I bought my first tin of Plum Pudding the other day. At first, I was frustrated because I couldn't get it to stay lit but then I let it air dry for a 2 or 3 hours after I rubbed it out (it comes in flakes) and it burned perfectly. And man, I was blown away. I went from only smoking Carter Hall (which is just dry enough out of the pack) to smoking Plum Pudding. And wow. I am in awe. That was incredible. My pipe smoking hobby just went from a maybe to a lifetime pastime for sure.
I didn't realize I've been smoking my tobacco so wet until you've pointed this out! The large amount of condensation building up at the bottom of my pipes was getting absurd! But now that I think of it... I remember smoking a few bowls from some older tobacco I got a few weeks back that sat in the tin till recently, I gotta say the flavor was more intense! lately I've been buying all sorts of blends and transferring them directly to jars after trying them once and most were soo wet I thought I was sucking to hard or something because I have been getting tongue bite after tongue bite... I'm gonna try to dry some more and see what they taste like. I feel like I've wasted or dumped out way to many bowls.. lol I'm such a noob! but I look forward to iron out all my kinks lol thanks Muttnchop Piper!!!! This hobby has helped me kick cigs to the curb! :)
Show Bizo - Man, that is great to hear, you're a prime example of why I created this channel, to help those new to pipe smoking, and to help those struggling with issues while pipe smoking. I'm glad you are off cigarettes. 👍👍👍
I always enjoy watching and learning. It seems like every time I have a pipe smoking problem, I just watch Muttnchop piper and get the answer. Thanks again.
Hello MCP, very informative video. Pipe smoking is truly an art, with seemingly infinite variables, tobacco moisture, type of tobacco, packing, tamping, lighting, bowl size and shape, etc. I smoke aromatics at high altitude. (7100'). Too moist and I have all the problems you mention. Too dry and the tobacco loses a lot of it's flavor. I buy bulk tobacco and air it out till it's slightly moist. Then I take a small amount and dry it thoroughly. Use dry tobacco to pack the bottom third of the bowl, then finish packing with the moister tobacco. Great taste and nice burn. The small bit of moisture created seeps down and hydrates the dry tobacco at the bottom of the bowl. Makes a great smoke top to bottom!
superswaglord1945 - Have you given the breathe method of smoking a pipe a try, I have done a couple of videos on it? It has totally changed my smoking experience, I probably haven’t experienced tongue bite in a year now. 👍👍👍
You sir are a treasure!! I haven't smoked cigarettes in 2 months and picked up my grandfather's pipe 4 months ago ! And now I smoke about 2 bowls a day and everything that made my experience pleasurable is from you . You guided me to do it right and now I look forward to getting home and pick up my tobacco I dried the night before .. finish all my chores put my kid to bed and I sit back with a cup of tea and 40 minutes of peace with my pipe and your videos. Sorry for the long ramble !! Wana say thank you for all you do .. and for making me discover something I didnt know I would love and enjoy this much .. cheers!
I built a dryer for my tobacco. It has two screens, like window screen. I lay out the tobacco thinly on the screens or screen and close it up. I have two small computer fans in it and I turn them on and with 10 to 12 hours I can dry it just right for me about 8 to 16 ounces. I have done this for years. I dry it so it feels dry but it doesn't act dry. Thats hard to explain as well. Very good video and very helpful to your pipe smokers.
I am so sad to see your less involved on RU-vid. I am a very new pipe smoker, as I find myself working through problems and coming up with questions your videos always come up on top if not first. Your greatly needed sir. Please think about a return to the community. The info in your videos has been indispensable along with the comment section where you seem to have a large community of knowledgeable smokers. Thanks for all you have done and I hope you are still enjoying the leaf.
Im trying a new method today. I got some sample pouches (of english and aromatic blends) and am trying this: 1. Preheat over 170 or lowest possible setting. 2. Arrange tobacco on cookie sheet and spread out. 3. Turn oven OFF!!! (You just want a warm environment and not bake the stuff) 4. Put tray in for 3-4 mins. 5. After 3-4mins Take out of oven and stir around to make sure all the trimmings will dry. 6. Put back in oven for another 4 mins or to desired dryness. Thanks for always being there as a wise pipe smoker!! You are awesome!
