Normal Perique?

[Abosultan]

Hi,
I have a sample of Perique and noticed that the leaves have some dusty material that looks orange , like sand. And i wanna know if it is normal or is it realy sand and i need to clean before i smoke it ?

If I didn’t know that the Perique is pressed in some particular way I would’ve said that it is sand and throw it away since it is hard to clean.

Thanks

 

[GreenDragon]

Pictures? But it's probably just good 'ol Mississippi River delta mud. Tobacco is never washed, so most of it has some dirt and dust on it to some degree.

 

[Abosultan]

Pictures? But it's probably just good 'ol Mississippi River delta mud. Tobacco is never washed, so most of it has some dirt and dust on it to some degree.

I don’t thing the pictures will show it because it’s basically the same color as the leaf , orangy brown or something like that.

But is it normal to smoke it ? Or should i get red of it ?

 

[GreenDragon]

Notwithstanding the fact that Perique has a naturally funky odor, as long as it doesn’t smell “moldy” I’m sure it’s fine. I assume this is whole leaf Perique? If so just dust it off with a brush and proceed as normal. Bad mold on tobacco usually is a blueish grey color.

When I’m processing leaf, wether it’s pipe or cigar, I’m constantly sweeping dust and dirt off my cutting board.

 

[deluxestogie]

What is the source of your Perique?

Bob

 

[Abosultan]

Whole leaf tobacco

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I am going to propose a definitive answer with the premise that I'm not always right, as well as some people probably don't want to hear this.

Perique is a highly fermented product, and all the dirt n stuff is yeast.

I know I haven't looked at it under a microscope, or done dna testing, but Pichia anomala is an organism. It grows and accumulates in places, and we dry the tobacco down and it becomes powder.

If it tastes good, smoke it.

 

[deluxestogie]

If the pouch was sealed when you received it, then it should be fine to smoke (blended). After opening it, store it in a refrigerator, unless you dry it to low case. You may see growth of the yeast, Pichia anomala, which is what makes Perique into Perique. It tends to give off a yeasty, fruity, prune-like aroma. That's perfectly safe.

Bob

 

[waikikigun]

If the pouch was sealed when you received it, then it should be fine to smoke (blended). After opening it, store it in a refrigerator, unless you dry it to low case. You may see growth of the yeast, Pichia anomala, which is what makes Perique into Perique. It tends to give off a yeasty, fruity, prune-like aroma. That's perfectly safe.

Bob

Am I supposed to be fridging that stuff? I've had two bags for like 2 years, just laying out in my usual storage boxes at like 70F, 70RH.

 

[deluxestogie]

I have a number of unopened bags stored for years at room temp. No problems. Once I open one without drying the tobacco, I store it well sealed within the fridge, to minimize any microbial growth. I haven't don't a controlled experiment.

Bob

 

[waikikigun]

I have a number of unopened bags stored for years at room temp. No problems. Once I open one without drying the tobacco, I store it well sealed within the fridge, to minimize any microbial growth. I haven't don't a controlled experiment.

Bob

Euf, okay, thanks. When I get home from vacay gonna fridge them then.

 

[deluxestogie]

By far the safest way to store Perique that has been opened is to shred it, then dry it down to low case. The only Perique that I have seen growing nasty things is my own home-made Perique, which may not have been as alkaline as it needed to be. Out of about 6 batches that I made, two of them spoiled in the refrigerator. I have not seen a problem with St. James Parish Perique.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I haven't done anything special with my WLT Perique. I haven't even dried it down. No mold. However, tonight I had the opportunity to see moldy Perique at the tobacconist I frequent. I have a theory. I think because they previously let it dry out that the Pichia population decreased or went dormant so when they rehydrated it, it gave mold an opportunity to grow.

 

[tullius]

Am I supposed to be fridging that stuff? I've had two bags for like 2 years, just laying out in my usual storage boxes at like 70F, 70RH.

I have a number of unopened bags stored for years at room temp. No problems. Once I open one without drying the tobacco, I store it well sealed within the fridge, to minimize any microbial growth. I haven't don't a controlled experiment.

Euf, okay, thanks. When I get home from vacay gonna fridge them then.

There's no need to refridge genuine perique. They don't fridge or vac seal all those hogsheads down on the acadian "coast" of the muddy Mississippi river. If your packs are still sealed or even if they're opened, and they look good: store under reasonable conditons (yours are) and you're golden. Keeping under vac seal at room temp is the best way.

 

[waikikigun]

There's no need to refridge genuine perique. They don't fridge or vac seal all those hogsheads down on the acadian "coast" of the muddy Mississippi river. If your packs are still sealed or even if they're opened, and they look good: store under reasonable conditons (yours are) and you're golden. Keeping under vac seal at room temp is the best way.

Not vac sealed. Probably not even sealed. Tops loosely rolled up.... I guess I could spare a couple rubber bands.

 

[burge]

So best thing is to let it breathe shred it and let it dry then bring in back to case