Thread: aged pipe tobacco??

I have researched the aging process fairly carefully and the consensus is that the only way to age tobacco with any appreciable result is in a sealed unopened tin. Once the seal is broken the fermentation process ceases and cannot be reinstated. Apparently, sealed tins contain just enough oxygen in combination with the original moisture to allow for fermentation to occur. The addition of air, O2, or any humectants, artificially induced humidity,etc., completely interrupts the aging process. Tobaccos containing high levels of naturally occurring sugars are best for aging. Virginias and blends containing perique seem to benefit most from this process. Escudo is one of the finest Virginia / Perique blends on the market, dist by Peter Stokkebye, that mellows wonderfully from aging I have found. And there are a few GL Pease blends containing Virginias in them that do quite well also. English Blends on the whole benefit little from shelving as one member mentioned latakias, etc., don't do well from it and I agree. On the other hand, black cavendish is most apt to go bad in the fermentation process and cannot be kept very long as a result, maybe a year tops. On the others, opinions vary but the range is between 2 - 20 years. Once opened after aging, keep in a moist place and smoke it soon after. The longer the tin remains open after aging the sooner the tobacco will revert to its original state. My suggestion is to find the appropriate blends you like, buy 2-3 tins of each, date them and then after a year or two, open one to sample and smoke up, then another two years open up one of the same type and try that. Keep a little journal with tasting notes and then and only then will you have a reference point. This is the only way to know if you really are getting a positive change in the smoke.

Let me add that my previous post was in no way meant to contradict the findings of the members who had derived benefits from shelving foil packed or bell-mason jarred tobaccos. I should clarify that there is in my mind, and others, a difference between aging and fermenting tobacco. Fermentation as most would agree is a very particular process. Introduction of foreign microbes, etc., usually winds up in disruption of the fermentation process as many home-brew enthusiasts can attest. Basically, aging tobacco in the jar or foil pouch will still effect a mellowing and blending of flavors but that is not the same as fermenting them which brings about a chemical change in the sugars, etc., of the tobacco. Many who jar their stash use heat to vacuum seal the jars but this rise in temperature is what is probably, in part, altering the composition of the tobacco. Stoving, curing, etc., are all particular processes that many tobacco blending firms use, under controlled conditions, to elicit certain qualities in their end-product. This type of manipulation is far different from actual fermentation. I can attest having aged a specific tobacco in a sealed tin side-by-side with the same stuff in a jar brought about very different results and I encourage anyone who has the time and resources to experiment and try the same. As one member stated, you can't blow anything up so at least it's safe and at worst you wind up pitching some surplus tobacco to the wayside that didn't quite turn out as expected. Have fun!

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Is pipe tobacco really that expensive? The house blends at my local shop are $3.10 per ounce (I think that's pretty inexpensive) and I quite like them. Other forum members that I've sent samples too seem to like it too, and I've had repeat buyers.

They are now. The reason is twofold: 1) Higher taxes at the federal and state levels. 2) The manufacturers of pipe tobaccos are disappearing due to increased regulation and liability issues. This translates to less supply which translates to higher prices.

I pay $57.00 per pound for my tobacco, which, admittedly on the expensive side, being a flake tobacco. This is up from $45.00 per pound 3 years ago. To that I have to add 20% state tobacco tax and 5% state sales tax. With shipping, I pay around $80.00 per pound.

I could get away much cheaper from an out of state supplier but I haven't found anything I really like.

Originally Posted by droche

I pay $57.00 per pound for my tobacco, which, admittedly on the expensive side, being a flake tobacco.

Over here in Britain we have to pay about $122.45 for that pound of flake - and it's made here!

Think yourself lucky

Gareth

Originally Posted by Galopede

Over here in Britain we have to pay about $122.45 for that pound of flake - and it's made here!

Think yourself lucky

Gareth

Over here in Australia we have to pay about $300 for that pound of flake!