This was extremely helpful! I had no idea you had to dry out the tobacco; i'm used to using my humidor for my cigars so I was delighted to see how moist the Borkum Riff packaged tobacco was. Along with that moistness came the "tongue bite issue" so I followed what you said with both the Breath method which I tried tonight with some tobacco I put on a paper plate and dried in my garage for a few hours. Your kind sharing of this made all the difference! Thanks so much!
Something I've done that has made a huge difference. I learned this from my papa. Hairdryer on cool, 5 minutes on a pan. It's perfect everytime, give it a try
I've smoked cigarettes for going on 20 years now and switched to a pipe a few weeks ago, and every single time I have a question, and Google it, I wind up back here. This single video has answered the main question I've had since I started this experiment, with the perfect amount of "why" as well as how to remedy this situation if it should come back up. Thank you, brother!
Very good information! One interesting note is cigars at a perfect humidity are nowhere near as wet as most pipe tobaccos out of the tin. Your humidity level would save many pipe enjoyers frustration and help with their enjoyment of a pipe.
A towel! This video was dried to the perfect viewing conditions which gives it a full body educational experience rich in wisdom. Sweet and "dry" smokes my friend! Hope you have a good week!
Good video! I don't go to such an extent to dry out my baccy. While I haven't be a piper all that long, ( less than a year ). I have been a cigar smoker for over twenty years so I understand about moisture content. What I usually do is I'll remove enough for a bowl and place on a tray I use to prepare my pipe. Depending on how moist the blend is I'll let it sit. Very moist at least an hour, less moist less time air drying. I'll only jar up blends that are just right or close to it. Well that's my two cents worth. Thank for the videos. I do enjoy them!👍🏻
I live in a high humidity state, and sometimes it can be difficult to dry my tobacco in a reasonable period of time. If I am indoors, I sometimes use a small fan, and if I am inside a vehicle, I will place a Tupperware container on the dash in direct sunlight for a few minutes. Both techniques will accelerate the drying process. This is one area of the hobby, that can be tricky, because different blends hold moisture differently. An experienced pipeman will instinctively know the different drying requirements of Sam Gawith FVF, versus drying Rattray's 7 Reserve ribbon cut. This is yet another aspect of the hobby that is very gratifying, once a pipeman begins to learn to get it right.
Great topic. I dump about a 50 gram tin on a paper plate. I gently tumble the tobacco using my hands moving the tobacco on the bottom with the tobacco on the top. Once I get it to the dryness level I like I put it in back in the tin only if it has a plastic lid or a jar if it's in a tin. I dry it until it doesn't clump but doesn't break apart either.
thanks for all your help! i now know why I didn't stay with the pipe all those years ago. i will be doing so experimenting with my new pipes and blends! THANK YOU for this info!!👍👍👍
Great advise Mutnchop Piper! What I tend to do if the tobacco is too wet, I will set up the toaster oven to 400 degrees, once it reaches 400, I will shut it off, then put a layer of tin foil on the pan, then lay the tobacco on the pan. let it sit in the toaster oven. i would then check it for moister. SO what the toaster oven does is accelerate the evaporation of moister. This does the trick for me. This method only applies to the SG brand. for the other brands, I would just pop the tin and let it air out.
This video is a great explanation for new pipe smokers on how to deal with tobacco that is too moist to smoke. I like aromatics and my favorite blend which is stokkebye's optimum blend is a fine example. It always ships too wet to smoke and has to be dried out prior to smoking. You new smokers take heed to his warning about the moisture level if you don't want to suffer the dreaded "Tongue Bite" misery! Thanks Muttonchop piper, a job well done here.
I take a bowl full or two and rub or otherwise prep it to the size pieces I want to smoke and put it on a small plate or in a small bowl. About one to two hours usually gets most tobacco to the perfect moisture for me. Of course this method is quick, especially in the winter. If I'm drying a whole tin down a little I just leave the lid halfway off overnight for a day or two and this usually gets it in the zone. There are also a few tricks I use to add moisture back into a tin if it was to become too dry. As an experienced pipe smoker of 20+ years I think this video offers very useful info and I totally agree about the moisture content you recommend. I say crispy but not crunchy is the best way I can describe it. I definitely want my tobacco to feel a little dry when I go to pack it up.
