Cellaring bulk tobacco

[Charley Scanlan]

I have a question, if cellaring bulk tobacco in vacuum sealer bags won't let the tobacco age, because there's no oxygen for fermentation, why do vacuum sealed tins work so well in the aging of tobacco?

 

[DrT999]

I would think it should still age in the bags, although being even more compressed and with (in theory) a better seal, it would just age more slowly.

 

[Balisong]

The absence of oxygen still allows anaerobic fermentation. C&D seal leaves enough oxygen for some aerobic fermentation, some of their tins bulge from the CO2 production and I believe that's why the blends develop their best flavor one to two weeks after they are opened.

 

[Blackhorse]

…the blends develop their best flavor one to two weeks after they are opened.

Interesting. I’d never heard that before.

 

[ftrplt]

I don't store bulk 'baccy in plastic baggies; it goes into glass (Mason/Ball/snap-lid jars, for instance).
Tins stay in tins until I pop them open. My older Ginnyweed & English/Balkan/Oriental tins all "bulge" to the point I have trouble stacking them very high (nice problem to have!!).
I do keep several older blends in their original Mylar bags; checking them for aroma/leakage frequently. I have bags from 2009 & earlier that display no "shake" or smell! When I finally open them, they will immediately go into glass!
Works for me!! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!! FTRPLT (59 year pipe smoker!!)

 

[Timbo]

What ftrplt said.

 

[lgoldberg]

I only started smoking a pipe at Christmas '22, but I've got a lineup of 7 mason jars already, and planning to add more. I'm at the beginning of all this, so I'm glad to read the collective wisdom here.

 

[Ranger107]

I only started smoking a pipe at Christmas '22, but I've got a lineup of 7 mason jars already, and planning to add more. I'm at the beginning of all this, so I'm glad to read the collective wisdom here.

Just to warn you, TAD is a very slippery slope. You will know you've gone over the edge when you start buying Mason jars by the 12 pack, LOL.

 

[lgoldberg]

I'm guessing that's Tobacco Acquisition Disorder? Lol.

I had to pick up some things at the store last night and 'almost' threw a case of masons in the cart!

 

[user 2027]

understand your tastes will change over time. I use to smoke nothing but latakia blends for 10 years. Now the cellar is about 1/2 straight Virginia aging and very little Balken and English blends

 

[arich52]

Indeed. I smoked English and Balkans for five decades. Upon discovering McClellands blends and other Virginias and Virginia Periques I now mostly smoke them now. Glad I never got into Aromatics!

 

[MisterE]

Yeah, any tobacco I've left in plastic bags has dried out very quickly. Some people say you can rehydrate it, but it never tastes quite the same after going bone dry IMHO. The little Ball jars are great for storing open tinned tobacco long term. Some guys even coat the Ball jar seal with wax after it's seated for long term storage. Makes sense but I've never tried it.

 

[WarneOut]

Just to warn you, TAD is a very slippery slope. You will know you've gone over the edge when you start buying Mason jars by the 12 pack, LOL.

Walmart will sometimes have 12-packs of mason jars for a little over $7, and they have free shipping over $35....

So naturally I buy 5 12-packs at a time. I have to, because of the free shipping. Right?