Why dry?

[mikecronis]

Okay, so I've been smoking pipes for over 20 years now, particularly delicious aromatics (but detest drugstore chem-laced varietals). I've noticed people let their tobacco dry before packing. What? Why would you do that? When moist, it delivers rich, deep plumes! I find drying it makes it taste stale. I've never had a problem keeping a bowl lit all the way through. I almost never have to re-light (a few times, historically, particularly in my first year).

What purpose is to dry-out the tobacco before smoking?

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I guess some folks just don’t like smoking wet-to-moist ?.
For some, drying the blend assists with:
1. Limiting tongue bite
2. Enjoying more of the ? & less of ?
3. Can make packing easier & not as restrictive
4. Allows for a fuller flavor & more enjoyable experience

Drying blends particularly helps newbies avoid tongue ? bite.

Not me, just saying. ?️

 

[Chasing Embers]

Think about an iced drink. The more the ice melts, the added moisture dilutes the flavor. With aromatics you don't want them too dry but getting them hot enough to produce billowing smoke will dilute the flavor as well. Took about three decades to figure it out, but works very well.

 

[bullet08]

What are some blends you are smoking? Some are easier to smoke than others without drying. Then again, some people don't mind wet tobacco.

 

[Grangerous]

I don’t dry mine. But they’re not “wet” to begin with. Nonetheless, I agree. I do not enjoy tobacco when dried crisp.

 

[shanez]

Other than burning a little better/easier and possibly packing easier I don't see any need to dry.

I've smoked some very wet aros without issue yet had difficulty with some rather dry flakes.

I'd say good packing and/or breaking up of a blend is more important than drying.

 

[sasquatch]

I would argue that "rich, deep plumes" is exactly what you shouldn't be aiming at if you want the best flavor from your tobacco.

 

[jpmcwjr]

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.

 

[sablebrush52]

Okay, so I've been smoking pipes for over 20 years now, particularly delicious aromatics (but detest drugstore chem-laced varietals). I've noticed people let their tobacco dry before packing. What? Why would you do that? When moist, it delivers rich, deep plumes! I find drying it makes it taste stale. I've never had a problem keeping a bowl lit all the way through. I almost never have to re-light (a few times, historically, particularly in my first year).

What purpose is to dry-out the tobacco before smoking?

Simple. Much more pronounced flavors. I’m more interested in flavors than plumes.
I mostly smoke Virginias and their variants and after considerable experimentation found that I get more defined flavors when they are smoked dry, not quite bone dry.
Aros are smoked with slightly more moisture, but I prefer a reduction to a thin broth.
English, Balkan, Oriental blends are much more forgiving. I get good flavors from them moist, though rarely without some drying, but more defined when dried.

I’m afraid I can’t match your 20 years. I’ve only been smoking for 50.

 

[JKoD]

There is a perfect moisture for each person for each blend. They’re all different. Some blends I like really dry - others, I need to smoke as soon as possible once out of tin/jar.

Isn’t an aromatic a chem-laced varietal? How’s it get that aromatic flavor? Is the flavoring all natural or artificial? Are the ingredients posted? I like Five Brothers. I think that’s a drug store blend and likely has the least chems added. ?‍

 

[mingc]

Okay, so I've been smoking pipes for over 20 years now, particularly delicious aromatics (but detest drugstore chem-laced varietals). I've noticed people let their tobacco dry before packing. What? Why would you do that? When moist, it delivers rich, deep plumes! I find drying it makes it taste stale. I've never had a problem keeping a bowl lit all the way through. I almost never have to re-light (a few times, historically, particularly in my first year).

What purpose is to dry-out the tobacco before smoking?

Ignore the dogma. Smoke it how you like. Presonally, I think some blends smoke better wet and others dry. And some smoke lousy either way cough cough dark star.

 

[leonardbill1]

I'm a convert. I never used to dry anything. I've found that drying improves taste and helps with burning, especially with Virginias.

 

[sablebrush52]

Ignore the dogma. Smoke it how you like. Presonally, I think some blends smoke better wet and others dry. And some smoke lousy either way cough cough dark star.

Dark star burns like it's covered in flame retardant unless you really dry it down. Smokes well for me.

 

[sablebrush52]

I guess some folks just don’t like smoking wet-to-moist ?.
For some, drying the blend assists with:
1. Limiting tongue bite
2. Enjoying more of the ? & less of ?
3. Can make packing easier & not as restrictive
4. Allows for a fuller flavor & more enjoyable experience

Drying blends particularly helps newbies avoid tongue ? bite.

Not me, just saying. ?️

Nice use of emojis!

 

[Ocam]

Most of the moisture that comes with the tobacco is, aside from water, glycerin, PG and flavorants of some sort. I don't like to smoke any of those so I like drying them out a bit.
But, is it is too dry, it can burn hot and taste stale. So you have to find the nice spot.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

With a tobacco like Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake, I can't get it to stay lit unless I dry it.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I'm totally with you Mike.
I get almost no flavour at all from dry tobacco. And find it it very unrewarding.
I usually smoke with just a thin wisp, but if occasionally I fancy a big burst of flavour, I'll take a big draw. For me dry tobacco is harsh and unpleasant, but each to his own as they say.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being crumble to dust dry and 10 bring a sopping wet gooper, I prefer mine in the 3 to 5 range.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I want my non aros to be crunchy, and my aros to be a little more moist, so that it still has a little of the sauce on it.
And, when I am smoking a really dry non-aro, one needs to smoke much slower… NEVER big plumes of smoke.

Moisture adds steam which burns and dilutes the flavor for me.

 

[mingc]

Most of the moisture that comes with the tobacco is, aside from water, glycerin, PG and flavorants of some sort. I don't like to smoke any of those so I like drying them out a bit.
But, is it is too dry, it can burn hot and taste stale. So you have to find the nice spot.

Moisture is a natural byproduct when you burn organic materials, all of which contain hydrogen. The hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to make water even if what you're burning is bone dry.