Great video. When ever I feel like my tobacco is too moist to smoke, I pour a little into the top of the lid of the mason jar that stores the mixture I'm smoking if it's day time I leave it in the sun for around 30 minutes pinching the tobacco between my fingers and seeing if it sticks to me if it sticks to me it's too moist. I also watch to see how it falls apart after pinching it if it doesn't sick together and fall into a clump but immediately begins to separate then it is ready to smoke. I have been experimenting with drying out my tobacco but this has always been very easy to gauge at least for me. I only dry out a pipe full at a time
A towel! I have enjoyed your videos for a short while but have not commented before now. I would like to thank you for the quality content as well as educating me on the way of the briar.
I have noticed that the cut of tobacco affects how moist tobacco shall be, shag and thin ribbon can be smoked quite moist but it can be bitey, ready rubbed,flakes,coins,twist, coarse...open tin for awile then pack the pipe with Gawith blends just open the tin, close lid and leave like that for a week or take out a flake and let it stand on the table,when the egdes of flake starts to get crispy and dry it is ready to use. Have a great week Chris and as always have cool smokes mate.
This is exactly what I’ve been struggling with as a new smoker. The ribbon tobacco from the pipe store is moist for storage but too moist to smoke. I’m so excited to try this!
This video is SPOT ON! Too much Moisture is a taste killer and a nightmare if trying to enjoy pipe smoking. This topic is rarely covered but a critical component of harnessing getting the most of the experience. I dry out my tobacco evertime I smoke to avoid this pitfall. I would like to see more videos cover this topic
Chris, I was waiting to see if you were going to comment on this. Wet pipe tobacco was a major problem for me for years! When I sold pipes in Omaha in the 70's I was told to tell people to pinch the tobacco in your fingers and, it it stuck in a ball, it was too wet, but if it expanded it was ready. Well, that is still too wet in my opinion. As a result I had tongue bite problems for years and my enjoyment of smoking suffered. Heck, I used to store pipe tobacco in a cigar humidor at 70% moisture. I started reading what Russ Oulette and others started posting in the last few years and learned that it should be drier, closer to 25% - and your description of tobacco being just short of dried leaves is probably the most accurate one I know of. Hopefully smokers will listen and not suffer like I did. Thanks!
Dennis Ciurej Dennis, my mission statement for my channel if you will is exactly that "Provide solid and accurate information about the art of pipe smoking so new pipe smokers will not suffer while learning how to smoke a pipe". Any positive information from anyone that furthers that goal, I welcome with open arms. Thanks for sharing with us. 👍👍👍
Was wondering that myself, hi muttnchops, I ordered awhile back 6 onz of Cornell & Diehl Black Cherry, when I got it gave me horrible tongue bite, and wouldn't keep lite. Did what you suggested, went thru two changes of paper towels, and I'm finally letting it air dry, hopefully it dries out nice and good so I can enjoy it. Keep up the good work my friend.
Hear me out… I’ve watched several of your vids, and at first, I was impatient and hoping you’d just get to the point. However, you do have great information and it isn’t difficult to skip 10 secs here and there for the pertinent information. In other words, keep doing you. I appreciate your knowledge sharing.
Again a class act video. I,like others, have tried unsuccessfully to smoke Virginias without tongue bite. Petersons university flake would leave me on the verge of tears and I would return to my typical Balkan blends which I still dearly enjoy. Last night I was smoking McClellands Blackwoods and unlike previous attempts, I had one of those perfect smoke moments and realized it had been 6 months since I'd opened the tin. I think the same thing happened before with McBaren mixture modern. Now I'm going to try this with more blends by just opening the tin and replacing the plastic lids and setting a future dat for smoking. Maybe this is the "lazy mans" approach for others to try.
Mark Musser I have heard others use this technique, but I am too impatient, I want to smoke my tobacco as soon as I get it. Thanks for the suggestion. 😃😃😃
I buy most of my pipe tobacco in bulk, keeping it stored in airtight jars. I find the bulk I purchase to be slightly over moist. I also smoke cigars. I find placing a couple pipe bowls worth of tobacco in an untreated wooden bowl in low humidity environment, I smoke in a 3 season screened deck, and the time it takes me to smoke a cigar, 45min- 1hr20min, I find my tobacco has dried to a good smoking point. No bite, minimal relights.
Older video but very good. I just switched over to pipes from cigars. I was surprised how wet bulk tobacco arrives, Half its sale weight is moisture. I have to dry it out then store airtight jars with a Boveda pack as @miles Corporosus says. I'm not positive but it just seems a safer way to keep your tobacco. Wouldn't wet tobacco have a larger chance to mold? I'm new to tobacco storing so am still learning.
