Un-Typical Noob Question On Tobacco

[InfernoRaven]

So I was looking at picking up some flavors normally I have picked up at most at a time anywhere from 2-4 kilos of tobacco and have never had a problem with a flavor going "bad" but I am looking into doing a massive group buy with my friend picking up anywhere from 30-50 boxes of tobacco each that is nearly 13 kilos of tobacco at once. So I am interested in knowing how long does unopened packs of tobacco last? and how long does open tobacco last? (Keep in mind I am referring to tobacco kept in Tupperware not in any form of container that it comes with)

 

 

 

EDIT: Grammer is AWFUL

Edited January 28, 2014 by InfernoRaven

[Codyb88]

I have probably 15 (at least) glad ware or ziplock containers (the tiny snack containers with the twist on lid) full of nakhla. I had one for over 5 months it's mandarin flavor. It still tastes great today.

[InfernoRaven]

I dug around a few boards and saw someone smoke some double apple from 2007 (The Post was 2010) and a bunch of other threads showing several years to several months some say the longer it is expired the shorter it's smoke session is. I may get through 30 to 50 boxes in a year likely I would be stocked up for the rest of the year with this order. I could get several different flavors, trade flavors I don't like to my fellow local smoker for cash etc.

 

I may go on the small side and see how fast I go through around 10 boxes to get an Idea of how long it would take me to smoke 30 to 50

 

All of this would be Nakhla in case anyone is wondering a brand to narrow down the spoilage timeframe.

[mujjuman]

Ive smoked AF that was expired by 1 month and it tasted so weird and didnt smoke right... it irritated my throat

[Chreees]

I'm not sure about other brands, but Eric actually has a list showing the shelf life for unopened Tangiers. I'll see if I can find it. As for other brands, I've smoked some pretty old stuff... Nakhla and AF that was a couple of years old, and Tangiers that was three years old (opened but in Tupperware for three years). All smoked just fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

EDIT: Now that I'm back on my computer, here is a post where I quoted Eric back in 2011:

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/42308-expiration/?p=510580

 

i did lose flavor with some af before, which was disappointing...


im pretty sure tangiers has a shelf life as well. some flavors last longer than others. i remember reading a huge list that described which flavors last longer or not on another forum

Good thread... These are Eric's useful posts concerning shelf life of Tangiers:

Shelf Life of Tobacco
Depends on the flavor...

Based on Tangiers Flavors:

High Shelf Life
Mint
Floral Flavors
Chocolate
Raspberry
Blackberry
Red Apples
Kashmir flavors
Apricot, Peach, Nectarine
Passionfruit
Horchata
Cinnamon
Clove

Medium Shelf Life
Green Apples
Strawberry
Blueberry
Cherry
Lemon
Grape
Some Licorice Flavors
Tangiers Marigold
Vanilla
Guava
Tea Flavors

Short Shelf Life
Orange
Grapefruit
Lime
Pineapple
Watermelon
Some Licorice Flavors
Pear
Kiwi

High would be...indefinitely.

Medium would be 6 months after opening.

Low would be 2-3 months after opening.

Marigold doesn't seem to have the same endurance.

Maybe. Probably not, though. Sealed, most stuff should be good indefinitely. If it's sealed in the old Polypropylene bags, it will lose potency. In that case, double the estimated shelf life for sealed polypropylene bags.

[InfernoRaven]

I imagine I would do what I normally would do with my Tangiers, I have stored a few flavors in tupperware long term it involved taping the seals of the tupperware then tapng down the lid to prevent it from popping up. But right now the tobacco I have stored in my garage (Around Room Temp) is anywhere from 1 to 5 months old and it all smokes great.

 

The oldest Nak I have smoked and it tasted normal was my ICE Grape back in the 2012 around when it first came out. I had it well into 2013 before I smoked it all roughtly 8-9 months it looked dehydrated but the flavor wasn't impacted in the slightest.

 

If I do go for the 30 boxes or 50 boxes chances are I will open them in groups as I finish one flavor or a flavor i currently open I will add a new box to my rotation and repeat I think if I leave them sealed in the boxes they will last longer, I had a sealed DA for almost 2 years that I gave my friend and it was just as juicy and fresh as normal. Smoked fine too.

[Chreees]

Oh yeah, I would definitely keep stuff sealed if you know you aren't going to be smoking it anytime soon. That's what I do with my kilos of stockpiled Static Starlight and Indian Summer. :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mattarios2]

Definitely depends on the brand and or flavor.

 

For instance, as others said, they have smoked boxes of nak and others that were very old and were just fine, so have I. But generally cherry flavors don't have as good of a shelf life, same goes for some fruit flavors like pineapple and some peaches from certain brands. I remember Eric saying the shelf life on pineapple isn't good so he made it extra strong so when it started to lose flavor it would still be more than acceptable.

 

That pertains to once it is opened.

 

Unopened you should be able to go at least 2 years easily if not longer without losing flavor

[Bawhee]

30 boxes for a year is not that much if you think about it, one smoke a day brings you to like 250g ever 2 or so weeks, at least with the size of MY bowl (cant speak for everyone here)! So add in not smoking every day but sometimes smoking a bunch (got friends over or something) and youre gonna be needing a lot of tobacco :P I smoke around 2.5 - 3 250g packs a month (Depending on brand, some brands pack more actual tobacco, like nak, AF or layalina gains weight on the massive amounts of molasses in the pack), and 30 packs might not even be enough for a full year!

So ya, the 30 packs should be a decent buy! Even opened the stuff will last you at least long enough for you to finish it within the year :P

[InfernoRaven]

Yeah I forgot to do mental math, I go through a Kilo a Month usually I smoke every night usually 1 bowl a day, I miss it when I had no job and I could smoke 5-8 bowls a day but no job = no money for tobacco.

[Bawhee]

And that mental math said go for it! Now go for it and gloat as I am in a smoke free space, out of money for fresh tobacco and coals for another week :D

[Skoozle]

I still smoke the Nak Mint that was the first tobacco I ever bought.  

 

It's been opened for about 4 years now.

 

 

I think the real danger is having new flavors come out over the next year and not trying them because you will already have your whole garage full of tobacco.  Or if you get tired of a flavor but still have 3 kg of it left.

[mattarios2]

I still smoke the Nak Mint that was the first tobacco I ever bought.  

 

It's been opened for about 4 years now.

 

 

I think the real danger is having new flavors come out over the next year and not trying them because you will already have your whole garage full of tobacco.  Or if you get tired of a flavor but still have 3 kg of it left.

 

Good point.

 

And yes mint lasts forever. I use mizo mint as a mixer and I have a box that has been opened for just under 2 years now and it still smokes fine. The intensity may have dropped a wee bit but nothing to complain about.

[InfernoRaven]

Well I plan on buying a wide variety of flavors, I may double up on favorites I know I lean heavily on like ICE Raspberry me and my friend have nearly similar tastes in tobacco so I know when he comes over several boxes of the tobacco I buy will be more heavily used than say others, my friend can't stand DA for example but I enjoy it.