Youn's first attempt - 2017

[Youn]

Following Charly with The Moldy Horror Picture Show :

 

[greenmonster714]

So what made them mold? They dried in a different area than the others? The Dutch looked great. What happened to these?

 

[Youn]

So what made them mold? They dried in a different area than the others? The Dutch looked great. What happened to these?

The weather was quite dry here and I have had to put my leaves in small greenhouses to control the humidity and prevent them from drying green. It worked very well and the bottom stalk leaves have color cured without any problem ; it worked well for the upper stalk leaves too, but some have had a little mold… As I quickly realized and as the weather became less dry, I was able to get them out and avoid the worst. Finally only a few leaves have been discarted.
The Ohio Dutch almost don't have had any problem, nor drying green nor molding. The Goose Creek Red have been more sensible to the mold due to the thick mid rib, I think, but nothing serious either.
I noticed two different types of mold : a white, velvety one, which often appears on the mid rib, the other dark with dry aspect which come on the lamina (see the last picture).

 

[Youn]

A batch of color cured Ohio Dutch Seco… very regular curing :


Ohio Dutch Ligero from my untopped plant :



Goose Creek Red Volado :


Goose Creek Red Seco, with very different colors in the same batch :

 

[Youn]

Madole Volado :


Madole Seco… kept a greenish hue :



Vuelta Abajo Volado :


Vuelta Abajo Seco :


Those batches of Vuelta Abajo Volado and Seco have been confronted to very dry climate before I made the high humidity curing box and have been very slow to remove the green. But after two month curing it finally seems to be ok.
The most greenish ones are like this :

I think it can totaly go away by aging… ?

Vuelta Abajo Ligero :



/ I still have some batches of ligero hanged in the shed, it colored well and only the mid ribs remain moist.

 

[deluxestogie]

Your curing is coming out well. I always know that I'm living a righteous life when I get dark maduro or oscuro leaf.

Bob

 

[greenmonster714]

Very nice. I plan on growing that Madole next year. Looks like it cures out nice.

 

[Youn]

Your curing is coming out well. I always know that I'm living a righteous life when I get dark maduro or oscuro leaf.

Bob

Among the few OD ligero dark leaves, there was some very small ones, I smoked it in a cigarette and have been surprised : it wasn't harsh, strong but not harsh at all. It reminded me of the taste of the "Scaferlati Caporal" that my great-uncle was smoking. I don't know if I will be able to use it in cigar… it's taste is totally pipe-tobacco-like. I'm not a pipe smoker but it may cause me to become one! My only pipe experience was with an old "brûle-gueule" — literally "burn-mouth" = cutty (a short-stemmed pipe) — and I never managed to enjoy it, don't know if it's due to the type of this pipe or to my ignorance of how to smoke pipe…
You, pipe smokers, would you advise me to try with an other type of pipe?

 

[Youn]

Very nice. I plan on growing that Madole next year. Looks like it cures out nice.

I can't compare since it's only my first grow, but it seems it's not a hard to cure variety.
As for the taste, I only smoked some mud lugs but it was pleasant, quite aromatic… I'll taste some just cured upper stalk leaves in order to be able to tell more, before waiting for aging…

 

[mwaller]

Short-stem pipes deliver hot smoke. I think you'd be happier with a standard length pipe - something around 15cm. Peterson (among other pipe makers) has a bit style called Plip, which directs smoke toward the roof of your mouth, rather than directly onto your tongue. This can help smooth out tobacco that is hot or harsh. I think it's a great design.

Among the few OD ligero dark leaves, there was some very small ones, I smoked it in a cigarette and have been surprised : it wasn't harsh, strong but not harsh at all. It reminded me of the taste of the "Scaferlati Caporal" that my great-uncle was smoking. I don't know if I will be able to use it in cigar… it's taste is totally pipe-tobacco-like. I'm not a pipe smoker but it may cause me to become one! My only pipe experience was with an old "brûle-gueule" — literally "burn-mouth" = cutty (a short-stemmed pipe) — and I never managed to enjoy it, don't know if it's due to the type of this pipe or to my ignorance of how to smoke pipe…
You, pipe smokers, would you advise me to try with an other type of pipe?

