Storing Flakes

[KinnScience]

Hi again everyone. I have a question about storing flakes. I have cellared several pounds (6) of various tobaccos. However, I am getting some bulk flake tobacco and was wondering about how to do that. For the cut tobacco (rubbed) I pressed it down real tight into canning jars .. then dipped in almost boiling water for 30 secs so that I would get a seal. It worked wonderfully (so far).

Anyway, do I need to rub out the flakes before putting into jars (merely to press them down again)? Can I just press them into a jar in flake form?

Thanks,

PS Madhatter I do have your pics ... will get them up ASAP

[DubintheDam]

Some rub out first...but the general rule is just put them in the jar as they come. You shouldn't really have to boil seal the jars...but I'm sure it gives a tighter air proof seal.

[Mad Hatter]

I stand the long flakes on end in the jars

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I stand the long flakes on end in the jars

Me too. I buy tall mason jars for my flakes so I can store them as they are.

[drastic_quench]

Boiling is for the birds - unless you're canning food. You don't need a vacuum seal. In fact, your bac needs some air in there to age. A screw top jar provides a good enough seal on its own, and bail tops are just a bit better (maybe).

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Boiling is for the birds - unless you're canning food. You don't need a vacuum seal. In fact, your bac needs some air in there to age. A screw top jar provides a good enough seal on its own, and bail tops are just a bit better (maybe).

Bouncing of what DQ said, your description of how you are putting it in the jars sounds like you are cramming it in there.

I don't know if that is the case, but the baccy does need some air. Cramming the jars full of baccy will limit the air inside. Vacuming, I have also read is a bad idea because you want a seal, not an absence of oxygen.

That said, my take on it is the flakes come in tins and age fine, they should age fine as a flake. I find flake tobac to dry out faster when rubbed out (not really a concern when sealed for aging) so that may dictate how you like to store it. Either way should work fine.

-Tyler

[Jesla]

Interesting.... Most if not all of my tinned tobacco has comes vacuum sealed.

[DubintheDam]

It is said by the more experienced oldies of long ago...that...once a tin is 'popped' the aging process pretty much stops. The chemical reactions that cause's the crystalisation slows way down......SOOOH....what happens when the baccy is no longer in its 'made at factory vacum'...is similar to airing a red wine, albeit airing it for 2yrs or 20yrs.

I read this on GL Pease's website I think. But it was a sound source. There should be no need or major advantage in re-vacuming a baccy.

[Mad Hatter]

I also read somewhere that once the tobacco is sealed bacteria that thrive in an oxygenated environment go to work until they eat up all the oxygen at which time other bacteria that thrive in an oxygen free environment go to work. Beats me. I'm not too worried about aging.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

It is said by the more experienced oldies of long ago...that...once a tin is 'popped' the aging process pretty much stops. The chemical reactions that cause's the crystalisation slows way down......SOOOH....what happens when the baccy is no longer in its 'made at factory vacum'...is similar to airing a red wine, albeit airing it for 2yrs or 20yrs.

I read this on GL Pease's website I think. But it was a sound source. There should be no need or major advantage in re-vacuming a baccy.

Tins are sealed to prevent drying out during transport/shelf storage in store (as are foil pouches). The presence of "air" is irrelevant to aging, a negative pressure is used to create a tight seal (partial vacuum). Ditto with home-storage mason jars, the objective is to use negative pressure (hot bottle/air within) to jam the seal nice and tight. Air is good, air "exchange" is bad - for one thing the baccy will dry out, and it also messes with the little ecosystem that forms in the enclosed space.

According to GL Pease (I read it somewhere there too ) the O2 in the container will be consumed by the lil' critters that cause the fermenting/aging (aerobic). Thereafter anaerobic fellas munch on the baccy (as well as the deceased aerobic dudes) and continue the aging process. Talk about a dog eat dog world!

[DubintheDam]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Tins are sealed to prevent drying out during transport/shelf storage in store (as are foil pouches). The presence of "air" is irrelevant to aging, a negative pressure is used to create a tight seal (partial vacuum). Ditto with home-storage mason jars, the objective is to use negative pressure (hot bottle/air within) to jam the seal nice and tight. Air is good, air "exchange" is bad - for one thing the baccy will dry out, and it also messes with the little ecosystem that forms in the enclosed space.

According to GL Pease (I read it somewhere there too ) the O2 in the container will be consumed by the lil' critters that cause the fermenting/aging (aerobic). Thereafter anaerobic fellas munch on the baccy (as well as the deceased aerobic dudes) and continue the aging process. Talk about a dog eat dog world!

I think this is well beyond my brain capacity to truly understand, and well within my Irish capability of not given two fecks as long as it tastes good!

For those who wish to learn even more:

The Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage and Cellaring FAQ

[Hermit]

I roll up the flakes to about the width of the
jar and stack a couple of rolls in the jar.

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I read this on GL Pease's website I think. But it was a sound source. There should be no need or major advantage in re-vacuming a baccy.

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I also read somewhere that once the tobacco is sealed bacteria that thrive in an oxygenated environment go to work until they eat up all the oxygen at which time other bacteria that thrive in an oxygen free environment go to work.

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

According to GL Pease (I read it somewhere there too ) the O2 in the container will be consumed by the lil' critters that cause the fermenting/aging (aerobic).

Interesting...I read somewhere that Dub, Mad Hatter, and RJ are not to be trusted. I can't remember where, but I think it was a knowledgeable source.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by morefifemusicanyone

Interesting...I read somewhere that Dub, Mad Hatter, and RJ are not to be trusted. I can't remember where, but I think it was a knowledgeable source.

Well Tyler, if I remember correctly it was a post by GLP on another forum but I usually don't cite another forum as my source of information. Then again it could have been Latakialover or someone else, dunno but I do remember it was someone that usually has good information to offer.

So there!!!

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Well Tyler, if I remember correctly it was a post by GLP on another forum but I usually don't cite another forum as my source of information. Then again it could have been Latakialover or someone else, dunno but I do remember it was someone that usually has good information to offer.

So there!!!

I was just taking a free jab in jest at you guys. I think its funny having "old folks" who read something, somewhere, at some point.

Pretty much anything I have read or heard on aging tobac can be traced back to Mr. Pease, so that is probably true.