Pipe Tobacco and Apples

[Syekick]

I just recalled that my grandfather kept a large slice of apple in several of his pipe tobacco humidors. Have any of you heard of that? Humidity and flavoring would be my guess. He was born in 1888 if that gives you and idea of days gone by for this practice.

[monsoon]

Might be neat to try, but only on a small amount & not for too long. I would think that there would be mold problems stemming from this.

[EvanS]

A local tobacconist, where i bought my first briar and first B&M blend, told me to do this to keep things fresh.

Made everything taste like wet apples. He never did clarify though...I suppose the 1/2 of a Granny Smith might have been a mistake?

[IHT]

i had heard of this as well, it does keep the tobacco moist - but why would you want moist tobacco?

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by IHT

i had heard of this as well, it does keep the tobacco moist - but why would you want moist tobacco?

Exactly what I thought to myself...about 5 seconds after my first serious bout of tongue bite

[DubintheDam]

It's a well known trick, but, it can produce mold also, I would recommend moisture buttons, Indian free spirit tobacco company give them away free here in Europe..ask around, you can buy them on the web also.

[The Pirate]

Moisture buttons are the way to go. Apples, oranges, and even potatoes do keep the tobacco moist, but that is the only benefit. The other side effects of this proceedure present nothing but problems.
Ken

[Mr.Lordi]

I heard this too, but I was told to do it with the Apple Tobbacco that I think John Middleton makes.

Makes more sense to do that, then with other tobacco.

[PaulMac]

Whats the best source for the buttons, I found one place where they a buck a piece, surely there must be better :P

[Alpedhuez55]

Try here:

https://www.lilbrown.com/Pipe-Access...-MOISTENER.htm

And get a couple of 8 oz packs of Penzance while you are shopping:

https://www.lilbrown.com/Pipe-Tobacc...A-TOBACCOS.htm

[Mister Moo]

My dad (1910 2001), a Dunhill man, dropped a thinnish slice of apple in his pipe tobacco cannister every week or so (and took the dry one out) and ate the rest (of the apple, not the tobacco). Don't know if he updated his apple slices based on hunger, time, tobacco feel or what. The house was in Michigan and not airconditioned. If his tobacco had molded I'm pretty sure I would have heard him say something.

The cannister was turned wood and didn't seal airtight; it had a green foam water-soaker pad on the underside of the lid and he didn't use it because he thought the apple slice kept the tobacco better moisturized and gave it a pleasing flavor hint. Hadn't thought about this in 50-years, Sy'ck. Thx.

[Mad Hatter]

Yeah, the apple slice is a great idea for tobacco that isn't going to be shelved for any amount of time. Most of the oldtimers around here had a regular tobacco or a few tobaccos they smoked all the time like my greatgrandfather had half&half, prince albert and one other. He smoked about ten bowls or more a day. His tobacco wouldn't really have time to get spoiled due to fungus, etc. Often he'd open a pouch and dry it out and then toss in the apple slice so the dry tobacco would absorb the apple flavor without becoming too moist to smoke, same thing we did with Skoal and peach schnapps when we were kids.

[Syekick]

To recap: Just a memory that I shared and not thinking about putting apples in my meager pipe tobacco. This thread did teach me a lot and gave a glimpse of pipe tobacco history. Also got me to relive a some renewed memories of my grandfather. Thanks all.

A. So dry pipe tobacco = bad. It needs to stay slightly moist but nothing like the care that cigars require.

B. Buttons are the way to go.

[8ptstars]

I prefer my pipe tobacco to be very dry, as dry as it can get without being crumbly. I never use any humidification devices at all, and only bother to repackage tobacco into bail tops or mason jars if I plan on storing them for at least a year. When I open a tin I will leave it open for a day or two and then simply store it in the tin with the lid on. It usually takes me a couple of months to finish a tin, and I've yet to have one become to dry to smoke.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by 8ptstars

I prefer my pipe tobacco to be very dry, as dry as it can get without being crumbly. I never use any humidification devices at all, and only bother to repackage tobacco into bail tops or mason jars if I plan on storing them for at least a year. When I open a tin I will leave it open for a day or two and then simply store it in the tin with the lid on. It usually takes me a couple of months to finish a tin, and I've yet to have one become to dry to smoke.

Dag. Lemme guess... you live in Houston or Cincinnati.

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