Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: What is a recommended or allowable use-by date of pipe tobaccos?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    3

    Default What is a recommended or allowable use-by date of pipe tobaccos?

    Hi, folks,
    I am new to this forum. I was a pipe smoker up to 20 years ago and am a birthday-only cigar smoker since then. Yesterday I happed to find a sack that is made of fabric and is containing some my old pipes and a 50-gram plastic bag of Captain Black GOLD. It must be more than 20 years since it was produced, but the tobacco smells nice, looks as it was and is containig some moistness. I am curious as to why the tobacco has been keeping it's original flavor and the moistness for such the long time. Is it harmful for me to try smoking this aged tobacco?

    Thanks,
    masaki

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Welcome to the forum. I'd smoke it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
    Posts
    6,816
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by masaki View Post
    Is it harmful for me to try smoking this aged tobacco?
    No.
    TBSCigars - "On Holiday"
    Grammar - It's the difference between knowing your crap and knowing you're crap.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    New England-GO Red Sox's!
    Posts
    2,610
    Blog Entries
    26

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by masaki View Post
    Hi, folks,
    I am new to this forum. I was a pipe smoker up to 20 years ago and am a birthday-only cigar smoker since then. Yesterday I happed to find a sack that is made of fabric and is containing some my old pipes and a 50-gram plastic bag of Captain Black GOLD. It must be more than 20 years since it was produced, but the tobacco smells nice, looks as it was and is containig some moistness. I am curious as to why the tobacco has been keeping it's original flavor and the moistness for such the long time. Is it harmful for me to try smoking this aged tobacco?

    Thanks,
    masaki
    Why don't you smoke it and do a live review for the board. It will be intersting and you would be the first and if anything happens there will be someone to call the EMT's.






    http://www.cmt.com/videos/eric-churc...le-smoke.jhtml?

    "Do this...go to Google and type in "Dumbass that can't take a hint"...notice the picture of a big feller in his Moms kitchen with a can of Wannabe RockStar on his man boob...Hey, that's you!" TheGreekTitan





    May God grant us the wisdom to discover right, the will to


    choose it, and the strength


    to make it endure










  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thank you very much for the suggestions.
    I challenged smoking the tobacco in question today. The physical characteristics of the tobacco seems almost same as before. I had no difficulties in stuffing them into the bowl and igniting. I enjoyed smoking it for a few minutes in my backyard garden until I found a tree infected by termites.
    It has been six hours since I smoked the 20-year old tobacco, but I am OK as of yet.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    New England-GO Red Sox's!
    Posts
    2,610
    Blog Entries
    26

    Default

    hummmmmmm it's been a few days.....he should of filmed it






    http://www.cmt.com/videos/eric-churc...le-smoke.jhtml?

    "Do this...go to Google and type in "Dumbass that can't take a hint"...notice the picture of a big feller in his Moms kitchen with a can of Wannabe RockStar on his man boob...Hey, that's you!" TheGreekTitan





    May God grant us the wisdom to discover right, the will to


    choose it, and the strength


    to make it endure










  7. #7

    Default

    Not that this thread is relevant anymore, but clearly there was no answer given. Aromatic tobaccos (those heavily flavored) rarely age much and, if they age at all, never well. Burleys tend to get a little bitter with age. Latakia flattens out and becomes more musky (which I don't always mind). But Virginias and Perique are must-age tobaccos. It does have to be in an airtight container, a tin or jar, but if that had been a VaPer blend that had been aging in a tin or jar for 20 years, you would have one incredibly tasty tobacco on your hands. Also, a 20-year-aged VA or VaPer would be worth big bucks on eBay. I saw a tin of Bell's Three Nuns sell for $400 on eBay. That's a lot of cigars and pipe tobacco!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TommyTree View Post
    Not that this thread is relevant anymore, but clearly there was no answer given. Aromatic tobaccos (those heavily flavored) rarely age much and, if they age at all, never well. Burleys tend to get a little bitter with age. Latakia flattens out and becomes more musky (which I don't always mind). But Virginias and Perique are must-age tobaccos. It does have to be in an airtight container, a tin or jar, but if that had been a VaPer blend that had been aging in a tin or jar for 20 years, you would have one incredibly tasty tobacco on your hands. Also, a 20-year-aged VA or VaPer would be worth big bucks on eBay. I saw a tin of Bell's Three Nuns sell for $400 on eBay. That's a lot of cigars and pipe tobacco!
    Huh? I see your opinions on pipe tobacco, which we all appreciate, but where did you answer his specific question? You know, the part immediately preceding the little ? thingy. I do see one pointed and brief answer though.

