How worried should I be about moldy pipe tobacco?

**Golden Child** · 05-26-2012, 10:36 AM

So, as a fairly recent convert to pipe smoking I have acquired a few different blends (10 or so) all of which have been jarred (bell jars).

I do not have central air, most of the house, including the smoke room, do not get cooled during the day.

So I'm a bit worried. What do you guys think?

I'm ok with a certain amount of risk, I can merely only jar a single tin at a time and store any extra in their sealed package. But if these are likely to turn moldy in days or weeks I'll have to consider other method.

Note: slab house, so no basement.

**Stevew443** · 05-26-2012, 11:23 AM

If the jar you are using is clean and dry when you put the tobacco in it and you have a good seal on the lid, then you will not have to worry about mold.

I have been storing tobacco in jars for well over a decade and I have never seen any mold in my tobacco.

**haiku44** · 05-26-2012, 12:34 PM

Is it like a blue/green fluffy mold? or a white powdery type?

Does the temperature go up and down a lot where there are kept? Even without ac as long as the temp doesn't move around too much I'd think they'd be fine.

**Golden Child** · 05-26-2012, 02:36 PM

Haiku, there is no mold right now. I was just thinking about it as its something I've dealt with with cigars before. And this time of year is when it gets to be an issue.

**Kentos** · 05-26-2012, 02:38 PM

Pipe tobacco is more humid to begin with, so I don't think you will have the same problem.

**haiku44** · 05-26-2012, 02:51 PM

Gotcha. I would think that as long as the temp doesn't move around too much the tobacco would be fine. I think to play it safe I'd hold off on buying more tobacco till you know for sure that it will be ok long term. An insulated drawer to but the jars in will keep everything a more constant temp probably.

I know nothing about storing cigars, but they always seemed a bit more difficult to keep long term. So you might not have anything really to worry about. Hoping someone with a bit more experience with your situation will pop on here to give a more experienced opinion than mine.

Originally Posted by Golden Child

Haiku, there is no mold right now. I was just thinking about it as its something I've dealt with with cigars before. And this time of year is when it gets to be an issue.

**Commander Quan** · 05-26-2012, 03:33 PM

Mold isn't an issie with temperature fluctuations, but tobacco beetles are. At temperatures over 75 the eggs can hatch, however pipe tobacco is more treated than the tobacco used to roll cigars, I have not heard of anyone with a beetle problem in their pipe tobacco.

**haiku44** · 05-26-2012, 03:38 PM

Good to know. If mold isn't the issue with keeping the tobacco in a cool dark spot why have I been told for years to do it? I just always assumed it was a mold thing.

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Mold isn't an issie with temperature fluctuations, but tobacco beetles are. At temperatures over 75 the eggs can hatch, however pipe tobacco is more treated than the tobacco used to roll cigars, I have not heard of anyone with a beetle problem in their pipe tobacco.