Basma gone bad

[stdly]

I usually shred 1/3 of pound at a time and store it in these jars for blending.
So far I hadn't had and problems with spoilage.
I went to blend a new batch and noticed the Basma jar was filled with grey mould.
I shredded it back in May along with a few others and have used it a couple times since.
It was a half pound and the case was the driest of all the baccys I shredded.
Not sure what happened?

 

[deluxestogie]

S.S. Block, 1953.

I would guess that cured tobacco is between cheese and wood. Mold spores are ubiquitous. The only control we have is humidity and available nutrients. The nutrients (mostly carbohydrates) in tobacco vary by variety and curing method. So that means that all we can do is keep the humidity low--at least below 76% RH. It's better to store tobacco too dry than too moist. Shredded tobacco can be easily rehydrated with a mist of water.

Bob

 

[3437]

Maybe put a humidity pack inside the jars,then you can relax & forget about them.

 

[stdly]

Maybe put a humidity pack inside the jars,then you can relax & forget about them.

Maybe not a bad idea I'm guessing Boveda I wonder what humidity to buy?

 

[stdly]

S.S. Block, 1953.

I would guess that cured tobacco is between cheese and wood. Mold spores are ubiquitous. The only control we have is humidity and available nutrients. The nutrients (mostly carbohydrates) in tobacco vary by variety and curing method. So that means that all we can do is keep the humidity low--at least below 76% RH. It's better to store tobacco too dry than too moist. Shredded tobacco can be easily rehydrated with a mist of water.

Bob

Thanks Bob.
Now I am worried about the rest I have shredded.

 

[deluxestogie]

Just let it dry. It's in jars, so it can't be damaged accidentally.

Bob

 

[stdly]

Just let it dry. It's in jars, so it can't be damaged accidentally.

Bob

Okie dokie will make sure the case is drier from now on, can't afford spoilage.
The air cured baccys come with warnings about mold but i have had any issues with the dark air I shredded at the same time and the Maryland shredded a couple months ago.
The only difference is the Basma I shredded everything, the Dark air and the Maryland I went through carefully and removed the stems and any suspect spots that were very few.
Maybe there was some moist stems in the Basama that causes a chain reaction, the mold is all through it now. I don't know much about mold try to steer clear.
I haven't opened the jar yet worried about mold getting out will take it out to the fire pit empty it and then sterilize the lid and jar.
Another reason I am worried I just ordered a pound of Krumovgrad B2 and don't want to make the same mistake I guess the best would be to only shred what I need each time.

 

[deluxestogie]

Just remember that no pure tobacco should be stored as squishy as any commercial pipe tobacco.

Bob

 

[burge]

I usually shred 1/3 of pound at a time and store it in these jars for blending.
So far I hadn't had and problems with spoilage.
I went to blend a new batch and noticed the Basma jar was filled with grey mould.
I shredded it back in May along with a few others and have used it a couple times since.
It was a half pound and the case was the driest of all the baccys I shredded.
Not sure what happened?

Leave tobacco in the vapor proof bags tobacco does not go bad when you need it just mist with water its the best way to store tobacco

 

[3437]

Maybe not a bad idea I'm guessing Boveda I wonder what humidity to buy?

I would go for somewhere between 60-65%.8 gram pack works up to 28g/1oz of leaf,put the pack in your jar & put the lid on.
If you don't open the jar that often,the pack would probably last years.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Just remember that no pure tobacco should be stored as squishy as any commercial pipe tobacco.

Bob

This is what I’m struggling with; how to “create” my own “commercial” blend. I topped dry leaf ( home grown, cured, fermented) with Watkins vanilla (had glycerin, not PG), let it sit until dry, or consistency of commercial, stored in mason jars, and a month and half later it had mold. Still can’t figure out what went wrong.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

This is what I’m struggling with; how to “create” my own “commercial” blend. I topped dry leaf ( home grown, cured, fermented) with Watkins vanilla (had glycerin, not PG), let it sit until dry, or consistency of commercial, stored in mason jars, and a month and half later it had mold. Still can’t figure out what went wrong.

I just looked up Watkins vanilla ingredients. There are several different products, but they all have water as the main ingredient, and glycerine as the third. That's probably the issue.

I had black cavendish which was 2.5% glycerin begin to grow white mold after about a year. I picked out the worst of it, rinsed the tobacco, dried it in the oven, and added whiskey. There is no noticeable mold taste.

Generally, in regular mold situations, it's green. Green is worse tasting. It can't be washed, and it can't be covered up.

 

[deluxestogie]

If you want squish without mold, just use PG.

