As your enthusiasm for tobacco pipes starts to grow, you may begin accumulating a collection of various tobaccos. Because one tin of pipe tobacco can last a while, you could end up accumulating a greater quantity than you can smoke. Therefore, you might be asking how to keep pipe tobacco fresh and store it properly, so it doesn’t lose its flavor?

Undeniably, there are many ways to store pipe tobacco, which differ according to personal preferences, your budget, and the quantity of tobacco you wish to store. Sometimes, you may hear this practice referred to as “cellaring” tobacco. However, true cellaring is a process for aging tobacco.

How to Keep Pipe Tobacco Fresh: A Few Pointers

Quality pipe tobacco is always in a good state – that is, it should be fresh and moist so that every draw can be savored by the smoker. Smoking tobacco pipes will be a good experience, as long as you remember the fact that it won’t be enjoyable if the tobacco becomes too wet or too dry.

Some smokers like to buy pipe tobacco in large quantities and store it for future enjoyment. Bulk buying is preferred because it may offer a price advantage. Consequently, it’s a good idea to know a few tricks to keeping your pipe tobacco fresh and damp for months or longer. Pipe tobacco should be always kept at near-perfect moisture levels, neither too moist nor too dry. If it dries out, you’ll have to re-hydrate it to get the moisture back to boost its shelf life.

Here are some tips to follow to ensure you get the best smoke from tobacco pipes:

Don’t Store Your Tobacco Pipe Accessories or Pipe with Cigars in a Humidor

We know, we know. Humidors are cool, right? Besides being decorative and a good conversation starter, a humidor may seem like an obvious place to store your pipe, especially if you’re a beginning smoker. But our unequivocal advice is simple: Don’t do it.

Tobacco pipes and cigars are very fragrant. The last thing you need is for your cigars and tobacco to begin taking on the taste of one another as they age.

A humidor is the opposite of what you want your tobacco to go through. You will want to keep your tobacco cans in low humidity levels, whereas a humidor does the opposite – it's meant to maintain a high humidity level.

Forget About Storing In Plastic Containers

Plastic is everywhere these days and is a chief source of pollutants worldwide. In fact, it should probably be designated a global health threat, but we won’t go there. One of the worst crimes you can make as a smoker is storing your tobacco pipes in plastic containers for any length of time. The same goes for tobacco pipe accessories.

Here’s the popular – but wrong – perception. Most people who purchase wholesale tobacco pipes believe it’s perfectly acceptable to keep tobacco in plastic, mostly because the tobacco they bought from their local tobacconist came in a plastic bag – and if the proprietor of your favorite smoke shop can store it in plastic, then you can, too. Wrong! The intent is simple. The plastic bag is designed for simple transport. Take the tobacco home, unbag it, and store it safely in a jar, or smoke it pretty quickly with one or more fellow smokers who enjoy tobacco pipes.

Basically, the natural chemicals in your tobacco will start to erode part of the plastic. The chemicals are then absorbed into your favorite tobacco, which is dangerous. Besides, the plastic container will itself soak up the tobacco. Next, imagine a time-lapse video where the tobacco begins to “ghost,” or change colors. This is like storing chili or spaghetti sauce in a plastic container and leaving it unattended for several days in the refrigerator. Once you take it out and dump the spoiled remains down the garbage disposal, you notice the container is stained. Within a few weeks, the plastic container with your tobacco has become brown and putrid, and your once-fresh tobacco will likely suffer the same fate.

And don’t be fooled if you see your local tobacconist removing goods from a large plastic tub. That’s okay, as these containers have been chemically concocted to store tobacco for as long as five years – meaning the product is safe from spoilage. And no, these containers aren’t available for consumer purchase.

Don’t Add Moisture

Why anyone who stores tobacco pipes or tobacco in general and then ads water or other moistures is beyond comprehension. Within only a few months, you’ll discover to your horror that your treasured aged tobacco has accumulated mold and is ruined. In other words, it went up in water instead of smoke – so sad.

When you buy wholesale tobacco pipes, keep in mind the tobacco has been stored and marketed with a moisture content at the level your tobacconist would prefer it to be sold at. Adding moisture on your own is ill advisable and makes no sense.

But Don’t Be Afraid To Store Your Tobacco

Research and read up on the practice and how you can adapt it to fit your own needs. “Cellaring” or storing tobacco is a great part of the tobacco pipes smoking pastime. The research, work, and patience it requires to assemble a worthy cellar can seem formidable. But just as any other collectible is worth your time, there is small reward for small work. Find the best way to keep your pipe tobacco fresh, and enjoy a good smoke when you’re in the mood.