Too Wet...Too Dry?

[Jerry144]

OK - I have figured out that tobacco can be too wet --> tongue bite. So no more storing it in my cigar coolidor. Thanks all!

But can pipe tobacco be too dry? If so, do you take any storage precautions?

 

[Chasing Embers]

OK - I have figured out that tobacco can be too wet --> tongue bite. So no more storing it in my cigar coolidor. Thanks all!

But can pipe tobacco be too dry? If so, do you take any storage precautions?

Another personal preference. For me, the drier the better, for others not so much.

 

[kcghost]

Keep your tobacco in a room away from the sun.

 

[sablebrush52]

OK - I have figured out that tobacco can be too wet --> tongue bite. So no more storing it in my cigar coolidor. Thanks all!

But can pipe tobacco be too dry? If so, do you take any storage precautions?

I tend to like my tobacco just shy of bone dry. For me that offers the most intense flavor. When I can squeeze a pinch of ribbon cut or rubbed out flake without feeling the sensation of water against my fingertips, while the tobacco is still pliant, it's ready for me to smoke.

 

[anotherbob]

OK - I have figured out that tobacco can be too wet --> tongue bite. So no more storing it in my cigar coolidor. Thanks all!

But can pipe tobacco be too dry? If so, do you take any storage precautions?

not too dry but dry too long. The oils start dissipating if it's dry. So it can super dry for a time and be great.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If it crunches into dust or very small particles when squeezed, that's too dry. Anything more most than that is likely good. Personal preference comes into play as well. I think intuitively, most people associate moist with more flavor. Not true with tobacco.

 

[bullet08]

It's fine not keeping it in a cigar humidor, but don't leave the tobacco out in open. If you are going to smoke it in short time, keeping them in tin is fine. If not, move it to mason jar. You want to take out what you are going to smoke and dry them.

 

[luigi]

For me, the drier the better, for others not so much.

No doubt for Virginias. What about Orientals or Burley? Every time I bone dry Burley it sucks. Not to mention Latakia.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What about Orientals or Burley?

I've never seen those anything but very dry.

Not to mention Latakia.

That one just sucks dry or moist.

 

[prairiedruid]

John Cotton's Smyrna comes very dry out of the tin and smokes wonderfully.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Of course tobacco can be too dry to smoke well. If you live in a place where the ambient humidity rarely dips below 70%, you'll have to work to get your tobacco "bone dry" . If you live in the desert, bone dry is too dry!

Kinda a pity no one uses actual measurements.

 

[GCW]

When I first opened Manil Semois I thought "Sawdust"???? But it turned out fine. Definitely wouldn't want to smoke other blends that dry though.

 

[anotherbob]

best advice I can give is buy a tin open it smoke one pipeful wait a week smoke it every day and see where the sweet spot is for you. Personally I like it dry.

 

[LikeDadDid]

Good morning bro. I put some Sutliff Vanilla in a paper envelope last week to dry out, and it's still nowhere near being too dry. It's helped tremendously though. Last night I put "small paper sacks" on my Get list.

 

[Grangerous]

I like most OTC’s when fresh. However, they’ll get to the bottom easier if dry with fewer relights. But crumbly, dry tobacco just takes something away from the experience for me. ChasingEmbers may be right about dry burley. Because I enjoy the moisture content of Granger. It’s luxurious, soft to the touch and smells great when it’s fresh. I’ll clench an unlit bowl and let the flavor come through. Great stuff.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I, personally, would rather have mine crunchy dry, but in high humidity Alabama, the longer I leave a tobacco out, the more moisture it absorbs. So, I rarely can get a tobacco that dry without using something like a coffee mug warmer or leaving it open on my dashboard on a very hot day. Usually, when I open a tin or jar, I just dry the whole thing at once to save time having to wait on bowl fulls at a time to dry.

And, sometimes, like when I buy a pound or so of Habana Daydream or PS Cube Cut, I just leave it in the bag and leave the bag open. I may put a day's worth in a jar to carry with me, but when I have no interest at all in aging, why bother?

I don't smoke a lot of aromatics, but when I do, I don't bother drying them at all. The taste or aroma for those comes from the toppings, so I don't want to push the flavor off. But, this may factor in to why I don't smoke aros much.

Mostly, I only jar up what I am wanting to age. Whatever I want to just smoke from, I just leave it setting around, trying to dry it out.

I have only ever seen stale tobacco from well aged blends. I'm sure it's possible to dry one till it is stale. I just haven't ever seen or experienced it, ever.

 

[Charlie718]

I accidentally let the Bayou Morning Flake I brought into work get crunchy dry and it was one of the best bowls of that blend I’ve smoked so far. After reading this thread and smoking this bowl I realize I was putting to much thought into not letting my tobac dry out throughout the day. Now I realize the worst that will happen is it will smoke better lol

 

[Jerry144]

I accidentally let the Bayou Morning Flake I brought into work get crunchy dry and it was one of the best bowls of that blend I’ve smoked so far. After reading this thread and smoking this bowl I realize I was putting to much thought into not letting my tobac dry out throughout the day. Now I realize the worst that will happen is it will smoke better lol

Wow - very interesting. Thats what I am beginning to think too.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

not too dry but dry too long. The oils start dissipating if it's dry. So it can super dry for a time and be great.

I think that pretty much sums it up for me.

 

[brian64]

I think that pretty much sums it up for me.

Agreed. You don't want to store it too dry for too long. Otherwise, yeah, dry it out before smoking it.