Thank you for explaining this. I have some cobblestone creme bruele that is super wet when you open the tin and havent gotten it to that perfect dryness level yet. Super wet always leaves bottom of bowl un smokable due to a puddle of juice at the bottom.
_Boveda._ Not to knock anyone's ritual, _do whatever works for you,_ but the resistance to two-way humidification in the pipe community is frankly bizarre to me. You still have people recommending apple slices, potato skins, damp paper towels, etc. to increase RH vs. drying racks, hair dryers, ovens, fans, sunlight, etc. to decrease. These techniques are merely aiming to accomplish the same thing a Boveda pack (or Heartfelt beads) does, but less efficiently and with way more room for error; I can't see the benefit over throwing a Boveda in a jar and calling it a day.
I hit the hateful 8 on my most recent as well. I like a blend that's a touch moist as I feel it'll allow the bowl to burn longer. Sam Gawith needs time or a towel! Daughters and Ryan though is too dry. Thanks Chris
I tried the pipe thing back in the late 80s when I got married and now that I'm almost mid 50s I have a huge interest in it again and the last two weeks I have watched Alot of vids and I have to say I like yours the best so thanks for taking the time to reach me a little something I have a long way to go and Alot more of your vids to watch
Loved the video, MCP. Informative and well done, like the others. One thing though, in terms of the times, it woulda helped to know what was the relative humidity in your place when you dried the tobacco. The RH really impacts the drying times.
Love your videos. I’m a new smoker, got my first order today been watching your vids for about a week, I’ve learned so much. Tobacco is very interesting. To bad big tobacco gave it such a bad name.
I'm a recent convert to pipe smoking and have had a few wonderful smokes and a few nasty tongue biting smokes too! Now it makes sense why, thank you, Rob (UK).
I’m glad I found this video. I finally convinced my wife to try pipe smoking, but the Setliff Creme Brûlée tobacco she got (which is very good) was too wet and she got frustrated trying to keep her pipe lit the first time we smoked together. I’ll try to dry that out now before our next outing this weekend! :)
jayoutdoors07 M - Sounds like a plan, if you’re not teaching her the Breathe Method, you should, it will make it a lot easier on both of you. I did a couple of video on it, if you want to check it out. 👍👍👍
Muttnchop Piper Yes, Ive seen your video on the breath method and it the way I always try to smoke now. I will try to teach her as well, but I need to take it one step at a time :)
Thanks Chris for another great video! I also like to smoke my tobacco with just a touch of moisture. However, I prefer to dry it bowl by bowl. I use a very simple method. In the morning before I leave for work I take a bowl full amount of the blend and spread it out on a napkin. If it is really wet I spread it out thin and leave it uncovered. If just a bit wet I pile it and then cover with another napkin. When I get home I am good to go. Take care and be well. Bob
The most of pipe tobacco,I suggest to use "boveda "2ways humidity pack 62%. (I'm living in Taiwan-TAIPEI CITY，a island city of a country,wetter than London,all the season are over 70% humidity )
Yep...my tobacco is wet though my brother complained that it's dry. Had to relit my pipe several times to finish a bowl. Kinda get that breathing method you showed, though my brother is smoking his pipe like smoking a cigarette....to each their own way of enjoying it. For me, I found that drinking coffee while smoking makes the coffee taste heavenly. On my next pipe sitting I'll be ready with a pot of coffee instead of a small mug. Happy piping everyone.
That's a nice video, thank you! Well, I dry my tobacco quite like this. I just use kleenex-like towel instead, I found out that kleenex is a bit more sensitive in holding moisture and in the end of the process you can acctually feel the moist in the paper. Ah, it is important that kleenex comes with smell sometimes, like balsam or so, but it is easy to find the ones without it. Have a nice pipe day ;)
17 years of daily pipe smoking taught me to choose wisely the perfect blends... And that is my advice, pipe smokers become experts through trail and error, eventually they will know which brand and what leaf to smoke. And you know, few drops of moisture in the bowl won't hurt anyone, it is a sign that your pipe is alive and needs some attention. Until the next vid, ta ta. Z.
