Tobacco is sensitive to its environment, readily adopting ambient scents and moisture levels. Once a tin is opened, even if the lid is tight, the tobacco is subject to changes. Its aging potential will be arrested, for example, but the most imminent issue is a reduction in moisture content. Whatever closet, shelf, or cellar we use for storing our tins will have a lower moisture level than is best for tobacco — unless we live in an open hut in the Amazon rainforest, perhaps. Otherwise, our tobacco will become too dry, and those of us who like several tins open simultaneously are especially vulnerable to this predicament.

If a tobacco has been too dry for too long, there are some negative effects to be expected. Some of the flavor will diminish with the loss of oils. However, it can be returned to smokeable condition and then assessed for flavor quality.

There are a number of methods for rehydrating tobacco, some immediate and some requiring a couple of days. Experimentation will help decide the best for each individual circumstance.

When adding moisture, distilled water is recommended. Tap water is probably fine for small amounts of tobacco, but purists will warn you of the chemicals in tap water that may affect flavor. Distilled water is widely considered the best option.

Breath Humidification

While not employing distilled water, one of the oldest, fastest, and simplest methods for dealing with a dry bowl of tobacco is to breathe into it. It takes no preliminary preparation; just load the dry tobacco in the bowl of a pipe.

Place your lips around the top of the bowl and gently breathe through the pipe. The humidity of exhaled breath, according to some studies, ranges from 65.0-88.6% relative humidity. It will revitalize the tobacco, which will readily absorb the moisture. It can take three or four breaths, depending on the tobacco's dryness level, but afterward, it should be well-hydrated. It isn't an elegant-looking process, and casual observers may conclude that you're smoking your pipe backward, but it works very well, especially when a single test bowl is appropriate.

Bowl in a Bowl

This method requires two bowls of differing sizes. Place the dry tobacco in the smaller bowl and water in the bottom of the larger bowl, and then put the smaller bowl inside the larger. The water volume should not be so much that the displacement of the smaller bowl will make the water rise above its top.

If the bowl has a cover, great, use it, but otherwise, seal the bowls with plastic wrap. Check every few hours until the tobacco has returned to an appropriate moisture level.

Wet Cloth

Perhaps not as efficient, but easier and still effective, is to simply place the tobacco in a bowl and cover it with a wet towel. Check it every few hours, re-wet the towel if needed, and mix up the tobacco. This method will humidify the tobacco more slowly, which will help avoid over-humidifying it.

Another wet-cloth tactic is to wet a paper towel, place it over the top of the tobacco tin without touching the tobacco inside, and then replace the top.

Misting

For larger amounts of tobacco, say, a full tin or more; some people prefer spreading it out on a towel and misting it lightly with distilled water using a spray bottle. The problem is that it's easy to over-humidify using this method. And it's unnatural to the way tobacco typically absorbs moisture. It works, particularly if you're in a hurry, but it's better to let the tobacco absorb humidity from the ambient air.

Fruit: Upsetting the Apple Cart

We've all heard about adding an apple slice to tobacco to keep it hydrated. We've also likely heard that it's a bad idea. Some will swear that it works great; others will warn of its negative potential.

For small amounts of tobacco in the short term, an apple or orange slice may help with hydration and, for some, add a pleasant flavor. However, fruit decomposes quickly and will encourage mold. It isn't a method I would employ. If I want apple-flavored tobacco, I'll let a professional blender provide it. Water maintains the original flavor profile and doesn't decompose or promote mold.

Steam

Steam can provide a quick rehydration approach. Boil a shallow amount of water in a pot and place a metal colander on it so that it rests above the water level. It may be best to layer the colander with cheesecloth to keep tobacco strands from escaping. Cover the pot, but don't wait too long. It should take less than a minute, depending on the quantity of tobacco.

Terra Cotta

Terra cotta is the material most often seen in pots for plants. If you happen to have a couple of pieces from a broken pot (every gardener will sympathize), they work nicely to rehydrate tobacco by soaking them in distilled water for an hour or so and adding them to the tin or bag. As always, check on the tobacco often until it reaches a good moisture level.

Hydration Products

Various humidification products, like Boveda packs, can make life easier. Simply place the tobacco in a large mason jar or anything air-tight, drop in a humidification pack, and wait a couple of days. The advantage here is that you needn't check the tobacco constantly; it should regain the proper moisture level automatically.

Dry tobacco is something we all deal with on occasion, but the good news is that the tobacco is not necessarily lost. It can be brought back to a good smoking condition fairly easily. Some of these methods may work better with different amounts of tobacco, and experimentation is always encouraged. What works best for me may not be best for you but that's part of the beauty of this hobby. There's lots of room for individuality while sharing a common experience.