  9. #9

    Default

    Well, I guess the answer's in there, but only if you already know about pipe tobacco. Doh!

    Captain Black's an aromatic, so it won't age much at all in airtight conditions. In a pouch, which is far from airtight, it will dry out like crazy after probably 3-6 months. With that many years, it should be crackly. Once it gets that dry, it'll never taste like a fresh pouch. You can smoke it still, though. It might not taste good, but it's not dangerous. Best ways to rehydrate are to spray it lightly with distilled water, leave it in a humidor (optical humidity for pipe tobacco is about 30%) or pack it and then breathe gently into the pipe.

    So ashauler, have I answered the question sufficiently now?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TommyTree View Post
    Well, I guess the answer's in there, but only if you already know about pipe tobacco. Doh!

    Captain Black's an aromatic, so it won't age much at all in airtight conditions. In a pouch, which is far from airtight, it will dry out like crazy after probably 3-6 months. With that many years, it should be crackly. Once it gets that dry, it'll never taste like a fresh pouch. You can smoke it still, though. It might not taste good, but it's not dangerous. Best ways to rehydrate are to spray it lightly with distilled water, leave it in a humidor (optical humidity for pipe tobacco is about 30%) or pack it and then breathe gently into the pipe.

    So ashauler, have I answered the question sufficiently now?
    His question was, "Is it harmful for me to try smoking this aged tobacco? " This type of question would usually get a yes/no/maybe type of answer. My thought, and CC86's answer, is no. I'm guessing that from your statement that "You could still smoke it though." one could infer that it would not be harmful. So, I guess you did answer it.

    The question in the thread title was, "What is a recommended or allowable use-by date of pipe tobaccos?" I didn't answer this one, because, truthfully, I don't really know if there is such a thing, and suspect that it depends on the type of tobacco, etc.....which is pretty much what you said, with more elaboration.

    The issue I have is with your statement that "clearly no answer was given", which is incorrect.

  11. Default

    Point taken. I'll be more careful with my blanket statements in the future.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TommyTree View Post
    ... In a pouch, which is far from airtight, it will dry out like crazy after probably 3-6 months...
    No, it will not dry out no matter how long the tobacco is left in the pouch as long as the relative humidity of the air is not 0%. The moisture content of the tobacco will decrease down to an equilibrium state with the surrounding air as time goes by. For example, wood's equilibrium moisture content(EMC) is 5.4% for the surrounding air's relative humidity 25%. I live in Japan and my room's average humidity in early Oct must be around 50%. I have no idea about the EMC of tobacco, but EMC of woold for 50% relative humidity is 9.5%. But, I felt the tobacco was more wet than 9.5%. I thought the tabacco has been soaked with some water absorbing agent such as glycerin.

    Masaki

  13. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by masaki View Post
    But, I felt the tobacco was more wet than 9.5%. I thought the tabacco has been soaked with some water absorbing agent such as glycerin.

    Masaki
    That would most likely be propylene glycol, which is found in many lower-quality aromatics. That could keep your tobacco moist for a long time, but many smokers choose to avoid tobacco that uses it, as it can goop up your pipes. It's probably safe to smoke, even after many years, but I don't know if time has any impact on how it tastes.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    The GPS lady says im lost
    Posts
    1,994

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by masaki View Post
    Thank you very much for the suggestions.
    I challenged smoking the tobacco in question today. The physical characteristics of the tobacco seems almost same as before. I had no difficulties in stuffing them into the bowl and igniting. I enjoyed smoking it for a few minutes in my backyard garden until I found a tree infected by termites.
    It has been six hours since I smoked the 20-year old tobacco, but I am OK as of yet.
    So aged pipe tobacco attracts termites.
    designated whipping boy for the grammar police
    Just run everything threw a spell checker.

  15. #15

    Default

    Very true!!

  16. #16

    Default

    When I was selling pipes and tobacco a few decades ago, there was a suggested storage time for bagged tobacco---I think it was around 2 years. I've smoked tobacco that was 20 years old and the only problem I've ever had with old tobacco is that it sometimes gets somewhat dry-which could be a good thing for some of the Captain Blacks. The last pipe I had was filled with 3-4 year old tobacco.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •