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Lightest most neutral flavored to grow?

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Yultanman

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I mention in my introduction that i am wanting to create a light canadian style cigarette. In reality, that is what im familiar with but what im after is a super ultra light final product.

I am looking for suggestions of varieties to grow and if at all possible a Canadian supplier of the seeds.

i am currently growing Canadian Virginia, Virginia gold and monte calm brun.

I am going to start building a flue chamber asap but have currently been air curing then sort if flue/kiln hybrid from crockpot with a pid device raising from 95-150f ish over 3-5 days. i add water to bottom of crockpot, slowly reducing to none by about day 2-3

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Yultanman

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I should add - im in SW Saskatchewan. Very hot and dry summers. Sandy soils (which i amend with composted cattle manure).
 

ChinaVoodoo

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That's a good question. I would think that whatever variety that the Canadian Virginia is would suit your needs. Can you clarify how you cured your tobacco? You piled it in a box, then ran it at 150°F, or did you pile it, hang it until the leaves were dry, then raised it to 150 to dry the stems?
 

Yultanman

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I switched between hanging and the box watching for condensation. Once yellowed i would dry until it was about smoking case (still pliable). Then i moved it across a rack on top of the large turkey toaster. I propped lid over top and started at about 95f with a small amount of water. As i raised the temperature i reduced frequency of adding water. At 130 i removed the lid , no more water and leave it an additional 2 days as i raise temp up to 150.
This dried the stems. Finally i added a bit of water back to the roaster, replaced the lid and in an hour it will be close to in case at least so i could handle it.
I admit i mixed up the flue and the kiln process as i was trying to learn everything at once. So i have ended up with a sort of hybrid cure/age up till now. Sorry about the upside down pictures

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Knucklehead

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Ooops haha - light like not strong lol. Not light like the sun!!!! Yes light pall mall white tubes
I used to smoke Marlboro and my friends smoked Marlboro light. The biggest difference is that the light filters have holes in them around the circumference of the filter. When you inhale through a light filter, that fresh air intermingles with the smoke, decreasing the amount of smoke you are actually getting while still having the impression you are getting a full draw. When bumming a cigarette from a buddy smoking Lights, I would routinely just rip the filter off and smoke it without the filter because as a full strength smoker I could barely taste the tobacco through the light filter. The unfiltered light cigarette tasted just like a full flavor Marlboro. My impression from that is there is a bigger difference in the filter than in the tobacco. I don’t know for sure but its possible that the only difference is the filter. You could give them a try because they certainly lighten the taste.
 

Yultanman

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For sure canadian cigs employ this method too. And maybe i already have towards the lightest end of the spectrum for strains so i just need to master the finishing process.
I think i messed up planting the mont calm brun and i did not separate my earliest harvested leaves.
I just separated and studied the stuff i have hanging now so i can leave the mont calm out of the blend from now on.

Thanks for the replies
 

Knucklehead

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For sure canadian cigs employ this method too. And maybe i already have towards the lightest end of the spectrum for strains so i just need to master the finishing process.
I think i messed up planting the mont calm brun and i did not separate my earliest harvested leaves.
I just separated and studied the stuff i have hanging now so i can leave the mont calm out of the blend from now on.

Thanks for the replies
I don’t ever separate the leaf positions for cigarette varieties like I do for cigar varieties. I just shred and smoke, but my blend consists of five different varieties, flue cure, burley, Maryland, dark air and oriental, but my blend is stronger than what you are looking for.
 

ChinaVoodoo

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I think the problem is that the tobacco was not flue cured. Well, the stems were, but that doesn't count. You say that once the lamina reached smokable case, you began the crock pot method. To flue cure, you essentially raise the temperature just as it turns yellow so that the lamina dry at an elevated temperature. You ought to read up on flue curing, but basically yellow it, then 120°F for a day, 135°F for a day, then 165°F until fully dry.
 

Yultanman

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I just unsealed all my jars to put into the kiln at 120f for a few weeks. The newest stuff actually seems pretty good. I believe i was judging harsh based on the air cured tests i had done.


