Rehydrating tobac

[plexiprs]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

I have to say, I'm very skeptical about this. Sounds like bad science to me. Things like calcium bicarbonate (limescale) or flourides or other things commonly found in water will really not affect your pipe tobacco in any way shape or form. Your tobacco isn't a washing machine, it, you won't get limescale deposits!
Especially in the tiny tiny minute quantities present in water, we're talking about the kind of quantities it takes fairly sophisticated equipment to detect. It's totally clean as well, easily clean enough for your needs..think about it: you drink it daily, wash everything in it, it definitely isn't full of mold or bacteria. In any case, your tobacco doesn't need to be totally sterile at all times, you're smoking it! It definitely won't cause any mold when storing either, other factors like moisture and humidity, airflow etc are FAR bigger factors in that. You're rehydrating tobacco, not performing open heart surgery

Didn't mention science, and neither did you. We were talking method and rationale. My method is such with a mind to long term aging/cellaring without any loss due to mold, mildew or other pests. As I am free to it in my way, so you are free to do it your way, as are all others. Do you use tap water in your humidors? Anyone here invest in a quantity of tobacco, pipe or otherwise, to have it ruined by mold? Is that cost worth the risk?

[Cliffhanger]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Tap water has chlorine and dissolved crap in it. Your baccy will simply absorb it. If you air it out to get rid of the chlorine, microbe critters may visit. Spring water contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals.

Distilled water costs like a buck for a gallon that will last for a year, splurge for it already!

Again though, what on earth is chlorine going to do? Nothing. Especialy when you're talking about less than 0.0001 moles of the stuff. If anything, the chlorine will prevent mold, and it most certainly won't affect the tobacco at all considering that the actual concentration of chlorine in the tobacco is going to be far higher anyway,

And I don't have a humidor, but if I did, I'd use tap water!

Why?

Becuase pseudoscience is a big pet peeve of mine

[Mad Hatter]

I've said this before and this is how I do mine. I put the flakes in a mason jar and using a teapot with the steam outlet angled downward at a 45* angle I hold the mouth of the jar in the steam, not close to the pot but at the point where the steam is disappearing into water vapor (its room temperature at that point). It takes a minute or two depending on how much you're rehydrating and it absorbs instantly but I prefer to let it rest an hour or so before smoking. Its as natural as opening a dry tin on a rainy day to rehydrate and there's no question about contamination (which I would certainly try to avoid at all reasonable lengths however you choose to do this ). If you want to experiment you can also rehydrate by spraying the tobacco with whiskey, everclear, rum or whatever floats your boat.

[plexiprs]

The wise and more experienced are always a better guide the guess work ....

Beard, Pease, Manadily, et. al. on the subject

Mr. Pease is the E.F. Hutton of pipe tobacco. Listen ...

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

I'd use tap water! Why? Becuase pseudoscience is a big pet peeve of mine

Me too, Cl'anger! I despise transmission of conventional wisdom without testing and proof to back it up. Worse still? Inexperienced persons generating permanent public records of bad advice based on conjecture.

If one is lucky enough to have a few open tins of vintage Plumcake, Ringlow or Balkan Sobranie in the cellar you get more cirsumspect about the safest means of preparation and storage. Please let us know how your options pan out on vintage gear after you've had a few years for testing and evaluation. Here's hoping your expertise will reward us all with easier, safer methodology.

Until then...

[sounds7]

I use the method where you take aluminum foil and then put a wet paper towel on top in such a way that the foil acts as a barrier to keep it from touching the tobacco directly. I place the tobacco in an large empty zip lock bag and spread it out carefully on a flat surface, then I slide the foil/PT in where it lays flat on top of the tobacco then I seal up the bag and leave it a few days. takes longer but leaves my tobacco at a perfect moisture level.

[dj1340]

Originally Posted by sounds7

I use the method where you take aluminum foil and then put a wet paper towel on top in such a way that the foil acts as a barrier to keep it from touching the tobacco directly. I place the tobacco in an large empty zip lock bag and spread it out carefully on a flat surface, then I slide the foil/PT in where it lays flat on top of the tobacco then I seal up the bag and leave it a few days. takes longer but leaves my tobacco at a perfect moisture level.

What he said.

[plexiprs]

Weigh the tobacco. Spray it with water, equal to 12% of its weight. Leave in a sealed container at least 24 hours. Move it to a jar. Enjoy within the next couple weeks and no worries about infections ......

PS: The Tobacco Aging FAQ website seems to be down. An email has been sent to the creator ......

News at eleven ......

[sounds7]

Originally Posted by plexiprs

Weigh the tobacco. Spray it with water, equal to 12% of its weight. Leave in a sealed container at least 24 hours. Move it to a jar. Enjoy within the next couple weeks and no worries about infections ......

PS: The Tobacco Aging FAQ website seems to be down. An email has been sent to the creator ......

News at eleven ......

I would only do this with distilled water myself

[plexiprs]

Originally Posted by sounds7

I would only do this with distilled water myself

As would I. But some about these parts scream faux-science at the drop of a suggestion .....

PS: Got an email from the creator/author of the TOBACCO AGING FAQ. He said it is in transition and should be relocated soon. He even added a message to that effect on the site. Good to hear that this valuable resource will remain and as soon as it is back up I'm downloading the entire damn thing!!