Tin VS. Pouch

[RichieR]

I just started smoking from a tin of Mac Baren Plumcake, and I'm not to pleased. Before picking up this first tin, I purchased a few pouches of Plumcake, and really liked those.

Now...I have to try to figure out a way to transform this tin to what I'm used to. I have to say...I sort of resent this aspect of our hobby. It should not be the piper's business to feel forced to try to manipulate purchased blends.

So far...my Escudo and Nightcap purchases have been consistent for me-- I'm surprised by the difference in the Plumcake tin from the pouch. I usually hear that tins are better than pouches, but in this case, the plumcake tin is turning me off.

I'd be interested to hear if ya'll have any opinions on this.

[IHT]

never had that issue as i only smoked Capt Black out of a pouch.

has me thinking that maybe due to the sealed nature of a tin, it ages slower than if you had it in the pouch (which i cn't believe seals very good).
i have noticed some tins improve dramatically a couple months after they've been allowed to breath some fresh air. not saying leave the tin open for months, but after you cracked the tin, the air was exchanged and it does effect the taste a few months down the road.

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by IHT

never had that issue as i only smoked Capt Black out of a pouch.

has me thinking that maybe due to the sealed nature of a tin, it ages slower than if you had it in the pouch (which i cn't believe seals very good).
i have noticed some tins improve dramatically a couple months after they've been allowed to breath some fresh air. not saying leave the tin open for months, but after you cracked the tin, the air was exchanged and it does effect the taste a few months down the road.

IHT is on to something here. I've had many tins that seem to mature, for lack of a better term, once they are opened. It really is part of the hobby and experimentation, learning, noticing. Pipe tobaccos provide SO many options. I can see how you would just like to order Plumcake, regardless of packaging, and have it be the same. Whereas the next guy is thrilled that Plumcake packed this way does this, while Plumcake packed that way does that.

Let the tin sit for a couple of weeks and see what happens. Over time who knows, maybe the tin that was cracked an allowed to breathe will be your new favorite.

[JohnnyFlake]

Just out of curiosity, I'd love to see a picture of a pouch of McBarens Plum Cake. I have never see McBarens Plum Cake in a pouch.

[ButchA]

Hmmm... I don't use a tin. I smoke bulk (Altadis?) Buttered Rum tobacco at my local B&M. I get it in a zip lock baggie, and then dump it into my small 6" x 3" square, clear, Gladware (like Tupperware) bin. It's plastic, but has no odor at all. It has airtight lid too. It holds 4 oz (just barely) and works great.

[smokehouse]

i will agree with IHT and Evan. I opened a tin of SG Christmas Mixture in Dec and had a few bowls and thought yeah this stuff is ok. After opening a tin I usually put it in a mason jar. this time on accident I didn't and last week I opened it up and it was dryed out, so I figured I would concentrate of smoking it. The airing out really did something to this tobacco and I am enjoying more now than when I first tried it. Good luck.

[DubintheDam]

Only too happy to oblige with the photo...I've never smoked the stuff from a tin, but have gone through a few packets...I find the more dried out the packet is (the more it's been sitting on the shelf in the shop) the better it is.
So my suggestion would be to dry out half a tin at a time. I love the stuff, my favorite from MacB...for sure.

[JohnnyFlake]

Thanks for the pictures. I have never seen that before, but now I realize that your in Europe. I don't believe it's available in pouches in the USA.

That's very interesting, at least for me. I do agree with drying out tobaccos before smoking them.

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

Only too happy to oblige with the photo...I've never smoked the stuff from a tin, but have gone through a few packets...I find the more dried out the packet is (the more it's been sitting on the shelf in the shop) the better it is.
So my suggestion would be to dry out half a tin at a time. I love the stuff, my favorite from MacB...for sure.


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[solafid3]

I know that SG FVF changes a bunch from when you just open it to when it's been aired out for a couple of weeks. That said I tend to like fresh fvf more than aired out fvf

[RichieR]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I left the lid off the tin for a few hours, then had myself another smoke....and this time, it did seem a little better.

Maybe I'll leave the tin alone for a few weeks, and see what happens. It will probably turn out fine.

Thanks again.