I think the problem is that the tobacco was not flue cured. Well, the stems were, but that doesn't count. You say that once the lamina reached smokable case, you began the crock pot method. To flue cure, you essentially raise the temperature just as it turns yellow so that the lamina dry at an elevated temperature. You ought to read up on flue curing, but basically yellow it, then 120°F for a day, 135°F for a day, then 165°F until fully dry.

i will try bringing in the leaves sooner to my quasi flie system and see if that helps.

thanks everyone
 

Yultanman

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Well i planned ahead and ordered some:
- big gem
- Virginia bright leaf (maybe same as tge gold i have)
- lemon bright
- delcrest

along with the Canadian Virginia and Virginia gold i should have a good selection for next year.
Thanks for all the help and advice
 

ChinaVoodoo

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Well i planned ahead and ordered some:
- big gem
- Virginia bright leaf (maybe same as tge gold i have)
- lemon bright
- delcrest

along with the Canadian Virginia and Virginia gold i should have a good selection for next year.
Thanks for all the help and advice
Delcrest!? Where did you get that?
 

plantdude

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I used to smoke Marlboro and my friends smoked Marlboro light. The biggest difference is that the light filters have holes in them around the circumference of the filter. When you inhale through a light filter, that fresh air intermingles with the smoke, decreasing the amount of smoke you are actually getting while still having the impression you are getting a full draw. When bumming a cigarette from a buddy smoking Lights, I would routinely just rip the filter off and smoke it without the filter because as a full strength smoker I could barely taste the tobacco through the light filter. The unfiltered light cigarette tasted just like a full flavor Marlboro. My impression from that is there is a bigger difference in the filter than in the tobacco. I don’t know for sure but its possible that the only difference is the filter. You could give them a try because they certainly lighten the taste.
@Knucklehead, I was just going back through this thread and was curious if you ever found a blend that approximates Marlboro.
 

Knucklehead

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@Knucklehead, I was just going back through this thread and was curious if you ever found a blend that approximates Marlboro.

No. I dont think it’s possible to fully duplicate a blend containing as many additives and flavorings as the commercial cigarettes. They have to taste like Marlboro regardless of year, weather for that season, timing of harvest, and all the other variables we encounter from year to year growing our own. They are able to plow right through there with manipulated reconstituted “tobacco”, flavorings, and additives. I’ve found one that I like and I feel it has the full flavor strength of Marlboro. Mine has five different varieties so it has layers of flavor without flavorings, it’s not like smoking a straight up flue cure cigarette. May I suggest for your smoking pleasure...
40% flue cure
20% burley
20% maryland
10% dark air
10% oriental
I actually prefer these to Marlboro or Pall Mall now. I play around with it sometimes, most recently I tried:
45% flue cure
25% burley
15% maryland
5% dark air
10% oriental
I‘m going to try this blend for awhile, it’s not as strong as the first blend.
 

fimbrew

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I was just going back through this thread and was curious if you ever found a blend that approximates Marlboro.

To me, trying to reproduce manufactured cigs is like trying to brew Budlight. Way to hard And for what? I can brew anything I want. Why would I spend time making an american light lager when I can make a saison? There are easier, better beers to make. If you are into bud then try making a bohemian pilsner or maybe a cream ale ( with rice and saaz hops). It will be a way better beer. (Sorry for the diatribe but this is pretty much my response when somebody finds out I make my own beer and asks if I can make budweiser.) Keep in mind we have different (and better) ingredients. I can't smoke manufactured cigs or drink american light lagers anymore (unless I have to). For marlboro reds I would try 75% red virginia and 25% maryland. Adjust the ratio to your taste. Maybe throw in some katerini or prilep or mix in some bright leaf to taste ( all available from WLT) . I never liked marlboro but my goto is around 60% bright leaf 25% burley, 15% Izmir. Don doesn't sell Burley or Izmir so I substitute in katerini and maryland or use my home grown..
 
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