Drying methods?

[uvacom]

It seems to be common knowledge that many if not most tobaccos are not packaged at an ideal moisture level for smoking, almost always erring on the side of being too moist.

How do you guys like to dehumidify your tobaccos to a smoking level? Also, do you try to dry out the whole tin at once or one bowl at a time?

So far in my early experiments, I've tried a method I've read about which seems to work well - I put the tin of tobacco in an empty spanish cedar box. It did a great job of slowly drying out the tobacco over several days so I could monitor it and transfer it to a jar when it was just right, but it also seemed to take some of the aroma with it. Bad for the tobacco and for the box. Still, it seems better than open air.

I'm imagining the best method would incorporate some kind of dessicant that (ideally) maintains a specific RH so it would dry the tobacco out to a certain degree, and then stop drying. Basically like RH beads for humidors, but for a somewhat lower RH level.

[sepia5]

Originally Posted by uvacom

It seems to be common knowledge that many if not most tobaccos are not packaged at an ideal moisture level for smoking, almost always erring on the side of being too moist.

How do you guys like to dehumidify your tobaccos to a smoking level? Also, do you try to dry out the whole tin at once or one bowl at a time?

So far in my early experiments, I've tried a method I've read about which seems to work well - I put the tin of tobacco in an empty spanish cedar box. It did a great job of slowly drying out the tobacco over several days so I could monitor it and transfer it to a jar when it was just right, but it also seemed to take some of the aroma with it. Bad for the tobacco and for the box. Still, it seems better than open air.

I'm imagining the best method would incorporate some kind of dessicant that (ideally) maintains a specific RH so it would dry the tobacco out to a certain degree, and then stop drying. Basically like RH beads for humidors, but for a somewhat lower RH level.

I actually think it varies from blend to blend as to whether you even need to dry it out, but when I do dry it out I generally just pack a bowl and let it sit for an hour or two, or I place an approximated amount on a paper towel and let it air out for an hour or two. I wouldn't let an entire tin dry at once unless you are going to smoke the entire tin within the week or so. I don't really know what the benefit would be to doing so, but I can think of a potential drawback: overly dry tobacco.

[Blaylock]

I just dry out the amount I want to smoke on a paper towel. Dry but not crunchy.

[Mad Hatter]

I usually sit an open tin on the dash of my truck for a while in the afternoon sun if its a blend that needs dried.

[Hermit]

I put a bowlful on a sheet of paper.
If it's really moist or if I'm in a hurry,
I set the paper several inches below
a desk lamp.

[uvacom]

Originally Posted by sepia5

I actually think it varies from blend to blend as to whether you even need to dry it out, but when I do dry it out I generally just pack a bowl and let it sit for an hour or two, or I place an approximated amount on a paper towel and let it air out for an hour or two. I wouldn't let an entire tin dry at once unless you are going to smoke the entire tin within the week or so. I don't really know what the benefit would be to doing so, but I can think of a potential drawback: overly dry tobacco.

This is my whole thing - I feel that heat and open air are two big enemies of tobacco freshness. So anything that can dry the tobacco without doing either is a preferred method to me. Also, I find that the inverse is true - the big drawback to drying a little bit of tobacco is that it's easy to overdo it. The spanish cedar box method work really well, because it dries slowly and doesn't expose the tobacco to open air where it will quickly lose it's essences. But it's only practical with a somewhat larger amount of tobacco.

[superpelic]

After opening the tin i put the tobacco in a jar.
After a day or 3 it has the perfect moisture level for me.
I a tin it's pressed so i make sure i crumble it in the jar.
Works for me.

[DSturg369]

I like most tobaccos on the dry side when I smoke. I'll estimate a couple of bowls worth, dry it in open room air in a small bowl I have set aside just for that purpose, and when I feel it's reached the dryness level I want I'll crumble it up, rub it out, and pack in a pipe. For storage, I leave it at the humidity it was shipped at.

As for aroma loss, this is my opinion. Unless it becomes truely dry to the point of nearly dust the aroma is not lost but rather simply not as noticable to the human nose. Kind'a like a wet dog..... It just smells stronger when it gets wet.

For some great reading, try here..... The Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage and Cellaring FAQ: Moisture Management

[uvacom]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

I like most tobaccos on the dry side when I smoke. I'll estimate a couple of bowls worth, dry it in open room air in a small bowl I have set aside just for that purpose, and when I feel it's reached the dryness level I want I'll crumble it up, rub it out, and pack in a pipe. For storage, I leave it at the humidity it was shipped at.

As for aroma loss, this is my opinion. Unless it becomes truely dry to the point of nearly dust the aroma is not lost but rather simply not as noticable to the human nose. Kind'a like a wet dog..... It just smells stronger when it gets wet.

For some great reading, try here..... The Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage and Cellaring FAQ: Moisture Management

The wet dog thing does make sense, it might seem as if a tobacco has "lost" aroma as it dries, when it's really just giving off less aroma-carrying moisture. On the other hand, the only way we can smell things is if a substance is giving off particles. So certainly something is lost in the process. It's just a matter of whether it is enough to be perceivable when smoked.

Clearly, drying more than a bowl is prudent only if one can be fairly certain they will smoke all of the tobacco fairly quickly.

[plexiprs]

Over the years, now decades, I've found that moist tobacco ages better and drier tobacco smokes better. That said, I dry a bowl's worth prior to smoking. One has to plan ahead this way and sometimes I have been unexpectedly delayed in actually enjoying my chosen pipe.

I air-dry by placing a portion in an old tin; currently a emptied MacBaren HH Mature Virginia tin. When in a bit of a hurry I have used a hair drier (keep the distance large and the power low unless cleaning tobacco out of the carpet is your idea of fun). Our normal indoor humidity is around 18% so drying occurs fairly quick.

[DubintheDam]

I sometimes fill 2 or 3 pipes in the morning, then just grab one of the shelf later and it's ready to go...

[dillonmcmurphy]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I sometimes fill 2 or 3 pipes in the morning, then just grab one of the shelf later and it's ready to go...

That's a darn good idea. I tend to just put a bowl full on a sheet of paper and let it dry until it's at the proffered moisture level.