I pulled out some Mac Baren Bold Kentucky and thought I would be able to smoke it within reason. Then you said "hours" to dry and I just reached for a cigar as I don't wanna wait that long lol. Seriously though, to do this in bulk when your tins/bags arrive is best then it will be ready to smoke out the jar instead of having to dry it every dang time. Usually I just put it on a dry paper towel and let it sit out if I though ahead a day in advance and it is almost crunchy. Thanks for the informative video.
What a coincidance, Chris... I actually dealt with this problem this past weekend...Got myself a sample of S.G. Grousemoor, put it right in my pipe and struggled to keep it going while getting a major toungue bite in the process... Next time I let it sit for a couple of hours to exactly the point that you described in this video and got a lot more pleasurable experience! Then I decided to check my other tobaccos that I keep in jar bowls with a little piece of moistered cloth and learned most of them are just a way too wet to be smoked right away. So, yeah, I get your point about that "almost too dry" kind of a feeling when testing the right level for smoking. Thank you for this vid my friend, hope you have a good day!
Hi Chris, I wonder you could help... I've been having a hard time keeping my pipes lit... I know it may be many things and it might be hard to tell on-line but may be not... I must keep making one mistake that just shuts my pipes down no matter the kind of tobacco, moisture, smoking rythm, intensity, loading,... I believed moisture was the problem so I even dried the tobacco in the even so it was completely dry, smoked it really slow, got it burn nice and smooth, yet had to relight ten times to get through 2/3 filled mid-size bowl... For full bowl I usually need more than 15 relights... The scenario is always the same - I get a nice smooth, even cool smoke, feels like heaven and the suddenly after cca two minutes "bang" gone... No warning, no signs it's gonna die on me. It drives me nuts😤😃 It happens everytime. I don't get more than five minutes no matter how well I care to keep it going. That means including proper tamping - not too hard nor too little. I can't see how one can do with just one or two relights😃. Any idea what I may be doing wrong? Thanks in advance, Chris...
Zdeněk Jouza ok, I want you to watch 2 of my videos named "How to smoke a pipe, a step by step tutorial 1 & 2" do exactly how I say to do it, then let me know if you still have trouble. 👍👍👍
What I do if I am not happy by feeling the tobacco, I lay the tobacco out in the sun for 30 minutes..sometimes longer... I know, I know, I am drying tobacco, but that is how...first step...in moisture control. Then I take a really good spray bottle that has a true must setting. I fill it with spring water and I spray a mist that falls gently down onto the spread tobacco ( paper towel as the bed) when I see the tobacco take on a sheen pleasant to my eye, I mix the tobacco up nice, then spray again. Then I fold the paper towel up and over the tobacco, Pat it gently and return the tobacco to it's pouch.let sit for 30 minutes, an hour, even over night. I first test a pinch of it in my pipe. It should burn at this time,although moist. After just a few times this way, you will know at first feel if your new tobacco is just right for you or not. Heck, with a burly Tobacco, you can add a drop or two of your favorite juice in that water..I prefer straight lemon juice to rehydrate tobacco, but everyone following this procedure becomes adept pretty darn quick. Thanks and keep it cool! Or when you're hot, your hot!😂
I'm a cigar smoker and with cigars relative humidity is key. You can buy two way, Boveda humidity packs from Amazon. If the desired humidity is to low, it will release the set amount. If it's too high, it will absorb the excess, again to the set % of the pack. My 1st pouch of Amphora seems pretty humid. I think I'll set a hygrometer inside the pouch for a couple hours, to see what rh it's at. You can buy Boveda packs in ranges from 80 down to 14%. Hope this helps ya'll.
Although I consider you my second mentor after Hacker (Richard), I have to disagree with you on this one. Hacker states somewhere in the Ultimate Pipe Book that the ideal moisture level for tobacco is just wet enough that it almost sticks together when you pinch it between two fingers. I find that this also brings out the flavor more. I keep a small spray bottle of water and squirt my tobacco 3x after purchase in my pouch. Dry tobacco tastes tinny and stale to me. Respectfully, Steve in Denver
Steve Sandvick - to be mentioned in the same sentence as Richard Hacker is an honor indeed ( one of my mentors as well) but as with a lot of things in life every person has a different experience doing the same activity, that's why I encouraged people to experiment, just because I think tobacco burns optimally just on the verge of being to dry, doesn't mean that's the only way to smoke tobacco, some as yourself may find that tobacco more on the wetter side is optimal for them. Thanks for the comment my friend. 😃😃😃
@@MuttnchopPiper, What you said makes sense. Everyone is different. I've just barley started smoking a pipe a month ago and I smoked some wetter tobacco this morning with my coffee... and realized that my tobacco has been too dry. I really enjoyed the cooler smoke this morning. I think I might dry it just a little bit but I didn't experience tongue bite or harsh smoke I'd been experiencing before. Thanks for your videos over the years. Your channel is like a pipe smoking encyclopedia.
