Dominican Andullo Curing
- Thread starter deluxestogie
- Start date
I believe you are both correct. It needed tighter rope--more pressure. And it needed to be tightened sooner and more frequently. Given how difficult it was for me to coil the rope initially, I chose to follow the tradition used in the Dominican Republic, and wait 4 weeks. (Seriously, I was not physically capable of wrapping it any tighter. It was such a struggle, that I was not eager to repeat it.) This is a project for a younger person.
Bob
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
I realize it wouldn't work for this project, Bob, but with fully cured tobacco, I find the easiest made carottes to be made with lesser quantities, such as 4oz. I wrap them in paper, then use fiberglass tape. It's somehow easy to get tape much tighter than rope. And it has the benefit of being airtight after a couple wraps.
I then unwrap it by slicing down the length and peeling it.
I then unwrap it by slicing down the length and peeling it.
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The technique I used for andullo is apparently an ancient one. I was willing to give it a go. I did. It didn't. I think that, after a few years of psychotherapy, I'll be able to find closure on this tragedy.
Bob
Bob
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Having caught up on this thread while having breakfast I decided I had better check on mine too. Mine was worse than Bob’s; one giant wad of mold. O well, the house of success is built on the foundation of failures. I went back and watched the video again and they used fully color cured leaf to make their carrottes, so if I feel frisky I might try again with a smaller sized bunch and cured leaf.
I agree that the video shows fully color-cured leaf being rolled. The text, however states this about the newly harvested leaves:
"These are hanged up for two weeks in the curing warehouses so that the leaves become more flexible by the time the midrib removal stage comes. .... The tobacco leaves go from green to a yellow hue."
Rolling up already cured leaf is just an inefficient and difficult way to simply press leaf--adding no characteristics beyond what any pressing of cured leaf will do. I'll go with a clamp or press, and let those young, muscular Dominicans do it with a rope.
Bob
"These are hanged up for two weeks in the curing warehouses so that the leaves become more flexible by the time the midrib removal stage comes. .... The tobacco leaves go from green to a yellow hue."
Rolling up already cured leaf is just an inefficient and difficult way to simply press leaf--adding no characteristics beyond what any pressing of cured leaf will do. I'll go with a clamp or press, and let those young, muscular Dominicans do it with a rope.
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Another impromptu experiment. I took some partially colour cured Viqueque leaves, made a thick roll, placed it in a bag, then wrapped it as tightly as I could with fiberglass tape, then hid it in a suspicious but warm location in the garage ceiling.
Is that a heating tape along the copper pipe?
Bob
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
It's the thermostat line running along radiant heating feed and return lines.
Translated to American, does that mean that the Andullo stash location is heated or not heated?
Bob
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Yes. It's heated a little. The water in the pipe leaves the boiler at 180 inches and returns at 150 acres. However, the room they are in is only 45 fluid scruples.
I use surgical tubing for clamping odd shaped pieces of wood for gluing. The clamping pressure is tremendous with plenty of glue squeeze out, and you don’t have to wind the tubing nearly as tightly as you would think. I have used it in making gun stocks and have seen the method used in making guitars. It would be much easier to use, less tiring for the individual, and create more pressure than rope. If you clamp a little more tightly in the beginning, the tubing will shrink as the tobacco shrinks.
I use similar to this. This is just a photo I found on the web.
This shows the method used to clamp guitar binding.
www.stewmac.com
Guitar neck under pressure
I use similar to this. This is just a photo I found on the web.
6707 - Latex Rubber Tubing | PAR Group
Available in a range of sizes and colours. Typically used in medical, dosing and peristaltic pump applications; it is very flexible and elastic.
www.par-group.co.uk
This shows the method used to clamp guitar binding.
Rubber Clamping Bands - StewMac
The fastest way to hold binding in place while gluing.
Guitar neck under pressure
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Excellent idea.I use surgical tubing for clamping odd shaped pieces of wood for gluing. The clamping pressure is tremendous with plenty of glue squeeze out, and you don’t have to wind the tubing nearly as tightly as you would think. I have used it in making gun stocks and have seen the method used in making guitars. It would be much easier to use, less tiring for the individual, and create more pressure than rope. If you clamp a little more tightly in the beginning, the tubing will shrink as the tobacco shrinks.
I use similar to this. This is just a photo I found on the web.
6707 - Latex Rubber Tubing | PAR Group
Available in a range of sizes and colours. Typically used in medical, dosing and peristaltic pump applications; it is very flexible and elastic.www.par-group.co.uk
This shows the method used to clamp guitar binding.
Rubber Clamping Bands - StewMac
The fastest way to hold binding in place while gluing.
Guitar neck under pressure
View attachment 33990
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
This is what a few days has done. It is much softer than before. Not sure how to proceed. I'm afraid that if I were to rewrap it that it would turn to mush. Maybe poke holes in it to let the liquid leak out? I see how rope or banana leaf or something would allow for it to gradually dry. My intention was to keep air out and prevent mold, but then this. 
Attachments
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Does it smell ok? Looks like some cool fermentation going on in there. If it smells ok, I'd just let it cook a little longer and then see what you have.
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
It's a familiar smell. I don't know if it categorizes as pleasant, but I believe it's fermentation rather than rot. (if there's a distinction between those two things).
Yeah. I think you're right. There might be cool stuff happening that I should just let happen. It's not like it's a lot of tobacco.
This is what a few days has done. It is much softer than before. Not sure how to proceed. I'm afraid that if I were to rewrap it that it would turn to mush. Maybe poke holes in it to let the liquid leak out? I see how rope or banana leaf or something would allow for it to gradually dry. My intention was to keep air out and prevent mold, but then this.
View attachment 34014
That‘s just tobacco goo? Awesome!!
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Yeah. Maybe I should save it to do finger paintings on my cigar wrappers.
Maybe...
fairtradetobacco.com
Bob
Home-made Chimo
Since I only had a small amount of green leaves this year, I decided to try my hand at making Chimo. This product is nearly impossible to order anymore so it was high-time I got busy on a recipe. The basics involve boiling your green leaves, straining them, adding a little sweetener and cocoa...
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Ugh. I am addicted to gummies and rather fond of licorice. I'm afraid chimo could be a really bad habit. Unless if it's hard like brittle, in which case, I would probably hate it.Maybe...
Home-made Chimo
Since I only had a small amount of green leaves this year, I decided to try my hand at making Chimo. This product is nearly impossible to order anymore so it was high-time I got busy on a recipe. The basics involve boiling your green leaves, straining them, adding a little sweetener and cocoa...
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