SmokeStack, seems interesting way to introduce flavor into tobacco leaf. Please, let us know how to go about it and how much of the essential oils are you using? Thanks.
I use this method for preparing pipe tobacco, but it could be easily applied to preparing cigarette tobacco. Let's say I want to make a licorice-flavored pipe tobacco...
- First I blend the base tobaccos for the pipe mixture, for example 40% Yellow Orinoco (a Virginia), 30% Yellow Prior (a Virginia), and 30% Yellow Twist Bud (a Burley).
- Then I prepare a "concentrate" tobacco which is a Burley tobacco that is heavily flavored.
- Finally, I add a small amount of the tobacco concentrate (5% more or less) to the base blend and mix thoroughly.
- After marinating for a few days, you will get your licorice-flavored tobacco.
The key is in the making of the concentrate tobacco. I prepare the concentrate as follows:
- In a snap-lock jar with a rubber seal is placed a shredded and dried Burley tobacco that fills the jar half-way.
- Then the licorice oil is dissolved in 100% ethyl alcohol (Everclear 190 proof will probably work.). DO NOT USE METHYL ALCOHOL - IT IS POISONOUS! Do not use anything else for that matter.
- The licorice/alcohol solution is poured into the snap-lock jar and over the Burley tobacco. If you don't have access to 100% ethyl alcohol or Everclear 190 proof, then add the licorice oil straight as it comes from the bottle.
- Using a spoon, mix the tobacco and the licorice/alcohol solution (or the straight oil) together thoroughly. If there're is excessive liquid on the bottom of the jar, then add some more tobacco in small amounts until there is little to no liquid remaining on the bottom of the jar.
- Snap the jar lid closed and let the tobacco marinade overnight.
- The following day, spread the tobacco concentrate on a plate or cooking sheet and let the alcohol evaporate. Stir the tobacco occasionally. I let it sit out for two or three days to insure that all of the alcohol has evaporated. Trace amounts of alcohol pose no detrimental effects.
- The tobacco should be a little sticky at this point - this is the tobacco concentrate.
- Place the concentrate back into the snap-lock for storage.
One problem I foresee is the availability of 100% ethyl alcohol or Everclear 190. I have never tried using regular 80 proof liquor so I don't know how that would work. You would have a lot of water to deal with at the drying stage (step 6).
I think using straight licorice oil (without alcohol) would work. On the positive side you can ignore the drying step (step 6). On the negative side, marinating (step 5) would require more time and more mixing. The alcohol is used to help permeate the licorice oil into the tobacco.
As far as as the amounts of tobacco, licorice oil and alcohol used in this procedure,
it varies depending on the type of oil flavoring that you want to use. I have not used licorice oil before - I just mentioned it as an example.
As a rough estimate, you could dissolve 50 mL of flavoring oil in 100 mL alcohol and add this solution to a half-pound (more or less) of Burley.
The advantage of using this concentrate method is that you can try it with any combination of base tobaccos - this allows you to easily tweak your blends. This method is simple despite the lengthy procedure I outlined above - just trying to spell it out.
If you try this method, please post your results - I would like to hear how is works out.