Letting Tobacco "Breathe"

[alfredo_buscatti]

I just opened a year old tin of Cumberland, and to me the flavors seem both more substantial but paradoxically subdued. This would seem a prime candidate for the opening up by "breathing" that Kapsinologist and others recommend.

Am I to leave the top of the lid ajar? If so, if left that way for a week or so, won't it dry out, loose its "volatile essences" that have everything to do with flavor?

 

[idbowman]

Don't know how the other guys do it, but if I think something needs a few days to breath I just kind of fluff the tobacco a bit (unless its flake), give the tin a bit of a shake, and close it back up. I'll go back to it and repeat the process once or twice daily, but I don't leave the lid off for an extended period of time (I want it to air out, not dry out).

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Mike,

I would put it in a Mason Jar with the lid closed tight and come back to it in a month. I wouldn't risk allowing it dry out. The air that you seal in with it should be enough to "decant" it.

Avoid having to re-hydrate at all cost.

 

[Puff Daddy]

I'm a big fan of jar time with lots of air space. I'll dry it a bit if it's really wet, but otherwise it just goes into an oversized jar for a few weeks. Anytime a newly opened tobacco comes across as unfriendly or off I do this, unless it's a McClelland English/Balkan blends. Those just get the lid put back on the tin and left alone for a while. They don't dry out in their tins  very quickly.

 

[AJ]

Mike,

I would put it in a Mason Jar with the lid closed tight and come back to it in a month. I wouldn't risk allowing it dry out. The air that you seal in with it should be enough to "decant" it.

Avoid having to re-hydrate at all cost.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^! Works for me.  

AJ

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

Hi guys, thanks to all of you I've dried the tobacco down and transferred it to a pint jar. Drying took 3 hours spread out on a cookie sheet. The only funny thing is that beforehand it didn't seem that it would need more than an hour, but in fact it took the three. Also, the smell changed. There was a funky smell in the tin that's gone now, and just now it smells fragrant, fermented and somewhat sweet. Will look forward to trying it in a month!

 

[Boulder&Briar]

I noticed that whenever I have a tinned tobacco and whether it be flake, cake, compressed ribbon or any else that if you break it up a bit and then close the tin and let it sit for a month it seems to make it better. It seems to smoke dryer, less bite, a little bit lighter, and brings out a little more of the natural flavors. So is the case especially with aros. I just experienced this last night with SG chocolate flake, and it was wonderful. I had taken the flakes out of the tin and placed it into a pint sized jar thinking it would preserve it better. I hadn't touched it in several months until last night and wow what a difference.