What's the Point of Flake Tobacco?

[allan]

Steve
I had posted several months ago asking if anyone else had taken a tin of flake and cube cut the whole tin and store it instead of cutting it as you need it. No one answered. (how lonely to be left out there, unwanted, unanswered...) LOL
Not being retired, I just don't have the time to cube cut flake for each bowl I would like. So I open a tin and cut it all and put it in a mason jar.
So far, I see no downside. Am I missing something?
Allan

 

[topd]

No... I don't believe that at all and I must have missed that first post. I just like to cut it

when it's moist... makes it easier for me to do a tin all at once, then dry it just as I like it.

You're doing it my way... therefore, the right way. HaHaa!

 

[dragonslayer]

Nope Allen there's no downside. The only thing that makes a difference when cubing up a whole tin or bulk is knowing the blend. It only takes a few times to learn what each blend needs for perfect storage. Many are ready to be jarred right away. The ones that are wet you want them dry on the outside with a little moisture left on the inside. Once you know the blend, and how it stores, you'll have perfect cubes to drop in the bowl. IMO the best way to enjoy the layers of flavor, and a long bowl which requires no relights at the right dryness. To dry you lose flavor, to moist it expands and blocks the pipe. It takes so little time to make your tin or bulk perfect and beats the hell out of ribbon any day. Just like any blend realy, know the flake and you'll enjoy that blend at its best. This ain't your OTC tobacco anymore.

 

[jbbaldwin]

I cut think flaked tobacco when I first open the tin. It's much easier than in the video above. Best

way for me is with a butcher knife on a cutting board.... slices just like an onion.

I do the same - keeps cubes from flying all over the place (my scissors technique must be lacking) - and I do an ounce or two at a time.

 

[rabblerouser]

New to flake tobaccos myself, so can't give any advice, but they seem more flavorful to me. And, yes, it's fun to rub them out yourself (haven't tried cubing or anything else yet).

 

[simnettpratt]

Welcome to the site rabble! I'm the OP of this thread; have you read all the excellent replies? Sounds like you have; lots of good advice here. I also enjoy the extra step of rubbing out flake, but that's why I wondered what the point of flaking it in the first place was. roth is an excellent source of advice - I listen when he suggests something. I am going to try and score me some HH Old Dark Fired flake this weekend; it's only $12.56 for 100g at smokingpipes.com, then I'm going to cube it and see. It's smokingpipes' #2 selling tinned tobacco currently and gets good reviews: HH Old Dark Fired reviews
You'll recognize some reviewers on this site: cigrmaster, TheSmokingDragon and juvat (maybe others under different names).
PS Are you French? I'm a Brit, but my mom's a Francophile, spent twenty years teaching French, used to live there, and we'd spend two months a year in France (up the Loire valley and Paris). Went to the châteaux where she was a private tutor; it's now a museum. Has a moat and everything.

 

[rabblerouser]

have you read all the excellent replies?

I've skimmed the topic (will read more thoroughly later), but everyone seems to have his own opinion and approach, so I guess I'll have to try out what different people suggest and see what works for me, as with anything.

PS Are you French?

Alas, I am a mere student of French history, though I do speak French near-fluently. I was inspired in my avatar/signature by the famous image of Père Duchesne, who was never without his trusty pipe when denouncing the "enemies of the people". Perhaps I'll get to do my graduate studies in France, if I'm fortunate enough. For now, I'm contemplating starting a pipe/snuff/cigar club at my small upstate New York liberal arts college (the ABC Club - Anything But Cigarettes).