Okay, here’s my question. If plug can be smoked and chewed, couldn’t you smoke loose chewing tobacco too, like a pouch of Red Man? Or is the process completely different? Though it’s a shame I didn’t know you could smoke plug untill recently since I haven’t bought one in almost two years.
First things first, there are at least two different types of plug tobacco. For the sake of clarity, I will refer to them as “pipe tobacco plug” and “chewing tobacco plug.” Pipe tobacco plug is basically flake tobacco that hasn’t been cut yet. Once you slice some off, it is the same as regular flake, and can be smoked as is. Chewing tobacco plug (the type commonly sold in America, thinks Days Work, Bloodhound, Black Maria, etc.) is made to be chewed. It is very moist, sticky and sweet due to being cased with molasses or other sweeteners. It is possible to smoke this, but it requires a fair amount of drying out, and really doesn’t taste all that good. In the old days, it was fairly common (particularly for farmers and other rural folk) to chew a plug of tobacco, let it dry out overnight, and then smoke the remains in a pipe. I wouldn’t advise doing this, but it can be done. I made an attempt, in my misspent youth, to smoke some Days of Work plug. It worked, but it was horribly sweet and overwhelming strong, and was hard to keep lit.
To answer your original question, though, yes I suppose you could dry out some Red Man and smoke it in a pipe. I’m not sure why you would want to though.
okay. Thanks alot for the info. I didn’t know there were two different types of plugs. I don’t particularly want to smoke RedMan or the like, especially when Captain Black is $3 a pouch here, but it was just a thought that popped into my head.
Captain Black (one of personal favorites) is now over $8 here. I guess it’s time to find another brand.
Eight bucks for CB?! Wow, yeah, that’s ridiculous, dude.
Some of us older folks (40+) were actually just now talking about this very subject in a pipe forum… I’ve actually smoked and on occasion, enjoy smoking Days O’ Work in a cob… as tybalt said, it takes some preparation and time… My preferred method is to slice the moist plug as thin as possible lengthwise, and then, take sharp scissors to it cutting it across the grain… (leave the wrapper leaf on it as I think this adds something to the flavor, but ymmv) I then break up the cube cut pieces lightly so that it has maximum surface area to dry and lay it out exposed to air till it is very dry to the touch. I like to roll it around during the drying process so it dries evenly… Then simply gravity fill it into a nice cob pipe. I usually let it set out all day… in the sun if possible… Two days may help be even more smokeable… I get a very sweet Virginia/burley blend with a decent spiciness but not had any tongue bite from it… It also supplies a pretty decent nicotine dose as well. Definitely not for every piper out there… But its a nice way to get in touch with really old school style pipe smoking. Also, a single flake worth of Days 'O Work, once processed will gravity fill two MM Legend cob pipes. It smokes nice and slow like a regular flake also. And I can get a 2oz plug for 4.95 and one plug makes alot of slices. Again, all this is said keeping in mind that YMMV… as far as redman, and the like… I really have no clue. Never tried it.
You can also test, with those plugs, the theory that snuff is the greatest common denominator .
(I would have said lowest common denominator but I tend to side with logic over math.)
Most chew is sweet and gooey ,if you like that sort of thing. All you need is a good herb grinder and a sharp knife .Cut plug into small cubes leave out for a couple hours. Grind it up and fill a cob or a clay then have a nice day.My Briers are strictly for non-gooey tobacco!
I’m pretty sure that you could smoke Cotton Boll in a pipe, and I’m pretty sure it would OWN your ass.
BUMP So I’m getting too curious for my own good. I’m letting a wad of Beech Nut that I was chewing on dry out to smoke. I’m allowed at least one stupid move a week I’d say, so I guess this’ll be it. lol
*shrugs* thats how it was done in the old days… No guts no glory… tell us how it goes!
I smoke Cotton Boll & Mammoth Cave Twist. I slice it into disks escudo style. Lotsa vitamin N there. You get used to it. @-)
Verdict: Beech Nut chewing tobacco, after it’s already been chewed and dried, is actually pretty similar in taste to Prince Albert, but different enough to know it’s definitely not PA.
Intriquing! I tried to do King B sweet cut into discs… and couldn’t get it to stay lit… Had alittle better luck with Day’s O’ Work Plug, but still pretty difficult… I’ll have to give Mammoth Cave and Cotton Boll a try… Are they natural or sweet and does it make a difference in smokablilty?
they’re both natural. they burn easier if you let them air dry a bit.