Thedbs999
Well-Known Member
Thanks Bob, I didn't know if kilning in jars would change the time involved.
Dan
Dan
The jars maintain the humidity, so you don't have to maintain humidity in the chamber.sorry im new to this and just researching right now but I find the jar idea intriguing. Is the general idea that you get the humidity in the jars where you want them to be and only use the kiln for the heating element then? do you monitor the humidity in the jars? you don't have to take the leaves out and rotate or fuss around with them every day to prevent mould?
The jars maintain the humidity, so you don't have to maintain humidity in the chamber.
Burping jars would not prevent mold. What prevents mold is having a proper balance between temperature and water content. Every tobacco is a little different, but my non-scientifically catalogued experience tells me it goes like this 114-118°F, it will mold if it is more moist than what you normally smoke it at. At 118-123° you can keep it increasingly more moist, but it can still mold. Above 124°+, you're pretty much impervious to mold.
The advantages are that at higher temperatures, above 122°F, there is very little chance of mold, and it takes less time. Like, one month.That's what I do with tobacco intended for the pipe.That's what most people do. It ends up darker, as well.Is there an advantage to keeping it more moist than you would normally smoke/roll?
The advantages are that at higher temperatures, above 122°F, there is very little chance of mold, and it takes less time. Like, one month.That's what I do with tobacco intended for the pipe.That's what most people do. It ends up darker, as well.
Counter to other people's experience, my cigar tobacco done that way has ended up tasting like pipe tobacco. There could be all sorts of reasons: I live in the crappy cold part of Canada, I fertilize organically, other climate factors, or something unknown. Therefore, I'm experimenting with the risky alternative in an attempt to make my cigar leaf taste a bit more legit. I have my Piloto at 117°F just a smidge above "in case". It has been 4 months. I rolled a cigarillo a couple days ago, and the smell and flavor were very promising. I think another two months, and it should be good. Thankfully I have tobacco from WLT to smoke in the meantime.
But I can't stress how disastrous a couple days of molding would be. Taking this risk requires experience and intimate knowing of ones kiln.
I think I just recently read not to go over 130 though as it can effect some of the volitiles that add to the flavor... Seems dangerously close to that markWell. You're right. I should clarify. Pipe tobacco in stores is artificially flavored and sweetened. What I mean is that my previous attempts at cigar leaf ended up tasting like a rich, non-sweet natural burley.
Fermenting doesn't increase sugar. It reduces it actually. At higher temperatures it may produce complex chemicals that are the product of the reactions between amino acids and sugars that give it a caramel type (but not caramel) aroma and taste. Overall, it increases flavor making it more complex.
I think you should start at higher temperatures because I think you won't be disappointed.
I kiln my tobacco in jars and I have the same conclusions as ChinaVoodoo.
In fact I wonder if his has anything to do with harvesting time... I harvest my tobacco often on the ripe state more than on the mature state, and it can be one reason.
I noticed that the leaves harvested not mature enough smell more like cigar tobacco. It's often the case with the plants infected with PVY in my garden (they don't want to mature or ripen).
The problem with unmature leaves is that they are really hard to color cure...
I still have a lot of things to learn !
Yes. Tobacco is a tropical / sub-tropical perennial. I have grown plants in pots for multiple years. They just grow, and if topped, will create another principal stalk. The problem is that it's only during its first unrestricted (not in a pot) growth in the ground that it produces the best leaf for harvesting. After that, it's mediocre quality leaf.
Another problem is that tobacco pests overwinter on persistent plants.
Bob
The cold weather is sufficient.wouldn't you also have to move the patch to a new location for the bug problem to get resolved?