Shredding the WLT Perique
This weighed a little over 1/2 pound. After removing the leaf from the bag, I spread out a single leaf strip (one side of a complete leaf). This Perique has a delightful, vaguely fruity, plum-like, rich aroma. [My brain tells be to try some spread onto a slice of buttered toast. No, no, no. It's tobacco!]
The rest of the processing shown is using that single leaf strip.
====>This came in a perfect size bag for converting into a pipe tobacco pouch, discussed in another thread.<====
After closing the bag, and holding it shut with a clothespin, I placed into the fridge. Although Perique is fairly moist, it seems to keep well at room temp, if air is excluded. My experience with Perique over the years has been that damp Perique that is stored in the fridge will likely develop a scant growth of yeast (not mold) after a few months to a year. This yeast is most probably
Pichia anomala, which is the primary organism that turns tobacco into Perique. Seeing it (scant, dull, flattened, round, beige colonies) on a refrigerated container of Perique is not an issue, and it can be safely smoked--and has no impact on the flavor or aroma.
Another approach to storage is to allow the Perique (either whole or shredded) to dry down to low case. Perique is always slow to do this, but will eventually get there.
Bob