Smoked a bowl of C&D Black Frigate today, had no flavor. After watching this, I went to the tin and did the crisp test, the tobacco had no crisp at all. No wonder there was no flavor. Thanks for the tip!
I have found optimal drying to be the complete key to maximal flavor. This helps a lot as I had wondered if I was drying my leaf too much. This “a little crispy” threshold seems about where I find it best. I have to emphasize that keeping an eye on the relative humidity is VERY important. A room dehumidifier is key when your natural humidity is above 75%. The month of August turns Italy where I live into one big natural humidor. Thankfully, like clockwork, as the equinox passes, old boreas come gusting in and the humidity drops to 30% at mid-day, making life much more pleasant and drying easier.
dgetzin - Thank you so much for the info, and I agree humidity does play a big part. I am picturing where you live......beautiful, I love Italy, only been once, Florence, Rome, the cinque terre, we had the time of our lives. 👍👍👍
Great! In fact, some of this landscape is uploaded to my RU-vid channel. Your channel played a part in inspiring me to start my own. It has several topics, pipes, philosophy, baking, current events. ru-vid.com/show-UCC-hs82F4rwDsIg05ntETZg It is about as eclectic as Joe Rogan. I recorded outside today because your comment made me want to share the view of the Sorrentine mountains with people. This new video and likely a few others shot in Rome will be up tomorrow. I love your content, thanks.
Had my first pipe smoke today, had to keep relighting because it was a bit damp, still enjoyed it immensely, I'll try the tips and see how things go. Smoke on brother!
Muttnchop Piper So I sorted out the moisture, drove up the mountains to a particularly beautiful viewpoint and had one of the most relaxing 30 mins of my life. Much obliged on the tips and tricks!
I learned for sure sir. Thanks a lot, I am a complete rookie and loving my learning process, is not easy to get good Tabacco where I live, I got to buy a pouch of captain black and been blaming myself and my technique because it constantly went off and off and as you just said I just kept smoking faster and faster...I am trying right now with less moisture and see if I manage to use less than 20 matches jijiji. Thanks a lot for your helpful video
I'm new to pipe smoking, got turned away by bite a couple times. I smoke cigars daily, being layed off that's getting too pricey. I've got an idea I'd like to try, I'm going to put some open container pipe tobacco in my humidor that stays at 65% humidity, I like my cigars a little below the 70%standard. Cigars have never bitten me, even when I nub them or toss the nub in a pipe and finish it...i suspect the ideal cigar humidity is near equal to pipe tobacco, especially since it's very relative to a cigar burning properly. Anyway that's my experiment and I suspect most other pipe smokers may have a running humidor as well.
Muttnchop, I really enjoy your videos, I am new to the hobby and have been learning a lot. I had a tin that came very wet, really gave me the tongue bite. So I took a Boveda pack from my cigar humidor and put it in the tin. Fits perfect. This pack was a 69%, it was swollen two weeks later with the moisture it pulled out, and the tobacco gave me a much better smoke. These packs come in 49%, 62%, 60% and 72%. They will keep the tin or jar at perfect humidity for a long time. If the pack gets too dry, you can put it in a zip lock with a wet sponge for a few days to re-hydrate it or just replace it. I was wondering if you or others had considered using these Boveda packs and what humidity level worked best.
Danny Bradwell - I don’t personally use Boveda packs, for me it’s an extra cost and more to do with a hobby that’s already high maintenance. If it’s to wet I just let it set out until I feel it’s dry enough then slap it in a canning jar. I am not sure wheat the best humidity level is for pipe tobacco, I just know that usually room temperature of about 73 degrees and stored in a cool place out of direct sunlight keeps my tobacco fresh for years. 👍👍👍
I agree with you Chris, nothing affects more the enjoyment of pipe smoking than getting your tobacco at the right moisture level and the best way to learn is to experiment with blends. Not only does it help with tongue bite, wet smoke and relighting, it will also prevent overheating, which allows to get the most flavor and nuances out of a blend. I also use a tobacco tray or paper to let it dry out but if I'm in a hurry, I will place it under a lamp to accelerate the process. Now, I've heard of people using a microwave to quickly dry out their tobacco but have never tried it myself. For those who can't find the chopper: www.amazon.com/dp/B001P5PHC0/ref=psdc_678514011_t3_B000SSZ4Q4
I had this problem with some bulk Altadis vanilla and honey I got a couple weeks ago. I'll definitely be drying this stuff out before I attempt to smoke again. :) Thanks for the video!
