Drying Moist Pipe Tobacco

How do I dry tobacco that is too wet or moist?

Every pipe smoker has encountered difficulties with a tobacco that is too wet.

                Image source: pipesmagazine.com

Tobacco with too much moisture is difficult to light and frustrating to keep burning. This often leads to frantic puffing and the dreaded tongue bite. And if one has success with the burning, wet tobacco can leave a goopy mess in the bowl, which is undesirable.

There are perhaps countless ways that smokers have devised to dry out their tobacco. Below I present a very simple method recommended by various experts for giving your tobacco a "moisture adjustment."

• Remove the desired amount of tobacco from the tin, pouch, or container.
• Place it on a sheet of paper and spread it out in a uniform layer (avoid piles or bundles of tobacco).
• Allow the tobacco to air dry until it has reached the desired moisture level. Repeat the test noted above to determine a desirable moisture level.
• Depending on the tobacco cut and original moisture content, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Also, bear in mind that weather conditions, particularly humidity levels can dramatically affect the drying process.