What Is This White Stuff?

[wizhunter]

Just adding my 2 cents, but the word plume or the actual fine dust comes from birds feathers(Plumage). I used to race pigeons years ago and when they rustled their feathers in certain light you used to see fine dust come off them.When you gave the birds a bird bath you could see the dust floating in the water,it is this plume which caused a health condition in some pigeon breeders called pigeon fanciers lung which was obviously a brochial condition.
Wiz

 

[bigpond]

There is no plume. There is only mold, or mould if you’re nasty. Those sugar crystal, yeah, that’s aspergillus. The upside is fungi are remarkably high in protein. Which is nice.
http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/topic/131757-foh-mould-study/
Be sure to check page 8 for pipe specific samples. Photos are remarkable.

 

[brightleaf]

Informative link, thanks for posting.

What I took from it is that what we call plume may just be a mold that is safe to smoke and does not affect the flavor, whereas what we call mold is something that we don't want to smoke due to it changing the taste of the tobacco so much. So in the end, it is the smell/taste test that we should go by.

 

[deathmetal]

Mold looks like fuzzy icky stuff, plume looks like the product of fermentation. I'd smoke the heck out of that.

 

[hawky454]

Thanks Javan, I think you solved the thread! Good to know that it’s not mold! OP, looks like you can smoke it up worry free.

 

[sablebrush52]

That looks like mold. I wouldn't smoke it, period. But if you want to know, have a sample analyzed. You only get one set of lungs. What are they worth to you? Everyone here, including me, is posting an opinion. Opinions aren't facts.

 

[olkofri]

Whoa! Got up to a bunch of replies. Good, good. I had read about crystalisation, which makes sense since I would expect the leaves to chemically react inside the tin, especially if it's 'old', but I've no experience with aged tobaccos, so I preferred to take a picture and ask.
I was also wondering whether one could find fungi inside a vacuum sealed tin, but I guess some 'fun guys' can be anaerobic.
Thanks a lot, mates.

 

[brightleaf]

According to this recent thread, only about 40% of the air is removed in those tins. http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/vacuum-sealed-tobacco-tins

bigpond's link mentions this about Aspergillus "Aspergillus species are highly aerobic and are found in almost all oxygen-rich environments"

 

[hawky454]

That picture of 1792 Flake looks delicious!

 

[cigrmaster]

I am with jesse in that I also think it is mold. I used to get plume on my cigars all the time and it did not look like that. I have also opened aged tins of tobacco that did have plume and again it did not look like the pic above. If it were my tobacco, I would toss it,sorry.

 

[jzbdano]

I'd smoke it. I've been following the Plume/Mold thread on FOH and it is a very interesting read. I've had similar "white stuff" on a few tins.

 

[lazar]

It's mold. The link to that test is great... but I've also seen images of pipe tobacco that has sugar crystals. It's all sparkly and refracts light with a prism effect. That's plume/bloom. Wish I could find the link.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Bloom. Plume can be the shape of the bloom.

 

[hawky454]

Bloom. Plume can be the shape of the bloom

Lol. I've been waiting for you to post that.

 

[brightleaf]

What if all of the plume that has been the hallmark of good tobacco was really mold? Would it change your opinion? It has been smoked by many with no ill effects, some even claiming it tastes great. Would you stand by your love of plume?

https://funnyjunk.com/Snl+chris+farley+columbian+decaffeinated+coffee+crystals/movies/6357624/

 

[jpmcwjr]

So have the many! I've vowed to post but once per thread. Oooops! It looks like brightleaf missed the memo....

 

[brightleaf]

Sorry jpmcwjr. Were we supposed to exchange vows?

 

[mso489]

Interesting discussion. I'd sure have guessed mold right off. Doesn't look like crystals. As with cheese, can you remove, cut out, the moldy parts, or toss the pieces with mold, and smoke the rest if it shows no mold? Or is it all presumed imbedded with spores? I've had one experience with moldy Turkish condiment tobacco and since it was a small quantity, I pitched it.

 

[sablebrush52]

As with cheese, can you remove, cut out, the moldy parts, or toss the pieces with mold, and smoke the rest if it shows no mold?

No.

Or is it all presumed imbedded with spores?

Yes.
And, the types of molds that grow on tobacco are very toxic. Last year, when the C&D Carolina Red was found to be infected with mold, Jim called a friend of his who is botanist (or something like that - plant biologist?), very familiar with molds in tobaccos. Her response was "Get rid of it!"

 

[jpmcwjr]

Bright-
Not really! Was trying to be slightly amusing, hope you took it that way.