TIN or BULK … That’s the question [eh].

[El Diablo]

Hello fellow piperssss ...
Hope y'all are staying safe, and god bless you all ... here is my newbie question.

It is true that tinned tobacco is better, taste better and aged better that bulk bagged tobacco?
If I buy the same tobacco ... in bulk [Virginia No1] and let’s say, also buy a tin of the same Virginia No1.
Will the tin tobacco have more flavor... will be sweeter, better overall? Or is just a myth/BS.

I am not a dedicated smoker, just getting to know some of my limitations with tobacco … preferring the mild aromatic … as stronger tobacco make me dizzy [newbie syndrome of nicotine tolerance … but getting there]. But if tinned tobacco is better, then I am ordering the wrong kind … Lets me know your more experienced wisdom in this area. As always, you guys will know better … and I will appreciate your responses. [Diablo out]

 

[wolflarsen]

I'd say it depends on the blend. I found bulk My Mixture 965 to suck compared to the tinned version but can't tell the difference between bulk and tinned Old Dark Fired. A lot of great blends are only available as one or the other so you would be missing out on some real gems if you only bought bulk or only bought tins.

 

[anotherbob]

depends. Some greats are only available as one or the other. Though remember you gotta pay for the packaging too. So....

 

[Ahi Ka]

The best blends come in cans

 

[Ahi Ka]

I have found bulk does offer the unique advantage of being able to purchase more variety in smaller sized samples to get a feel for what is available. I generally purchase blends in bulk if I have the option (due to shipping costs and I already have an abundance of jars). There are however plenty of threads on these forums which discuss whether their is a difference between specific tinned/bulk options. Macbaren and C&D offerings in particular spring to mind.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

A lot of great blends are only available as one or the other so you would be missing out on some real gems if you only bought bulk or only bought tins.

This. At least in my opinion. A typical order for me has both bags and tins in it.

 

[logs]

I've found a difference on Virginia No 1 bulk vs tin. The topping on the bulk version being much more noticeable than the tins I'd smoked in the past. Made me rethink my whole view of the blend (not for the better).

 

[trubka2]

The best blends come in cans

And cans are more comfortable to transport on long-haul flights.

 

[Ahi Ka]

And cans are more comfortable to transport on long-haul flights.

Here we go again...

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've not been able to discern a difference between the two.

 

[craig61a]

People are gonna believe what they want to believe...

It’s not like a blending house is going to run two separate production lines, one for tins and one for bulk.

The bulk you receive will most likely be a bit drier, due to the packaging. But after you’ve opened a tin you’ll have the same thing in a few hours.

These kinds of questions related to tobacco amuse me. Kinda like “if worms had machine guns, would the Robins fuck with them...”

 

[coming to_falling too]

People are gonna believe what they want to believe...

It’s not like a blending house is going to run two separate production lines, one for tins and one for bulk.

The bulk you receive will most likely be a bit drier, due to the packaging. But after you’ve opened a tin you’ll have the same thing in a few hours.

These kinds of questions related to tobacco amuse me. Kinda like “if worms had machine guns, would the Robins fuck with them...”

Would they? Makes you wonder...

 

[craig61a]

There should be a separate thread category for sophistic specious arguments...

 

[saltedplug]

I don't think this question is irrelevant, but when I bought tobacco I bought about 80% bulk to 20% tins. Tobacco is said to oxidize, and tins to prevent this. It can take some time for bulk to be deposited into jars. What properties of the tobacco, most notably taste, are lost during this time?

But I didn't care, and I was not going to pay tin prices.

This belief, along with most other dogmatic pipe lore, is unproven, yet followed by many who have grown up on the forums.

 

[logs]

People are gonna believe what they want to believe...

It’s not like a blending house is going to run two separate production lines, one for tins and one for bulk.

It's not a matter of separate production lines or some kind of conspiracy theory about manufacturers and retailers. It's a lot simpler than that. You have sample A and you have sample B... do they taste and smell the same to you? That's it.

 

[ray47]

Bulks sold in tins (ie..C&D blends) and any OTC blend in a tub vs the pouch are better.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The best blends come in cans

Careful, your new is showing.

 

[BROBS]

It's not a matter of separate production lines or some kind of conspiracy theory about manufacturers and retailers. It's a lot simpler than that. You have sample A and you have sample B... do they taste and smell the same to you? That's it.

I bet your tin was just aged a lot more. I’ve actually found the tin to have more topping than bulk IMo

 

[Ahi Ka]

Careful, your new is showing.

my point exactly

 

[logs]

I bet your tin was just aged a lot more. I’ve actually found the tin to have more topping than bulk IMo

Yes, you'd think bulk might lose some of the topping due to evaporation. In my case it was a 16oz sealed bag and it may have been fresh from the factory. Until then, I hadn't realized Virginia No 1 was meant to have a vanilla aroma. Nothing wrong with it, just not my thing.