Think yourself lucky

I now import my tobacco from the U.S.A, with tax,s and postage it,s still $180 a pound but I get a better choice than here in OZ and I am saving $120

I had no idea there were so many pipe smokere out there. I thought I was just about the only one here. I have been a pipe smoker since 1965 and it was common then. Not any more.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

When you talk about older tobaccos, can the ones on the bay be smoked? I was just browsing and a couple were listed that the contents are not fit for consumption. I take it they mean, not good for smoking, coz who would eat pipe tobacco?

Would any of them be worth buying to try out?

OS, ebay decided to ban the sale of tobacco products for consumption about 8 or 10 years ago. The tins of tobacco you see for sale with the disclaimer are usually vintage tins that fall under the heading of 'collector's items' and will bring a far greater price than you would want to pay for smoking tobacco unless you were a connoisseur.

Tins of Dunhill's 965, Nightcap and others are great smoking tobaccos and bring premium prices depending on their pedigree. Dunhill's tobaccos were made by different companies as was Escudo and Rattray's for example. Some are more sought after than others. If you can find current tins or bulk of Gawith & Hoggarth, GL Pease, Samuel Gawith for example you'll spend less and be smoking fine tobacco.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

But generally, it could be smoked?

I will have a look around for the others you mentioned. Thanks.

Oh yes it can. I have a friend who will pay close to $100 USD for a sealed tin of 10, 20 or 30 year old tobacco and smoke it. I've seen guys get into bidding wars for these things that equal prices brought by mint Wonderedges. I myself have recently smoked some tins of Peterson's Escudo that I had kept since '99. I've also stored tobacco in tightly sealed mason jars for years and smoked it with good results.

BTW, I ignored the instructions I had read to sterilize the jars. I stuffed them as full as possible compressing the tobacco and than closed the lids as tightly as I could. I've smoked tobacco kept this way ten years later.

I've also kept tobacco in a cool dry place in canisters and even wrapped in plastic bags for years and then finally smoked it. If it is a bit dried out it will moisturize in the bowl as you smoke. As you know tobacco generates it's own condensation. If it is dried to the point where it is dust it is not smokable or salvageable IME but dry tobacco can be restored in many cases and still be enjoyed. Of course it may not be as tasty as it would have been if kept in a manner that would protect the moisture content but it is still good IME.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Your an enabler.

What's your preferred method of restoring moisture to tobacco? Back in the day I used to smoke rollys, (roll your own) and if the tobacco dried out before finish, would use either orange or apple peel, but these would impart flavour in the tobacco. I heard you can use cabbage, but don't recall trying it.

Very interesting stuff. Never would have thought of aged cigars of tobacco, guess it works the same as a nicely aged malt.

What I have done is to spread the tobacco, referring to bulk, I rarely buy tins.... spread it on a piece of plastic wrap and lightly mist it with a spray bottle and distilled water. Very lightly and check and repeat after a half hour. Definitely don't want to get it too moist.

I had a large cache of tobacco I had put away in '99. It was stuff that I had bought at the time and didn't really like that much. Some in jars and some wrapped in plastic. I decided that if I didn't smoke it I would die with it and it would go to waste.

I am talking many pounds of bulk. I didn't buy new tobacco for three or four months and just smoked this stuff until it was about gone. Some of it was relatively dry but not to the point where it would fall apart when touched.

I learned a long time ago that dry tobacco will hydrate as it is smoked and I didn't attempt any re-moisturizing of the tobac but just smoked it and it was fine. I actually still have a couple of 500 gram packets of Gawith & Hoggarth Coniston Cut Plug from '99 but broke down and bought some of my favorite blends anyway.

Pipe smoking is far superior to cigarettes and the equal of cigars IMO while being cheaper if you don't get PAD or TAD. The best thing to do if you tend to over doing things as I do is to forget about it. You'll stay healthier in body and bank account.

The best containers Ive came across for bulk storage is the OXO containers that have a button on the top to vacuum out the air.