Why dry?

[JOHN72]

My take is that Aros benefit from being a bit moister than English or VA blends. Also, that most manufacturers tin their tobaccos with more moisture than is ideal for a fine smoke, to with stand the rigors of shipping and shelf sitting.

That said, what ever moisture content floats your boat, all good.

Same.

 

[JOHN72]

I get better flavor with the tobacco a little wet, dry does not bother me, crunchy, I do not like it at all. I make sure my pipe is well dried and properly rested for a satisfying smoke. But it is simply a very personal thing.

 

[GothPiper]

I've taken to smoking all non-aromatics straight out of the jar these days. I find the flavor is noticeably richer vs. when I dry. The trade-off is that it can be a tad more difficult to keep lit for roughly the first half of the bowl.

Bear in mind, however, that I live in one of the driest places on earth. If you live in a humid climate, your mileage may vary greatly.

 

[JOHN72]

Yesterday I smoked wessex red flake in a MM Charles Cobbler. The pipe had a deep cleaning a month ago. But with several smokes it had a thin layer of cake. The pipe was very dry. I loaded the tobacco, which I let dry for half an hour. But it still had a touch of moisture. The smoke was spectacular, juicy, fragrant and with few ignitions, the tobacco kept burning without problems. However, I have smoked virginias with a complete drying, and it did not give me the same juicy smoke as when it has an optimal point of humidity. I simply wanted to comment on this, if it is useful as a guide for future smokes to other colleagues.