Aging cigar leaf

[Chris A]

[SUB][SUP]27. How do I store my finished tobacco?

[/SUP][/SUB][SUB][SUP]Tobacco can be stored completely dry in any container. If kept with more moisture, the RH should be 70% or lower to prevent mold. Tobacco can be re-humidified for smoking with a light mist of water, some steam from a kettle, or simple exposure to the humidity on a rainy day. Properly stored tobacco will continue to age and mellow for years.[/SUP][/SUB]

Guys-

Looking for a little clarification from the FAQ. I have some of Don's Bezuki wrapper & Dominican filler that I just keep in the bags he shipped them in. I pull from the bag & then paper clip it closed again. The leaf stays in ~medium case. Can I just keep it indefinitely as is and will it continue to age & mellow?

On another note, I have some leaf from BigBonner that he says has 2 years age on it. I want to let it continue to age as well. Currently it is dry & in a cardboard box in my basement off the floor, ~60-70 degrees, low humidity. Will the tobacco age & mellow further under these circumstances? Should I store it differently? Just want to know what is "properly" stored tobacco.

I do not have access to a kiln.

Any help would be appreciated.

Chris

 

[Knucklehead]

My understanding is that completely dry tobacco stops aging. For long term storage, keep it in a real low case so it won't mold on you if humidity spikes and it absorbs even more moisture than it had when you stored it. Just as a safety precaution. If it gets crumbly dry though, it stops aging until a little moisture is reintroduced. I think natural aging is just a slow natural fermentation process that requires at least a little bit of moisture.

 

[BarG]

Dons vapor proof bags are ideal for keeping the cigar leaf in the way your doing it. This last year I have been keeping a lot of hands for cigs. and cigar filler in 2.5 gallon ziplocks, also a lot of cigar wrapper and filler varietys aging naturaly in an outdoor storage with a window partialy open to allow humidity swings. All my kilned leaf is still being stored in 2.5 gallon ziplocks also.