To dry or not to dry...

[tpicking]

Does drying overly moist tobacco cause a noticeable loss of flavors or aromas??
Most of my premium/luxury tobaccos have a tendency to be fairly moist, so I end up with a wet bowl more often than I'd prefer. I'd like to dry those tobaccos somewhat before I smoke them, but I don't want to lose the essence of tobaccos. Just curious how many people dry moist tobacco vs how many smoke it as is and deal with the wet bowl as a trade-off for the best smoke??

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Many pipe smokers have noticed an increase in flavor when drying out the tobacco a little. My recommendation is to dry out for about an hour or two then try smoking.

 

[ace57]

I dry all of My tobacco some and I don't taste any less flavor, I think it's more.

 

[tiltjlp]

Drier tobacco smoked slow will provide a more flavorful, cooler smoke than moist tobacco smoked too fast.

 

[ejames]

I agree with John. I like my tobacco dry.

 

[zanthal]

In my limited experience, drying TOO much, like overnight, seems to give a stale taste to my tobacco.

 

[judcole]

You are not going to harm it by drying it. I have known guys who load their first pipe of the day the night before.

But it's gonna depend on the individual and the blend. It's something you can't make a blanket statement on. Experiment with it yourself. ::

 

[pipeinhand]

I have tried it both ways and don't really see any diminished taste in the dry. Dry smokes more even especially if it is a heavily flavored baccy. ::

 

[morlader]

I find that SG Flakes benefit from a bit of drying out.I have smoked Squadron Leader and Skiff both moist and dry and they are fine either way.

 

[bigvan]

Before you start drying out everything, think about your technique. Puffing too fast or irregularly can cause problems, too.
Tobacco isn't meant to be too dry, which is why it comes in sealed containers.

 

[thesmokindragon]

Agree with bigvan as well~Think it also depends on the bacci...ie: Dunhill EMP is good to go out of the tin and loses some kick with too much dry time, while others need a good 2-4hrs such as Marlin Flake & SG flake blends, etc...such is the mystery of the bacci/pipe smoke'in adventure

 

[drsam]

I load a pipe every night just before I go to bed and it is the best pipe of the day when I light it with my morning coffee,

 

[shaintiques]

I like mine moist personally i think it bites less, and has more flavor but thats just me.

 

[pstlpkr]

I have known guys who load their first pipe of the day the night before.

I load a pipe every night just before I go to bed and it is the best pipe of the day when I light it with my morning coffee,

It's called (around here anyway) Delayed Gratification Technique DGT.

I'm particularly fond of packing a bowl of G.L. Pease Haddo's Delight with a pinch of Perique in my Uncle Arthur Tapered Apple the night before and, like Doctor Sam enjoying it with my morning mug o' Joe.

 

[asianhombre]

As a general rule, I dry out my tobacco a bit. Most of the leaf I buy is a bit too moist for me, though it varies from blend to blend. Aromatics for example, (which I do not smoke much unless I have to be around people, ugh) I find they need more drying out then my other normal 'baccys, as I tend to smoke somewhat aggressively and the aromatics tend to get sour and bite when they're overly moist.
It's not an exact science really. I need to learn to smoke more slowly actually. Maybe that's a problem.
- M

 

[buster]

I think the dring time depends on the tobacco. Aromatics with P/G used to give them a long shelf life need drying IMO. Good ole Capt. Black as an example. You can let that stuff sit out for a long time! I have a few blends that are just fine out of the tin with no dry time.

 

[judcole]

Aromatics with P/G used to give them a long shelf life need drying IMO

Aromatics with P/G should be in the trash, not the pipe, IMO. :P

 

[mluyckx]

Interestingly enough, I left some Peterson holiday blend 2011 out after the new years eve party last night. Just a bowls worth. I didn't want to throw it away, and with the trouble I had with the Sav 626, I decided to load it in there and give it a shot.
Bingo ! Smoked like a champ ! Ran cool, the candied fruit flavor was purrfect ! Room note was very nice too. And had to relight way less. I think I'm going to experiment letting some of the tobacco dry out a bit more.
Tpicking: I would play around with it some and see what works.

 

[ejames]

Aromatics with P/G should be in the trash, not the pipe, IMO. [:P]

Exactly! :!:

 

[nsfisher]

a little dryer = a little better all around,
if i am using a tobacco that benefits from drying I usually fill 3-4 pipes when i go to bed, char em and they are good to go in the morning.