Regarding Plug tobacco

[stu]

What do you prefer for the ones creating tobacco plug. Do you leave it in a plug and cut some of when you smoke it. Or do you Cut everything and rub it like a pre rubbed blend. Or do you cut it and leave it as flakes and store it like that.
Im aware that if the plug is sometimes to whet it will mold. And sometimes than store it like that is not a option.
Ive created a sort of (Capstan) blend but im not sure if i leave it as plug or slice it as flakes or ready rub it.

 

[Old Gasman]

Why dont you prepare half as a plug and half as rubbed flakes and try them both and let us know which you prefer and why.

 

[stu]

Why dont you prepare half as a plug and half as rubbed flakes and try them both and let us know which you prefer and why.

hmmm thats not a bad idea i think i will aproach it like that ! Thnx

 

[santisimo]

Hello, when my plug tobacco is prepared with the right amount of humidity, I like to keep the whole plug in an airtight container and cut slices when i want to smoke.

 

[HillDweller]

What do you prefer for the ones creating tobacco plug. Do you leave it in a plug and cut some of when you smoke it. Or do you Cut everything and rub it like a pre rubbed blend. Or do you cut it and leave it as flakes and store it like that.
Im aware that if the plug is sometimes to whet it will mold. And sometimes than store it like that is not a option.
Ive created a sort of (Capstan) blend but im not sure if i leave it as plug or slice it as flakes or ready rub it.

I usually cut mine into flakes. I tend to press in high case, and I'm paranoid about mold.

 

[stu]

I usually cut mine into flakes. I tend to press in high case, and I'm paranoid about mold.

Yea before i usually rubbed it out because of mold. But after some expermenting etc i found a way to keep the plug without mold.

 

[stu]

Hello, when my plug tobacco is prepared with the right amount of humidity, I like to keep the whole plug in an airtight container and cut slices when i want to smoke.

I also did this but after a while i didnt want to cut everytime i want to smoke. So usually plugs i want to smoke i flake it.

 

[Hemlock]

Yea before i usually rubbed it out because of mold. But after some expermenting etc i found a way to keep the plug without mold.

@stu could you share your tips on preventing mold? I have a jar of flakes and they are moist and pliable to facilitate aging, and hopefully some light fermentation. Watching closely for now for signs of mold but it's a nuisance to keep checking. Mold grows slow and hard to find... then takes off quickly at sporulation.

 

[Juxtaposer-]

I have found that tobacco in a jar with little space for air will use up the oxygen quickly enough that mold, if any, will not survive, no matter the case level.

 

[Hemlock]

I have found that tobacco in a jar with little space for air will use up the oxygen quickly enough that mold, if any, will not survive, no matter the case level.

Thanks for the tip, didn't think of starving mold of oxygen.

 

[stu]

@stu could you share your tips on preventing mold? I have a jar of flakes and they are moist and pliable to facilitate aging, and hopefully some light fermentation. Watching closely for now for signs of mold but it's a nuisance to keep checking. Mold grows slow and hard to find... then takes off quickly at sporulation.

Well for preventing mold is for sure get rid of stems those will almost always will mold. Im not sure if you mean preventing mold for only plugs or also shredded tobacco. But in the case of plugs. What for me works the best is for example im not sure if you familiar with the cavandish process or cooking tobacco in jars. But for the cavandish after the steaming process i plug these but i always rub this one out because no matter what i do the cavandish is just to wet for to long. Also my climate is very wet to let it dry as a plug. Also the small fruit flies they will come as swarms at the wet leaves. As for the cooking tobacco in jars or shredded tobacco. What i find best is i plug the tobacco after the jar process or shredded proccess only after some time. I just store the tobacco in jars shredded. And after some time i make up blends and these blends i make the plugs of. But i dont add any moisture in this process only if it is really really crumble dry. I either add vinegar or homemade strong alcohol and only a very little.

 

[Andude]

Seems like applying any kind of casing/toping that utilizes vinegar or alcohol will go a long way at combatting mold?

 

[ProZachJ]

I'm planning to vacuum pack my plugs for storage. The ones I'm keeping out for smoking I'm stoveing in the oven (ovening? ) to dry them out a bit.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Ive found that less is more with pressed plugs; less moisture, less pressure. Low case is enough to facilitate aging.

 

[Hemlock]

Seems like applying any kind of casing/toping that utilizes vinegar or alcohol will go a long way at combatting mold?

I agree that casing seems to be a preservative with some vinegar in the recipe. However just lost a jar of burley ribbon to mold ... definitely had it in higher case that it should have been so it's still a fine line with the moisture content. Plugs and flake seem to be more mold resistant.

A bit of heat with stoving for at least a couple hours at 190 might be be nuking some mold spores in my plugs. But I don't always want a stove effect so still trying to master the case level for storage.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

I agree that casing seems to be a preservative with some vinegar in the recipe. However just lost a jar of burley ribbon to mold ... definitely had it in higher case that it should have been so it's still a fine line with the moisture content. Plugs and flake seem to be more mold resistant.

A bit of heat with stoving for at least a couple hours at 190 might be be nuking some mold spores in my plugs. But I don't always want a stove effect so still trying to master the case level for storage.

I recently had a plug that began to mold while still under pressure. Case was low-medium and there was just the tiniest bit of an air pocket. Sorry I have no pics, it was gross!