excess moisture in baccy jars

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

They're Carter Hall, Captain Black White and the "best of the rest" mix I got from Tobias. The captain black was a little moist when I put it in but no worse than any of my other tobaccos, the other 2 weren't very moist at all. They were all new jars, never used for anything before. Washed out and left to sit (open) for about a week before filling. My office in the basement is in a corner with no window, no heat source, just an unused room I store my hobby junk in (guitars, golf clubs etc...) no heat sources at all.

I've had them open now since about 10 pm last night and the "fog" hasn't dissipated at all. I wiped some with my finger and it almost does feel a bit oily, so maybe empty them out and give them a cleaning?

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How's the ambient rH (relative humidity) where you live? They're closed jars but basements can be moist and if you closed them there then the air inside the jars might have been moist.

On the surface it does sounds like heat, perhaps sunlight. Doesn't take much sunlight to cause some mist and there'll be more if the tobacco is moist and less ability to reabsorb it. I'll ruminate and see if I can think of anything else.

The basement's a little more humid than the rest of the house but its still pretty dry. We did have some water leaking in the other end of basement but my office was unaffected. The tobacco was jarred in the room and never leaves it. There's no window in the room and other than the couple minutes it takes me to either pick a cigar or pack a bowl the light's never on.

Correct me if I'm wrong or out of place, but when leaves,tobacco or otherwise ferment (compost) don't they generate a heat of their own?This heat would then release the moisture from the leaves thus creating the fog on the glass due to condensation.

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Originally Posted by Lostmason

Correct me if I'm wrong or out of place, but when leaves,tobacco or otherwise ferment (compost) don't they generate a heat of their own?This heat would then release the moisture from the leaves thus creating the fog on the glass due to condensation.

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Hi Matthew,

There, you're ruminating real well. Fermentation does indeed create heat. If not monitored and it gets too hot it can ruin the tobacco.

In theory, all tobacco will be fermented before processing and can't be re-fermented further but if some leaf was handled improperly??

I'd say that it's unlikely because there are several mixtures involved but it's darn good thinking on the subject.

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

I've had them open now since about 10 pm last night and the "fog" hasn't dissipated at all.

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This would leave me to believe that it's not just water condensation. Possibly PG?

it almost feels oily. I just re jarred them and cleaned the jars and my hand felt oily afterwards.

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Originally Posted by JustTroItIn

This would leave me to believe that it's not just water condensation. Possibly PG?

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Pipe noob here lol... what's pg?

Edit: Google to the rescue, propylene glycol

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

it almost feels oily. I just re jarred them and cleaned the jars and my hand felt oily afterwards.

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Blake, I assume that these are aromatics and that they are the infused essence. Not unusual for some to come off in the container but beading is (unusual). Some aromatic essence is oil based.
@JustTroItIn mentioned propylene glycol that binds with water until ~70% rH when the chemical bonds start to break down and they release moisture. If it's PG then your ambient air is real dry (like Arizona) or your baccy is real wet?

None of them feel all that wet, actually maybe a little dry after leaving them open for a day. The Captain black's an aro, and seemed to be the most fogged, then the other 2 were Carter hall and a random mix from Tobias (Neither aro, as far as I'm aware). Hopefully it's dealt with with the re-jarring, just was worried about it being moisture and molding but seems not the case. Thanks for the help guys. :pipe: