, in diminishing quantity, for two or more years. It still has a whiff of ketchup, but it still smokes great. For me, McClelland is the reigning champion of Virginia blends. Not to say there aren't many other wonderful brands, but for selection, quality, and subtlety between blends, McClelland is the champ, as Cornell & Diehl is with burley.

 

[deathmetal]

When I set my own crop up to sweat out the ammonia, the vinegar is a natural by product. I imagine that either other companies don't sweat out the ammonia which are what causes bite, or cover up the natural flavors with casings and such.

This explains the slight vinegar both in Royal Yacht and Straight Grain Flake.

 

[sablebrush52]

I once left a 100gram tin of HOTW open, but with the plastic lid in place, for a year. Smoked perfectly, no hydration needed. It had dried to the perfect smoking moisture.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I've had no problem re-hydrating tobacco, but I also tend to jar it so I don't need to.

 

[hillbillyjosh]

I like the idea of throwing open tins in Mylar bags. But I am worried about rust. I have an old can of Stanwell that has already started rusting on the outside.
Solution: I found these little Mylar bags. That when stuffed correctly, holds a tin worth of tobacco perfectly.
I recon' you could put a boveda in there to re-hydrate.
I like the comment about blowing back through the bowl to add hydration.
I will give that A try.

 

[hillbillyjosh]

Here's a link to the Mylar bags that hold close to a full tin
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XFCX5HR/ref=mp_s_a_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1500350918&sr=8-22&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mylar+ziplock+bags&dpPl=1&dpID=41tyQLySk8L&ref=plSrch

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I can personally verify that those mylar bags won't keep your tobacco very well mid-long term. They fail/leak at the zipper. Mason jars remain the best option.

 

[hillbillyjosh]

Thanks Tom. I guess I could heat seal them. If that's the case. My problem is I'm running out of designated space for jars. You every have that problem?

 

[hobie1dog]

Its so easy to rehydrate tobacco, kind of a non-issue.

 

[sablebrush52]

As I've mentioned, I think dry tobacco does better than you'd think. It's not the way to get the optimal taste, but can last a long time.

Au contraire, very dry tobacco IS the way to get optimal taste. You don't want the tobacco dried out as in crumbly brittle dry, as that will cause an irretrievable loss of favor which rehydration does not fix. Rehydration can restore SOME flavors, but essential oils and their flavors are gone for good.
Getting the tobacco to a point where is has a low moisture content is where most blends really perform well. Exceptions are some fruity aromatics as there can be some loss of the topping flavor when extremely dry and the topping is more important than the tobacco flavors.

 

[hillbillyjosh]

I thought oils won't leave, just plume like on some of my old cigars.
I keep my tobacco with 65 boveda. That seems to keep everything just about right. Cigars, pipe tobacco, etc...
Am I wrong? Please advise. Not wanting to ruin anything using my Hillbilly logic.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

My problem is I'm running out of designated space for jars. You every have that problem?

Yeah. So I moved. :lol:

 

[hillbillyjosh]

Lol... the struggle is Real Tom

 

[mcitinner1]

"My problem is I'm running out of designated space for jars"
Nope, if/when I run out of room in the house there's a 30'x40' detached garage/shop building I can go to. It's not on the scale of Peck Manor by a far shot, but it'll work.