Hi to all just wanted to say thanks for all the help in what pipe tobacco's to buy as well what do's and don'ts , it has helped a lot. As well a big thanks to Muttnchop piper for sharing all the info of your years of pipeing , all the info was most helpful..and to all thanks for the info as well...Looking forward to reading more..happy pipeing to all.😀
One of my favorite 'evening' pipes is my Scotte bent (ebony)...(rather like a Grabow Savoy bent). Now, it's considered a low-end pipe, but it fits well, feels quality, takes a Dr Perl Jr 9-mm filter, and as I like 'bent' pipes better than others, find that for a 'bent', it smokes a really wet aromatic VERY WELL. I use the 'Father-Mother-Child' pack method, and have used the 'breathe' smoking method for years...so cool bowl throughout, good air flow, and normally, unless I lose track (while reading, writing, etc.) and stop maintaining air flow, I only need my two lights (charring and final)...it will keep a 'wet bowl' fired for over an hour, easy...my one problem is my Dr. Perl Jr filters...I have to change filters after EVERY BOWL...the stuff I smoke is just that wet! There's nothing I can really do about it...when you pull the stem, and your filter feels like a cotton ball pulled from a pool strainer, well...it's time for a new filter. I don't have this issue with your drier (aka English or traditional) blends...but my love is aromatics (Backwoods Buttered Rum is AMAZING!)...and I guess I'm out a filter-per-bowl as a result of my 'flavored aromatic passions'...oh, well...house smells NICE...
To put a figure on it around 12-14% moisture is a good guide. You can use a moisture meter (the same kind to test moisture levels of logs before burning in a stove) to check your tobacco in the tin. Otherwise good old instinct and trial and error. 👍
"where the tobacco needs to be?" "nearly too dry" In cigar world this problem was solved ages ago. There are these humidors, and hygrometers to monitor how our collection is doing and we only need to add, remove, recharge or change some Boveda packs. Why can't we use that here? I am just going to try a pipe soon, I got 2 winter blends, my very firs pipe ( a Peterson Ebony Spigot Fishtail XL11) is on it's way, and I am looking things up, but this I can't understand. With my cigar, I went from 65, to 69 and now I am at 75% and this works just fine for me. Why can't we just have or use something like that for pipes?
This was a wonderfully constructed video and very thought provoking. I was always wondering if using my wife's hair blower was appropriate to dry my tobacco if wet. I sometimes use magnifying glasses to crisp the tobacco in a pinch... have you ever tried this method? Also, does the size of the pipe really matter when smoking a specific blend? This could be a great topic for a future video. I usually smoke a 4 inch billiard for my arros and a 3.5 inch poker for my flakes. Is this ok to do? Hopefully you can address this. Keep on trucken!
Heyyy Muttnchop Piper Chris how you doing my friend I love this video very informative I myself take my tobacco and sit it out on a plate before filling my bowl and let it dry for a while then I fill my pipe and smoke it that usually work for me I dry mine bowl buy bowl as I smoke it your method is very gd to as well Chris Happy smoking my friend☺☺☺☺💨💨💨💨👍👍👍👍 best regards Peter
VERY helpful! I enjoy aromatics and they all seem to be way too moist. I'm just starting out since giving up cigarettes ( just don't want it in my lungs anymore ), but I enjoy a smoke and discovered I get a lot of enjoyment and relaxation with a pipe that I never did with cigarettes. But I digress, anyway; I do seem to have to relight a lot and get gurgling despite having a pretty slow cadence, except when it goes out most of the time.
Its way cooler. I see your comment was from 5 years ago. Still quit ? I quit about 4 years ago, I dipped for a couple months just out of bordem and now gonna move to pipe.
