Want to Open New Tins, But too Many in Rotation

[nathaniel]

It's the worst. I always have new tobaccos to open and try, but never seem to get through my already-open rotation as quick as I'd like. I only smoke maybe 1-2 bowls a day usually. Sometimes more. But often, I'll go long periods without even smoking (usually because I have snus and it's just so convenient). Right now I have a couple dozen tins opened. And aside from stocked repeat blends, I have a dozen or so I've never tried. And maybe another dozen I haven't had in years.

The self-control to make it through my current rotation before cracking open another tin or jar is just nearly unbearable. I know, it's wasteful... especially when the main reason to cellar is for hard times ahead. But damn, it's just so hard. Always has been. And it's how I end up with 2 dozen open blends, only half empty.

How do you all decide when to pop another?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Open as many as you want. But some mylar zip lock bags or main jars and transfer the tobacco to those. Tobacco will stay fresh and you can access it whenever you choose.

 

[romaso]

Just go for it. Who knows what tomorrow brings? Transfer to glass jars if you won't finish the tin soon. A new favorite may be waiting for you!

 

[mso489]

That's called an embarrassment of riches, very common among Forums members. I limit the number of open tins, jars, pouches, tubs, and hope the ones still sealed are aging to perfection. And you can keep smaller jars (etc.) open and have the rest aging in the cellar. I'm not really this disciplined about it, but I try to be, most of the time.

It takes time to learn and fully enjoy blends, so exercising some restraint isn't all bad.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It'll stay good in a tin for a few weeks. I personally go through a 100g tin in a couple of days.

 

[burleybreath]

Get Covid infected and lose your sense of taste and smell. Makes 'em all taste the same. Works for me. Doesn't matter what I smoke, so there's no point to opening new tins.

 

[FurCoat]

You are not alone

 

[CallMeSangy]

Nathaniel, I know just the feeling. The more i try, the more i want to open. From bulk bags to tins it just becomes a bit much. Tell me if you find a fix that doesn't have one up to their eyeballs in jars

 

[warren]

It's your money, your choice. The above advice is good. Or, you can hydrate blends as you return to them. Or, develop as sense of self-control. Your choice. I say bag what you have opened. Concentrate on a couple of blends at a time to figure them out. Or, just cater to your lack of self-control and proceed as usual. It's a matter of enjoying your pipe however you wish. No sense beating yourself up as you seem to know what's best and have no interest in correcting your so=called problem.

 

[jaytex1969]

For the past few years, I can almost count on one hand the number of tins I've opened.

Between buying mixed lots from forum members and leftovers on hand from jarring bulks, I seem to always have a stream of loose leaf to smoke, allowing the jars and tins to continue multiplying in the background.

Welcome to the congregation of Our Lady Of The Perpetual Cellar!

Enjoy your first world problem.

 

[AJL67]

I have about 30 jars going with 8 of those (and 5 open tins) on top of my cigar cabinet, those would be my rotation i suppose, the stuff isn’t going to go bad and variety is the spice of life!

 

[Ahi Ka]

When you open something, put half into a jar/Mylar for the cellar.

Regardless of how much you have open in jars, keep only half a dozen or so accessible as part of a rotation.

As someone who also only smokes 1-2 bowls a day, 50g can take a few weeks to get through. I’ve found the above to help.

 

[verporchting]

Just smoke more. Open whatever you want. Problem solved.

You’re welcome. ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just smoke more. Open whatever you want. Problem solved.

You’re welcome. ?

Exactly

 

[shanez]

I have a drawer full of 4oz Ball jars with different blends:



36 Pack on Amazon Here

They hold a 2 oz tin easily. I also have some similar plastic baby food jars I use for travel.

I've given away a number of these jars when a friend said they liked whatever it was they were trying and I just gave them the whole jar.

I also wash and reuse the jars but replace the lids.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezey.

 

[Steddy]

Haha, I understand because I also have a lot of open tins. I transfer to mason jars as soon as I open a tin so there are no worries about it drying out.

Sometimes I obsess about finishing a tin or two before opening a new one, especially if I have, let’s say, five different VaPers open. I may want to finish one or two before I pop open a new VaPer.

In a way, I’m still in the “smoke as many blends as I can to see what I like” phase. I’m enjoying it to the fullest!

With all that being said, sometimes I just pop a tin because I want to. Simple.

 

[Piping Abe]

If you want to get rid of stuff, trading what you have open or gifting it to other members is th easiest way. That way you won’t feel as bad opening your next tin because you just got rid of half of your open jars.

 

[Puff nstuff]

I feel your pain! I'm in a similar situation, being relatively new to the pipe and not smoking very often. It takes awhile to get through anything at the pace I'm going, and opening more blends just compounds that issue. I have a lot of things in jars that I don't often get to, and a bunch of things I'm holding off opening. But as many have pointed out, with jars and mylar and rehydration, we have all the necessary tools available to us to open as much as we want without fearing the tobacco will somehow go to waste once the original container is opened. Since I'm still in the figuring-out-which-tobaccos-I-like phase, I guess it makes sense to just let go of the hesitancy and keep exploring, which is really the only way to hone in on one's preferences. I don't know what drives that hesitancy (guilt? shame? thrift? pride? self-restraint?), but it does feel like it has a malignant impetus. It also seems strangely obsessive, like the way some people feel compelled to hoard stuff they wouldn't otherwise need or lack in life if they weren't hoarding it.
As I mull this over, it occurs to me that perhaps what will turn out to be my favorite blend is already sitting in my cellar, unopened and as yet unknown to me. Maybe I need to find that out sooner rather than later.
Time to order some of those mylar bags, I think. Thanks for helping me figure that out!

 

[mingc]

Life is short. I open new tins whenever I feel like it. Unsmoked portions go into jars and I've over 100 jars (I've lost count).

 

[Servant King]

Perfect timing for me to come across this thread. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one either! I've been hesitant to open one of my coveted tins of Drew Estate Harvest On Hudson, because I first want to finish what I assume will be a similar blend, Stanwell Kir & Apple. It's as though some unseen force is preventing me from cracking that tin until I've finished the other first. Got about 40 open jars at the moment, so I guess I'm trying not to let that number spiral out of control (I have limited storage space here). Likewise my tin of Mac Baren Vanilla Cream--I'm waiting until I've finished my Lane RLP-6. ?‍