Just a quick question about pipe tobacco storage… I very rarely smoke my pipe, but it’s a treat and something I really enjoy when I get round to it. I’ve probably only smoked 5 bowls full since I started and have tried two types of tobacco. I was keeping them in their original packaging (one that was similar to the kind of pack rolling tobacco comes in, and one that was simply a rolled up bag with tobacco in the bottom) and in a clik-loc box. I got the box out earlier for the first time in two or three months and the tobacco was bone dry. What’s the best way to store pipe tobacco so that I can occasionally smoke a bowl? I’d probably get through 25grams in 6 months at the rate I’ve been smoking, is it just inevitable that it’s going to dry out over such a time period? I don’t really want to shell out for some nice baccy and then have it go dry on me.
Put it in jars, the type with the plug tops. They are rather cheap and keep things airtight. Also the longer you keep it “cellared” the better it will get.
I use ball canning jars. In a dark place. It works wonders have had some for over two years. The best part is the tobacco dries out just the right amount and stays that way seemingly forever. Definatly agree with the ageing thing. In fact I have one blend I hated when I bought it now it’s mind blowingly good. Actualy got really good in about a month.
Yep, canning jars are the ticket. And like money in the bank (those few who have such a thing) the more you’ve got cellared the more secure and happy you’ll feel.
definatly. There is also nothing sadder then running out of a favorite blend. 
Good bye to the Allegro.
I store my tobacco in mason jars.
Yes glass, not plastic. Air tight! There is a point in time where the tobacco uses up all the air. Pipe tobacco loves aging in that condition.
I can’t stress how much better a tobacco that has been aged is. It’s really amazing.
Not all pipe tobacco blends benefit from aging, or at least not to the same extent. Usually, it’s the blends that are mostly Virginia leaf that age the best. Aging doesn’t seem to affect Burleys quite as dramatically, although there are exceptions, like the 20-year-old Kentucky (fire-cured Burley) in G. L. Pease Cumberland. Don’t waste time and cellar space trying to age an aromatic. That’s a fool’s errand.
Mason jars in a cellar, but any dark, cool place will work, remember temp fluctuations, heat, and light promotes the growth of bacteria which can cause you tobac to go bad. I also remember reading somewhere that pipe tobacco ages best at around 55-70 degrees (which just so happens to be the avg temp of a cellar) and aging does drastically improve most blends. I won’t smoke any McClelland blend that hasn’t been aged at least a year.
Actually mold is much more of a problem than bacteria. And the most crucial factor is storage in airtight containers. A dark and cool place is good, too, but it won’t help at all if your containers leak air.
Any opinions on cellaring in the refrigerator?
Pipe tobacco doesn’t really need to be stored in the fridge, and there’s a much better chance of mold jumping from a food item into your tobacco, if your containers aren’t perfectly airtight. I wouldn’t recommend it. A closet or cellar is probably better. Heck, even a cardboard box will do.
Agreed, storing pipe tobacco in the fridge is not a good idea, a carboard box in the closet would be better, and if your low on closet space you can even store it in a box under your bed.
Thanks guys for the info. It’s just that things get pretty hot and dry around here in summer. But I can find someplace cool dark. Glad I asked.
Man I disagree about the aromatics. Sunset breeze by petersons taste good from the tin but it’s got a bite from hell. Put a match out on your tongue to get an idea of what the bite is like. After about a month it’s wonderfull smooth with no bite.
Also aromatics do require proper storage even if not for aging. I would also recommend an environment that does not have too much temperature fluctuation. If the location is exposed to daytime heating etc. you can use a styrofoam cooler to moderate.
When you talk about aging pipe tobacco, you’re talking years, not months. And yes, I agree, all pipe tobaccos need to be stored properly, even if you’re not aging them.
All my pipe tobaccos are in their own jar (not a jar full of bags) with a paper label. I keep them out on a shelf that gets some sunlight, but not much.
@Pike Mopers: Storing it there is alright as long as its the tobacco your smoking not ageing, as you will probably end up smoking it all before it has a chance to go bad. But I wouldn’t age tobacco for years on that shelf. You should always keep some of your tobacco in smaller jars for smoking as you don’t want to keep opening your ageing jars(this defeats the purpose of ageing) you want to leave them alone for as long as possible. Also I’ve found tinned tobacco ages better when moved to a jar because the vacuum-sealed enviroment that keeps it fresh, impedes the ageing process.