Firstly, thanks a lot for your work and effort that you put into these videos! You’re really making our pipes more enjoyable. However, I can’t entirely agree with your view on this point. I smoke Peterson Wild Atlantic now. When I just opened the package, it was of a nice moisture level, still much wetter than the optimal level you describe. After some time, it became drier, as you said, on the verge of complete dryness. Now my pipe gets too hot when I smoke it. In addition, I smoked some aromatics which were a lot wetter, but gave a cooler, more pleasant smoke. I guess, like most things, it’s quite individual and depends on various factors: pipe, climate, temperature and most importantly, the tobacco itself. By the way, what’s your favourite tobacco?
I keep it on a small tin over night. But my favorite is to pack the bowl wet, and smoke it the next day. Chewy is what I shoot for, like bacon. Not undercooked and soggy, not overcooked and crispy. Chewy, just perfect.
I usually just set some out somewhere warm until it feels like it's not wet to the touch anymore, then put it in a sealed bag (like a ziplock or something) and put it back in a warm spot for a while. helps make sure its dried evenly throughout and not still wet in the middle.
Hi, I am a beginner, I find your channel very enlightening and would like to thank for the great videos! I personally would like a video about general maintenance and storage issues. What I mean is, should the pipe be kept in a closed container to keep the moisture out; should it be aerated outdoors for a while after being smoked; how much time interval is found to be appropriate between two smoking sessions without cleaning your pipe; is it harmful to keep it outdoors for several hours; should some pieces of napkin be placed in the bowl to keep the moisture out after smoking; what temperature is found to be good for the pipe; how does cold/hot conditions affect it, etc. Best regards from İstanbul, Turkey and thanks in advance.
Sir, I went over these videos again after your comment, but with all respect, it does not quite seem like i found what i'm looking for. I would like to stress that my concern focuses mainly on the storage issues when not smoking.
Ufuk Ulusan - Answer to your first question, no, do not put your pipe in a container, after you smoke it and clean it let it set out in the open air on a shelf in your home to dry. For at least 24 Hours before smoking it again. Second question, no, putting the pipe on a shelf in your home is sufficient, it will dry usually within 24 hours 3rd question, no, I smoke 3 bowls a day, dumping the ash and sweeping the ash away that from the walls with a pipe cleaner, then send a pipe cleaner down through the stem to the bowl, I usually use 3 in this manner between each smoke, then I do a daily cleaning at the end of the day and let it rest for 24 hours before smoking it again. Question 4 there is no need to take your pipe outside to dry, it won't dry any faster, just put it on a shelf and wait 24 hours. Question 5 no, don't put paper towel, or a rag or anything like that to soak up the moisture, if there is excessive moisture fold a pipe cleaner in half and dab the moisture until it is removed, then set it on a shelf and let it dry for 24 hours. 👍👍👍
Well I have tried over time to like the pipe smoking and the first tobacco I found that I was liking was causing these problems. I wanted to smoke now even after seeing your video so I accelerated the process by spreading some tobacco out on a pan and evenly heating the bottom while I watched the steam come off it I was carful not to burn it just dry it. About 5 minutes later here I am smoking and it’s already better and staying lit much better all around I’m still not switching from cigars but I’m now balancing both but leaning more towards cigars
My tobacco has to be too wet. I have just whale on the pipe, still goes out, major tongue burn. I have a tin of frog Morton on the pond that I will be drying over night. Thanks once again for the great advice!
I believe Sam Gawith intentionally wets their tobacco while actually selling less than is actually in the tin, using excessive moisture to make up for the missing tobacco
For some reason used tobacco works good for me. I'm kind of on the cheap and would never waste a drop of whiskey. I randomly had an idea of trying some week old used charred / semi smoked tobacco in my pipe and was amazed how well it burned. It lit easy and burned a good twenty minutes with no relights. No problem with flavor or room notes. I've been toasting my tobacco in small batches ever since. I just store the un toasted in the pouch or tin it comes in. Weird, though. Because I like my cigars more on the squishy damp side. By the way, I've seen some nice metal serving strays at my dollar shops for $1. Deffently looks and feels more expensive. Its amazing what can be found at these dollar shops, even name brand products.
I didn't read all of the comments, but I imagine boveda packs would be perfect for getting the tobacco at a perfect humidity level every time. I use Boveda packs for my cigars.
I just tried the 62 and they make it too wet. I can’t tell if they also absorbed some of the flavor (I smoke non-aro). The tobacco seems fine if I then dry it, but I have heard others note that the 58 is preferred, so I may try that next.