 

[Youn]

Short-stem pipes deliver hot smoke. I think you'd be happier with a standard length pipe - something around 15cm. Peterson (among other pipe makers) has a bit style called Plip, which directs smoke toward the roof of your mouth, rather than directly onto your tongue. This can help smooth out tobacco that is hot or harsh. I think it's a great design.

Thank you, I will inquire about all this. Now, my curiosity is awakened, I'll certainly give the pipe a try once again…

 

[deluxestogie]

I believe that the technique for initially packing a pipe, lighting it, repacking it, re-lighting it--all take a little time to learn. Also, how you puff it will determine if you burn your tongue. (I personally own a Peterson with the bit exit aimed at my palate, and have to smoke it with great care, in order to not burn my palate. I prefer a standard bit.)

Some tobacco varieties (most inexpensive commercial brands, as well as any with flue-cured leaf) will burn your tongue (called "tongue bite"), unless they are smoked very slowly and gently, like sipping water.

So, buy a normal size pipe, then expect to experiment with how to smoke it. Not too many years ago, there was always a friend or grandparent who could offer advice on pipe smoking, but those days are past.

Bob

 

[mwaller]

You could also consider a Kirsten pipe. These pipes feature an aluminum body that cools the smoke and traps moisture. No gurgling, no tongue bite! They look a bit odd, but they smoke well. No technique required!

 

[Youn]

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll take the time to inform myself and make a choice.

Bob, you're right, I do not have anybody round there which could offer an advice ; my great-uncle, who died in 2000, was only smoking hand made cigarettes and if my pipe belongs to my father, he never have been a real pipe smoker and is no longer a smoker at all for decades… Fortunately, FTT exists!

However, I've been able to learn some basics by myself : first, avoid drooling in the pipe, then smoke gently, take care to the packing… but I was always more busy struggling than enjoying the smoke.
This morning, I retried the experience with my old pipe. Considering it again, I think it's not a bad material, a Big Ben Ranger (I found the right english term for "brûle-gueule" : "nosewarmer"!), this model.
I didn't have tongue bite problem and the smoke was good but although I do not drool in, it started to gurgle quickly and I did not manage to keep it lit without drawing too hard and too often.
I think I still don't pack it correctly.

 

[DistillingJim]

I've found a big difference between smoking commercial and home grown tobacco also relates to the moisture. What we use is always drier (unless you're dousing with glyco) so it will naturally burn faster and requires a different cadence and packing technique. I've found making flakes/plugs helps slow this but the type of pipe also effects it. Blends I've made that smoke well in a long stem can bite quite a bit in the shorter stems. Makes me wonder if its worth investing in a churchwarden...

 

[greenmonster714]

I've been smoking a pipe for about a year now. Once you find what works for you. The ritual will become automatic. Ya just gotta stick with it and then all the sudden you'll be reaching for the pipe after a nice meal instead of a cigarette or cigar.

 

[greenmonster714]

I've found a big difference between smoking commercial and home grown tobacco also relates to the moisture. What we use is always drier (unless you're dousing with glyco) so it will naturally burn faster and requires a different cadence and packing technique. I've found making flakes/plugs helps slow this but the type of pipe also effects it. Blends I've made that smoke well in a long stem can bite quite a bit in the shorter stems. Makes me wonder if its worth investing in a churchwarden...

My wife wants me to get one of those churchwarden pipes. I've never smoked one. Does a long stem help cool the smoke and ease the bite? I don't know why but I like a little bite.

 

[DistillingJim]

I've not smoked a churchwarden, but I've found my favourite pipe for English blends makes everything I make bite while it generally behaves better in my longer stemmed, English dedicated pipe.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I have a Churchwarden Meer and I cannot tell any difference between it (with the long stem) and a regular pipe stem. It would make sense though that the longer stem (about 8 inches) would deliver a cooler smoke than an average 3-ish inch stem.

 

[Youn]

Interesting… a long stemmed pipe attract me more but it's only an idea built without experience.