How to prepare homegrown for pipe usage

[Brennus_Coe]

Sorry for beating a dead horse. This forum is a great wealth of knowledge and I will continue reading through the years of posts as I continue.

This my first year where I will have a significant harvest; I have varieties MD609, TN90, KT204, all doing very well. Not doing so
well, but still a sizable portion; 'Tennesse Red', 'Golden Burley', and American 572, and a few rustica varieties. I have a plausible
setup for color curing, and a homemade tobacco kiln that sufficiently maintains tempature and humidity for aging.

I have prepared moist and dry snuff out of finished leaves purchased online for several years, and am very confident I will atleast be able to
ascertain what quality of snuff my leaves will produce, along the curing process. However very recently I have taken up pipe, and
would like to produce my own pipe tobacco, that an experienced user would find acceptable.

I have tried pressing some kentucky select cigarette tobacco 'cased' with some scotch, water, molasses, but all it has taught me is what moisture works the best for pipe tobacco, and I have a poor sense/taste of what is 'good'. I have begrudgingly ordered a couple
tins of professionally made pipe tobacco so I can more directly compare, but if my years of snuff making have taught me anything, it
takes a lot of time, trial and error, and research, to make a truely comparable quality of product to professionally made.

I was curious if any users here had any recommendations on how they would cure, age, prepare, case, their own pipe tobacco with the tools
and varieties I have available to me, and if I were to choose different varieties next season to try for next years crop, what would
you recommend. Thank you

Also, would it be possible to flue-cure a virginia in a home made kiln that can reach 120f?

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. Read the New Growers' FAQ, linked in the menu bar. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum threads, also linked in the menu bar. There are links there for downloading some free books, including two on pipe blending.

Flue-curing requires temps that can reach at least 165°F. A poor man's version of flue-cured Virginia is to simply sun-cure it. Not quite as bright, but much brighter than air-cured Virginia.

Bob

EDIT: You might also wish to start your own grow log in the Grow Blogs forum.

 

[Juxtaposer-]

I am knee deep in the hobby of making pipe tobacco from whole leaf. I do try to help others along when possible. You are certainly at the right place as I am not the only one here like this. Welcome aboard!
I am a fan of using licorice root for casing air cured tobacco. It can balance bitterness.
Flue cured tobacco is almost essential for pipe mixtures so I recommend that.
Toasting will also something that you will want to try.
A bit random here. There is just so many things you can do.