I seen this quoted reply below to another opening thread about Toque Absinthe getting dry ( I rarely use it…but that one I do have in original tin and may have dried out. ) That’s what made me start this OT.
To answer your long lost quire, sure hydrate if it keeps it out of your lungs. a drop of water should be enough if not add another drop let sit for a period 5-10 minutes give it a good shake let sit a few more minutes then try.
What are the technique/s you utilize to hydrate a snuff? I have never hydrated any snuff. I do have 90% of my snuff stash ( collection ) decanted into airtight glass bottles of one sort or another. My dozen or so USA brands are in original tubs ( USA brands were first ones I purchased locally over 5 months ago. ) I doubt USA brands need hydration. But certainly sometime soon, I will come across a snuff that needs hydration. I can think of one right now… SWS FIELD OF JUNIPER…successive orders just came to me in mail dryer than my first moist order when it first came to market. How do you hydrate your snuff ? Are there methods that work better for different grinds ?
I wouldn’t recommend hydrating toques. They don’t react well to it for some reason. If you do though, use pure water. Tap water will ruin the smell of your snuff.
Forgot to say. I just drop 1-2 droplets of pure water in to the smash box, close it, and shake like crazy. Leave for 12-24hrs for the moisture to even spread.
@basement_shaman turned me on to a great method, you take a small bottlecap or something that will fit in your tin and fill it with water, put it in the middle of the tin, close the cap, open it again in a week and the water has evaporated into the snuff evenly hydrating it.
Sometimes if I want to hydrate snuff that has sat in a snuffbox or smashbox for some days, i put the open boxes in small airtight container, wet a paper towel with distilled water, put it over the top of container and snap the container lid on. Let sit overnight, and then next morning the paper towel is dry and the snuff is perfect. Shake the boxes and you’re good to go.
There are many ways to hydrate snuff,and many mediums to use. Distilled water, coffee,teas or there used bags, fresh mint leaves or other fresh herbs,cut flowers, liquid smoke, hydrosols, oils,Butter Ghee, alcohol extracts[like almond and others] fresh fruit,rinds of fruit, oily coffee beans , jelly’s, candy and moist bubble gum. Other plain moist snuff. Any thing that has moisture in it; dry snuff will absorb You can add drops, Atomize and spray, osmosis by indirect contact, shake, stir, steam, Place in bathroom while taking a hot shower, The damp towel over a jar,a bottle lid as horus92 mentioned. You just have to select the medium you want to use for the snuff to be hydrated. A little moisture goes a long way, it better to have less then too much. Best of luck!
I saw a youtube video by Tim Geering (www.youtube.com/user/Milverton68) talking about snuffs and he said to put the snuff in a Tupperware or similar container (empty the tin/tins of snuff into the container) and place a small cup, he said an egg cup, in the middle of the container, then wet some paper towels or thick tissues and place them in the egg cup and close the lid of the container. Leave it overnight and test the snuff in the morning and if it’s not moist enough leave it for longer.
make me think of my Pops. He was a Copenhagen man. He’d take a fresh can, open and pour in some Mogen David sweet kosher wine. No accounting for taste.
I’ve just used my stove top coffee maker. It’s done a wonderful job. Place snuff in the coffee holder and placed boiled water into the reservoir. Then sit the coffee holder into the reservoir for a few minutes. The steam from the water travels up the coffee holder and lightly permeates the snuff. I’ve just applied the method to my box of Tom Buck which for me is too dry and goes straight to my lungs no matter how gently I snuff. It’s worked a treat.
I’m still partial to Boveda humidi-paks in a tupperware container with an open tin of snuff. I do like the video and the insight from everyone else. I might have to try the bottle cap tek sometime. Thank you for posting the video.
Great video, I hydrated some snuff once by putting the snuff in a clean ceramic cereal bowl and placed a moist paper towel over the top of the bowl. About 3 hours later the paper towel was dry and the snuff was really moist. There was only about 5 grams of snuff in the bowl and I’ll admit it was homemade snuff (finely ground dry pipe tobacco) but this method worked really well.
Another nice video @Gewie. I can see the point of distilled water if your tap H2O has chlorine or other such chemicals. I have well water so this would be an unnecessary step. Any minerals would be left behind in the water container since they would not evaporate. Also seems it might be easier to just buy distilled water. If I need such a thing it comes from my dehumidifier. Not to be ingested though because of possible bacteria. (which could be eliminated by boiling) Good technique.
I agree with jpsavage @Gewie. I did learn a good bit from your video such as how to distill water on the stove top. Very smart! It does seem like its twice distilled though, since the moisture is only reaching the snuff via evaporation anyway. I use the bottle cap method pretty routinely, but just with fresh tap water. The advantage I could see of using stove top distilled is that you could add it to the snuff directly and immediately (carefully so as not to cause clumping) rather than wait a day for it to be absorbed. Anyway, great tips for anyone to borrow. Keep up the good work!
@Xander good point I guess I’m just trying out different things to see what works, I’ve also used normal water and it seems to produce a similar result. Anyway just started a snuff of the week section so best make sure it’s uploaded properly Take care
The only real problem with tap water as I see it is that the chlorine in it evaporates fairly rapidly, and if closed inside container could be absorbed by the snuff. All it would take to correct this would be to place in open container overnight and let the chlorine dissipate on own.
@stogie As stated: I have well water. This is water pumped from the ground by my own personal well. Certainly have no reason to add chemicals to it. May have a few minerals which are no concern. (and it makes great beer) Been drinking it for 50+ years.
I guess I’m just trying out different things to see what works, I’ve also used normal water and it seems to produce a similar result. Anyway just started a snuff of the week section so best make sure it’s uploaded properly