Welcome to the Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage, and Cellaring FAQ!

This FAQ is a compendium of knowledge and advice for the pipe-smoking enthusiast interested in the aging, storage and cellaring of pipe tobacco. The primary source of the excerpts used in this document is the public archive of the USENET newsgroup alt.smokers.pipes. I have attempted to quote each writer's words precisely, and their meaning faithfully. I have taken the editorial liberty of making slight changes for purposes of readability and conciseness. Each author retains ownership over their original words. Another significant source is TobaccoReviews.com.

Many of these questions have a subjective component, and therefore do not have a single correct answer. In cases where there is a difference of opinion, I have tried to present each view evenly. It is up to the reader to make up his or her own mind.

I have provided comment links throughout this FAQ. Please feel free to use them, as feedback is one of the few ways I know how to improve this document.

Note: all the text that occurs in these little boxes is my own commentary. Read on for the table of contents...

Cheers,
Jason Newquist

Table of Contents

1. Fundamentals - The basics of tobacco aging. Why you should care.
2. Tobacco Aging - The nuts and bolts of aging in some depth.
3. Tin Storage Issues - Issues relating to the storage of tins and tinned tobacco.
4. Bulk Storage Issues - The storage of bulk tobacco.
5. Tobacco Jarring Guide - A step-by-step guide to jarring bulk tobacco yourself.
6. Cellaring - Care and feeding of your tobacco cellar.
7. Cellar Gallery - Images of tobacco cellars, large and small.
8. Tobacco Categorization - Collected thoughts on different types of tobacco.
9. Flake Tobacco Topics - Group lore on that wonderful form factor, the flake!
10. Tobacco Touchstones - A list of essentials and standards for many tobacco types.
11. Moisture Management - All about moisture levels and how to control them.
12. Related Topics - Other topics covered briefly.
13. Glossary - Defines a bunch of pipe tobacco terms.
14. Appendicies - Further reading, and credits.

Change History

• 5 February 2007: No real update. Just a note that I'm still around. :)
• 5 January 2006: Made the glossary its own section.
• 25 December 2005: Relocated the question on environmnentals to the Cellar section.
• 18 December 2005: Reorganized the storage sections into sections on Tin Storage, Bulk Storage, and a Tobacco Jarring Guide. Also added a Cellar Gallery!
• 15 December 2005: Added a section on moisture management. Reworked all the questions within the section, as well.
• 14 December 2005: Updated the question on rehydration.
• 12 December 2005: Updated the question on mason jar wax sealing.
• 13 November 2005: Updated the tobacco touchstones with a Traditional American group, and a Plugs & Ropes group. Also added per-tobacco counters.
• 10 November 2005: Added a question on Lakeland style blends, updated the touchstones, and revamped the front page.
• 9 November 2005: Added a section on tobacco touchstones.
• 31 October 2005: Added a question on tobacco bloom.
• 28 October 2005: Added a question on letting tins breathe.
• 27 August 2005: Added a section on Flakes and a question on the "crossover effect".
• 23 August 2005: Updated question on pipe-blend dedication.
• 21 August 2005: Updated questions on actual cellars, short-term storage, and tobacco crystals.
• 20 August 2005: Updated several questions, including English vs. Balkan and many questions in the containers section.
• 14 August 2005: Added a Tobacco Glossary. Added questions on nicotine content and tongue bite. Moved the FAQ Change History into the Appendices.
• 13 August 2005: Added a section on Tobacco Categorization. Due to the length of the FAQ, it is now segmented into several web pages.
• 8 May 2005: Added question on commercial pouches, and updated question on bulk tobacco packing.
• 18 April 2005: Updated question on vacuum-sealing.
• 31 January 2005: Updated question on heating tobacco. Style changes. Started adding pictures.
• 7 January 2005: Added question on dividing larger containers into smaller ones.
• 10 December 2004: Added question on rust and corrosion.
• 13 November 2004: Updated and renamed question on stoving tobacco.
• 6 November 2004: New question on smoking aged tins quickly.
• 29 August 2004: General overhaul. Added commentary, tweaked many questions, altered look.
• 5 August 2004: Updated questions on aging milestones and on cellar selection.
• 8 July 2004: Updated question on aging benefits.
• 17 June 2004: Updated question on heating tobacco.
• 29 April 2004: Updated questions on heating tobacco, on bulk jars, and on rehydration.
• 21 February 2004: New question on other reasons to cellar, other miscellaneous changes.
• 11 February 2004: Added magnulus's comments to aging improvement question, and rephrased the question.
• 26 January 2004: Added Steven Fowler's report, and new question on jar labels.
• 22 January 2004: Added content to, and renamed, the vacuum bags/tins question.
• 21 January 2004: Added title graphic.
• 20 January 2004: New question on propylene glycol, cosmetic changes.
• 19 January 2004: New questions on bail-top jars, on the heat-vacuum method, and on mold prevention.
• 18 January 2004: General overhaul. New URL: https://agingfaq.nocturne.org
• 22 December 2003: Initial release.

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