Bob

 

[GWLee]

Just curious, I shredded some 3 lbs each of Basma and Samsun a couple of weeks ago, along with numerous lbs of others such as burley, VA, etc, about 20 lbs total. Let it all air dry till it would not pack in my hands (only way I can gauge low case / moisture content) then put in bags waiting to deep store it. Going thru the bags this afternoon, the Basma and Samsun had layers of mold on them. Ouch, good chunk of change down the drain. All the others were fine. From what I have always been told is once something has mold, it's wasted.
My question is "Is this a fact (as I have always used it as my rule)?" or is it an urban legend and there are ways to "sanitize" and save the tobacco? I'm guessing it's a loss and lesson learned the hard way.

 

[deluxestogie]

Have a look at the WLT Wiki (link in menu bar), and click on the "Tobacco Problems" section in the left menu.

Bob

 

[GWLee]

Have a look at the WLT Wiki (link in menu bar), and click on the "Tobacco Problems" section in the left menu.

Bob

Thank you kind sir, seems there may be a way to save the batches if I read the article correctly.

Found the article and It stated:
"So if there is any concern about using tobacco that might be moldy, its use in cigar filler or a cigarette or in pipe tobacco is probably safe. Such tobacco should not be used in smokeless products or as a cigar wrapper."

Since this is to be used in cigarettes and pipes, then I think if I put it in the oven to reduce the casing down, as the article also noted:
"Since mold spores are ubiquitous, their control is generally limited to manipulating the humidity, in order to inhibit them (in the absence of chemical anti-fungal agents)." that should help halt it. Since it is all Turkish/Oriental, not sure of a fine misting of PG, but may lean more toward: "Very slight mold can me inhibited by misting the tobacco lightly with diluted (50:50) hydrogen peroxide."

The mold was a light gray and only on the top surface of the tobacco and not through out, so that appears to be a good thing in that the mold blooms are just a relatively small area.

As noted, the batches here would be a good chunk of change wasted if I just threw it out.

Again, greatly appreciate the fantastic pointer!!!

 

[GWLee]

Update #1:
Follow up on the prior quest to save tobacco with mold. As per the pointer from the WLT Wiki page, I used a mixture (50:50) of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water. Then generously soaked my Samsun tobacco and ensured that every piece was touched by the solution. The hydrogen peroxide could be seen going to work immediately! My thought process behind this is that I have used that same mixture as a gargle years ago and had no negative effects, so reasoned it should be safe in this action as well. Where I originally thought that the mold was only on the surface of the tobacco, as I unpacked the tobacco from the storage bag, I found that there was clearly mold in the tobacco. However though as I noted, the peroxide did it's trick and killed all traces of the mold. Of course it has taken me quite a few days to bring the tobacco back down to a reasonable moisture level, but it is now at that level and smells just like the tobacco did right after being shredded with no traces of the peroxide smell present.

My next step will be to do a small mix for a pipe and do a test burn. I am not a scientist or chemist, but I believe that it will pass the test successfully with no ill effects.

After the test burn, I intend to use a 4 cup jar to hold my immediate needs for blending and then vacuum sealing the rest for storage. The jar I keep aside should last me a few months of blending/experimenting as well as provide a time period to confirm that the above cleansing is good and safe.

Cheers

 

[Alpine]

Do keep us informed about the taste of your “salvaged” tobacco. It can be of great help for other forum members.
And from now on, store your tobacco way more dry!

pier

 

[GWLee]

Do keep us informed about the taste of your “salvaged” tobacco. It can be of great help for other forum members.
And from now on, store your tobacco way more dry!

pier

Ha ha, yeah I try to store shredded tobacco low cased, and could have sworn that the casing was low but pliable. I tend to let the shredded tobacco air dry for a day before bagging it. Occasionally I use a small desk fan blowing over the tobacco to lower the case, but if I don't baby sit it, it tends to go toooo low and while good for long term storage, the tobacco is so dry/crunchy that when sealing it in containers it tends to be damaged, so it's an issue of process improvement. Now I'm in the process of vacuum sealing tobacco to let it go into storage and out of my small workshop area. Also looking at experimenting with spritzing the dry tobacco with PG prior to storage as well as for multiple actions in flavor casing later.

Loving this journey in experimenting with different things with the tobacco. Greatly appreciate any ideas anyone may have.

Cheers

 

[GWLee]

Update #2:
Used about six ounces of the "Salvaged/Reclaimed" Samsun in four packs of cigarettes and a quick pipe blend over the weekend until today. Happy to note that I am still upright, had no ill effects, no heart palpitations and am not seeing double. The blends burnt well and smelled great, there was no hydrogen peroxide smell or anything not planned for, nothing but the tobaccos, and it smelled great!!!

As I've noted earlier, I'm not a doctor, scientist or chemist, but I do feel confident in my method of 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water for me to continue using it as needed to remediate mold, that the proper processes doe not, i.e. ensuring tobacco is adequately dry before bagging lol.

Cheers